It was the one thing that wasn’t completely tamed and restrained about Ethan. Somehow that curl hinted at the fiery, emotional man she knew lay beneath the custom-made suits and the multi-million-dollar deals.
“I certainly never learned how to paint or draw,” Ethan said, with a convincingly proud smile of approval at his fiancée’s handiwork.
While they chatted about the painting Fernando moseyed over to Ethan’s desk. Out of the corner of her eye, Holly saw him snooping at the papers on top of it.
Fernando was making himself a bit too much at home. Funny that Holly felt territorial after only two days. She knew that Fernando used this apartment frequently. But he didn’t keep any of his personal possessions here because other employees and associates of Benton Worldwide also used it when they were in New York.
Still, she didn’t think Fernando had the right to be looking at anything Ethan might have put down on the desk. But it wasn’t her place to say anything.
“Louise, would you like to sit down at the table?” Holly suggested.
She took Louise’s elbow and guided her toward the dining area. Ethan and Fernando followed suit behind them.
Holly overheard Fernando hiss to Ethan, “I know what you’re up to. You’ve found a wife so that Louise will retire and you can take over. If you think I’m going to spend the rest of her life getting sunburned on a boring island, you’ve got another think coming.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
“SO FAR SO GOOD,” Holly said as she placed four plates on the kitchen counter so that she and Ethan could begin to serve dinner.
“Except that I had forgotten how much I detest that little Fernando,” he retorted.
Holly was only playing the role of soon-to-be member of this unusual family. She shouldn’t be privy to the disagreements and resentments that might lie beneath the surface. So it wouldn’t be proper for her to ask Ethan what Fernando had meant about not wanting to move to Barbados when Louise retired. Obviously the comment had made Ethan mad.
She removed the lid of the slow cooker. “Where did they meet?”
Speaking in a hushed voice, because Aunt Louise and her man-toy weren’t far away at the dining table, Ethan explained. “Our office manager at Headquarters hired him. His title is ‘Client Relations Coordinator,’ or some such nonsense. He does scarcely more than order fancy coffees for meetings and come here to New York or go to Europe to spend the company’s money. Of course I cannot fire him.” Ethan gritted his teeth. “As much as I would like to.”
With serving utensils, Holly lifted hearty chunks of the pot roast onto each plate. Ethan reached in with a fork to assist her. They worked seamlessly as a team, anticipating each other’s moves. Now pros at navigating the square footage of the small kitchen.
“What does she see in him?”
“Companionship. I suppose he makes her feel younger. She was devastated after Uncle Mel died.”
“She must miss Mel horribly.”
“They were a partnership in more ways than I can count. Not being able to have children brought them even closer. Taking me in was another thing they did together.”
With Ethan having witnessed such a solid marriage between his aunt and uncle, Holly wondered why he was so adamant that he himself would never marry for love. What had happened to close him off to the possibility?
Ethan ladled mashed potatoes while Holly spooned gravy on top. “So Fernando has been able to fill the hole left by your uncle’s death?”
“Hardly. He could never step into my uncle’s shoes. But I will grant that he provides a diversion. Within a year of Uncle Mel’s death Aunt Louise began having symptoms of this hereditary neuropathy that she remembers her mother suffering from.”
“Losing your husband and developing an illness, one after the other. That’s awful.”
“She could have sunk into a depression. Fernando at least gives her something to do. He keeps her busy with Boston society dinners and parties on Cape Cod. He will do the same in Barbados. I will remind him that I am the boss as often as I need to. We know a lot of people there. He can develop a social calendar for her.”
“Give her things to look forward to?”
“Yes. Without children, there are no grandchildren on the horizon. Although I suppose she assumes you and I will have...” He trailed off.
Children. With Ethan.
The mere thought halted Holly in place. A home of her own. Filled with noise and food and laughter and love. Beautiful toddlers running around with reddish-brown tufts of hair falling onto their foreheads. Tall Ethan reaching down to hold little hands.
Did he ever think about having children?
He’d frozen too, holding a spoon in his hand, also lost in contemplation. Was he picturing the same thing?
He’d be a good father. The way he put so much care and thought into his aunt and what was best for her was like the devotion and concern she had for Vince, having practically raised her brother single-handedly because her mother had proved incapable. She had more of that kind of love to give.
Someday.
It wasn’t going to be now.
That was much further far down the line. If ever.
No, this current arrangement was ideal. A new life for herself in New York. Not being pulled down by other people. Putting herself first. Free at last.
Everything was upfront with Ethan. There was zero chance of her being hurt. Zero love. Zero disappointment. So he was intelligent and intense? And gorgeous? That was ultimately irrelevant to the duties at hand. They were two professionals, doing their jobs.
Holly used tongs to crown each dinner plate with roasted carrots. Forging ahead. Although she wished her fingernails weren’t spotted with paint.
“We did it. Dinner is served.”
As she carried two plates to the dining table, she saw Fernando’s hand atop of Louise’s. The older woman’s face did seem to have a livelier blush with his attention on her. Even if Fernando’s intentions were less than honorable, Holly could understand the purpose he filled. Life was all about compromises.
Ethan brought the other two plates. While he poured water she ducked back into the kitchen for rolls and butter before sitting to eat.
“Holly, this is delicious,” Louise proclaimed.
“I’m glad you like it. You sound surprised?”
“Indeed. I don’t know that Ethan has ever dated a woman before who would know how to make an old-fashioned pot roast.”
Ethan leaned to pat Holly’s arm. She smiled at the unspoken compliment, as a fiancée should. “Aunt Louise, I have never dated a woman who has likely ever eaten pot roast, let alone prepared it.”
“Where did you learn to cook like this?”
“I took a course in cooking classic American comfort food,” Holly fibbed, without missing a beat. Louise didn’t need to know that if she hadn’t taught herself to cook she and Vince wouldn’t have eaten. “I’ll have to make cheeseburgers for you next time.”
“Now, Ethan, dear,” Louise said, “you have been keeping your delightful lady a secret. You must tell us everything about where and how you met,” she insisted.
Fernando buttered a roll and gobbled it down.
Holly and Ethan, the happy couple, gazed lovingly at each other as if to signal that they were off and running. They’d been rehearsing. Now they’d be put to the test.
“Aunt Louise, I wanted to be absolutely sure of myself before I said anything to you,” Ethan began. “Holly’s brother is Vince Motta. He works for us in the Miami office.”
Aunt Louise listened attentively as she continued eating. Fernando chomped on chunks of meat that he yanked off his fork with his lower teeth.
“It was at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Coconut Grove project,” Holly continued. For accuracy, Ethan had filled h
er in on the details of that luncheon. “We were both reaching for the same shrimp on the buffet table. Our hands touched.”
“And it was magic.”
Ethan fluttered his eyelashes, which made Holly giggle.
She’d visualized this fairy tale over and over—to the point that now she would have sworn it had actually happened. The elegant outdoor celebration... Her in a pink dress, talking to her brother, Vince, and a couple of his coworkers... After excusing herself she left them to explore the lavish seafood table. And just as she reached for the plumpest, juiciest-looking shrimp on the tray a hand from the opposite direction nabbed the same one.
She tugged on her end of the shrimp, the other hand on the other end, until their fingers intertwined.
They turned to look at each other.
He surrendered the crustacean.
The skies parted.
The angels cascaded down from heaven playing trumpets.
“It was love at first shrimp...” They sighed in unison.
“How romantic.” Louise was sufficiently charmed.
“We talked for hours that afternoon.” Ethan laid it on thick. “But then I had to board a plane for Bangkok.”
“We didn’t see each other again for months.”
Caught up in their “reminiscing,” they moved their faces toward each other. Involuntarily. As if pulled together by a magnet.
Ethan bent in and brought his mouth to Holly’s. Only it wasn’t a feather-soft fake dinner kiss, meant to convince his aunt. No, his unexpected lips were bold. And hot. And they smashed against hers.
Their insistence didn’t let her pull away. She swirled inside. Got lost in the moment. Let it go on several beats too many.
Until she could finally separate herself from him.
Holly feared that everyone at the table could hear her heart pounding outside her chest.
Ethan looked as shocked as she felt. But after a moment he picked up his fork and resumed eating. Following his lead, she did the same.
Fortunately neither Louise nor Fernando had noticed anything strange. Holly and Ethan were engaged, after all. Why wouldn’t they spontaneously kiss?
But he wasn’t helping her any with a kiss like that. Let that be a warning to her.
Louise inquired, “Are your people from Miami, dear?”
Holly barely had a moment to catch her breath—nowhere near enough time to recover from that inebriating kiss before there came the next flaming hoop she had to jump through. She didn’t have “people.” And the people she did have she needed to keep a secret. Her people were not Benton kind of people.
“No. Fort Pierce.”
“Fort Pierce?” Fernando tossed back.
Certainly not the kind of stylish metropolis full of chic hotels, South Beach beauties and all-night parties that would interest him.
“We met again last year here in New York, when Holly was exhibiting paintings at a Soho gallery,” Ethan fibbed to move their story forward.
“Then wasn’t the next time when you came down and we visited Key West?”
He leaned over to brush the side of her cheek with the back of his hand. “It was then that I knew for sure.”
His tender touch across Holly’s face made it a struggle to keep her eyes open. Especially after that not so gentle kiss had rocked her to the bone.
Ethan sensed he had made her uncomfortable. “More water, anyone?” he said quickly, refilling glasses without waiting for an answer.
Thankfully giving her a moment to regroup.
After a couple of quiet sips Holly ventured, “I’m so happy we’re finally together in New York. I haven’t been here in five years.”
Ethan, Louise and Fernando all looked at her.
Oh, no! Oh! No!
Fernando’s eyes narrowed. “I thought you said you had a painting exhibition here last year?”
Gulp. Ethan’s soft stroke to her face had thrown her off course. Let her talk before she thought.
Dead silence. Which was finally broken by the sound of a fax coming in on Ethan’s desk.
“I meant that I haven’t explored the city in years.” Holly took a shot. “That was a work trip. I hardly left the gallery.”
“Shall we have dessert?” Ethan did his best to defuse the moment.
“Let me help you, dear.” Louise slowly rose and followed Ethan into the kitchen.
Fernando kept his glare on Holly one uncomfortable moment longer before he shot up to strut to the liquor cabinet.
Left at the table, Holly stood and began clearing the dishes. Not knowing how badly she had messed things up. Whether Ethan would be furious with her or sympathetic over her flub. Unsure if anyone had bought her quick cover-up.
Louise, even with her reduced ability, had offered to help Ethan with dessert in the kitchen. She must want to say something to him that she didn’t want Holly to hear.
Careful not to interrupt Ethan and his aunt’s private conversation, she stacked the dirty plates and brushed crumbs off the table. The dessert dishes and silverware were on a side shelf, so she set those out.
The evening had been going so nicely. Louise seemed to like her. Hopefully Holly hadn’t unraveled everything with one slip of the tongue.
With each passing minute Holly had come to like the idea of being Ethan’s pretend fiancée more and more. She wanted to make this work. To have the art commission and a place to live. It was a peculiar arrangement, for sure, but a better starting point for a new life than she could ever have imagined. At almost thirty, it was time for her to rewind and reboot. Put the bad choices—Ricky—and the bad luck—her mother—behind her.
When Ethan had sweetened the deal by agreeing to use his influence to help her brother, Vince, get a promotion, Holly had had to roll the dice and give it a try. Ethan had said he couldn’t make any promises, but Holly knew Vince was a hard and devoted worker who could easily manage additional responsibilities. She’d never forgive herself if her mistake tonight had done anything to endanger his chances of success.
And, wow, she was going to have to lay down some ground rules about her physical interactions with Ethan. She was shocked at how she was drawn to him almost hypnotically, easily touching his arm and lightly laying a hand on the small of his back as if it was no big deal. Like a fiancée would.
But that kiss had shown her how quickly things could go too far. His mouth on hers had dizzied her, made her lose track of her thoughts, forget the company she was in. Ethan’s lips were dangerous weapons. They could completely daze her, leave her woozy and unable to do the job he had hired her for.
What she needed was to figure out a system whereby his touch had no effect on her. She’d work that out. This was playacting, after all.
The dessert and coffee dishes set, an odd sight greeted Holly when she turned around from the table. Fernando was again in front of Ethan’s desk. This time he was peering at the fax they had just heard come through. His eyes widened and he snatched the piece of paper from the machine, folded it and slid it into his pocket. Not noticing that Holly was watching.
Because Fernando supposedly spent a lot of time in this apartment, the fax might be something he was expecting. But it irked her that he was again hovering around the paperwork and personal items that Ethan had spread out on the desk. However, she didn’t know all the facts. He was Louise’s husband. She couldn’t question him even though she wanted to. She was a hired hand who didn’t know what went on in this family.
She had already screwed up. Her job right now was to keep her nose down. And do her best to salvage the rest of the evening.
* * *
Ethan’s arm around Holly’s shoulder, they said goodbye to Louise and Fernando as the elevator door closed.
Back in the apartment, Ethan clenched his fist in victory. “S
uccess!”
“Do you think everything went all right? I was so worried. And then I bungled up about not having spent time in New York.”
“You recovered. Aunt Louise adored you instantly.”
“She did?”
“In the kitchen she told me she could tell right away that you had good character and were not out for our money or the family name.”
“If she only knew...”
Ethan mused on that truth.
Together they cleared the remains of the apple crisp and cinnamon-flavored coffee. The kitchen looked as if they had just fed a hundred people. Dirty pots and pans were strewn on every available surface. The sink was stacked with plates. Spills puddled on the countertops.
“I will pay the housekeeper triple to clean this tomorrow!” Ethan said.
“Do you want to go out?” Holly asked.
“Out? Right now?”
“Yes. It’s not that late. And I’m full of nervous energy.”
Ethan contemplated the idea. Aunt Louise had started to tire so easily the dinner had been over even earlier than expected. “Where would you like to go?”
“Show me some of the Benton buildings in New York.”
He whipped out his phone.
Ten minutes later they were curbside as Leonard pulled up in the town car. It was a dry but very cold evening. Holly wore that favorite black leather jacket, and looked utterly lovable with a red beanie, scarf and gloves. Ethan didn’t bring a hat, but dressed warmly with his own brown leather jacket and wool scarf.
Once they’d pulled away from the building Ethan recited to Leonard a quick list of addresses and the tour commenced. As usual, his driver maneuvered the car deftly through the always-present Manhattan traffic.
Holly had had the right idea. The crisp night was invigorating.
Or maybe she was the cause of the vigor he felt.
She had played her part to a tee at dinner, and he was sure Aunt Louise suspected nothing of his ruse. How fragile his dearly loved aunt had looked tonight. With those bruises on her face from the tumble she’d taken—in front of employees, no less—at Benton headquarters.
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