Chapter 48: Chapter 48

She waited for a nearly three minutes, admiring the blue early autumn sky with smattering clouds here and there. She heard a hushed commotion from Eric's trailer. What is he hiding? she wondered, picking up a lint from her dark brown blouse, inspecting her attire. Did she look okay?

She was transferred back to reality when Eric burst the door open, smiling tiredly.

"Come on in, the coast is clear," he announced playfully.

The interior of his trailer screamed sterile. It was manly, and a bit detached. Ana noted a few cameras lying around on the square wooden desk on the left corner, and beside that was a small kitchenette. No pictures hanging on the wall, unlike Kate's crowded one. But she noticed a few thumbnails without an object to pin it to. Hmm.

"Have a seat, Miss Thompson."

He pointed to forest green couch beside the door. It was a small set of couches, but she didn't find any cushion. She sat on the big one.

"Wow, it's the first time I've been in a male actor's trailer."

"Really? Then I am glad," he winked at her.

She giggled in spite herself.

"Would you like a drink? I have some cans of coke, and coffee. Or sparkling water?"

"Please. Anything you have is fine."

"Sparkling water it is," he suggested, bending down at his mini fridge. Ana couldn't help but tilted her head and stare…

Shit, it's not the time! Flustered—she shook her head, looking at anywhere but him.

"Here you go."

She took the bottle he offered. Grinning sheepishly, she recalled the first important thing she wanted hi to know. "Oh, I want to tell you that we've managed to find the earrings."

His smile was genuine and warm, like a blow of spring wind in the winter, "That's great, Ana."

"You won't believe that the entire time, those damn props were wrapped with tissue paper inside my pencil case," she laughed awkwardly, and he just sat there across her.

He gave her his undivided attention as she launched into the story that night—or early morning—when she and Kate found the earrings after hours of searching and swearing. But, behind all those nods, she observed his vacant eyes a few times to know that he was indeed in need of sleep.

"How are you?"

Eric's eyes widened, much like her own surprise at the blurted question.

Damn her mouth.

"I'm fine. Thank you."

"You look… exhausted."

"Is it obvious?" he pursed his lips. "I have a small problem at home."

"Oh," she trailed off.

He smirked slyly at her frown. "Do you have a question? You look like you want to say something."

"Is it... is it a girl problem?"

His face was blank, until he chuckled lightly. "It was, but not what you think."

She waited for his explanation, but he only grinned widely at her. "What?"

"Nothing. You want to know the rest?"

She shrugged.

"My mom demanded me to come home, since I'm filming near Washington, and it's almost a year that I haven't been in Seattle," he smiled.

She released the breath she didn't know she was holding.

"You thought I had a fight with a girlfriend back home?"

Well, maybe. She was appalled for assuming. "I'm sorry."

"What for? It's natural to have a question. But you have to know, Miss Thompson, that the only girl I am attracted to right now is giving me a headache," he teased.

Her cheeks flushed. "Did—did you have lunch already?" she rambled.

"No. Why?"

"It's just… I have a bowl of mac 'n cheese. Leftover from last night, actually. If you want to eat some real food then, I'll order you one."

His brows furrowed. "You're not my assistant, Ana."

"But I… I want to treat you, to say thank you for brought me home."

"Then I'll have the mac 'n cheese, please."

She rummaged in her bag, carefully fished out one big lunch box and put it on the glass table between them. Next, she wiped a spoon and gave it to him.

"Not much, but I hope you like it."

He thanked her before opening the lid. The scent of her cooking wafted inside the enclosed room. "Smells amazing," he said gleefully, already scooping some into his mouth.

She couldn't help the shy smile that grew on her lips, watching him ate happily.

"You made this? Wow, it's so delicious!" he groaned.

"Thanks."

"It's my favorite food, you know," he murmured between the munching.

What should she say to that? "Um, great."

"I love my mom's cooking, but your mac 'n cheese beats my mom's," he chuckled, but got serious suddenly. He looked almost frightened. "Don't tell her that, by the way."

"Oh, um," it wasn't like she would have an opportunity to meet her.

He managed to finish the food and thanked her profusely. Ana didn't tell him that was supposed to be her lunch. And after seeing his blissful smile, she was glad she didn't. After all, she could always sneak out for a sandwich at the nearest deli.

"You should make me that again sometime."

"I'll see what I can do."

"Oh, I have something for you, too."

He stood up and walked to a small brown cabinet, and crouched down. She took a peek as he extricated a tiny thing in his hand. Suddenly, he turned to her.

"Curious?"

"Nope." He snickered at her.

"This is for you," he said, handing her a blue velvet box.

She just studied the object he put on her hands. "Well, what are you waiting for? Open it," he fell on the couch beside her.

Ana felt uneasy. She just gave him a leftover but here he gave him something that looked precious—and expensive. Jeez.

"Just open it, Ana," he implored, his gaze was soft.

She opened the box slowly, gasping at the sight of two delicate sapphire blue earrings. Its pear shape reminded Ana of her favorite tales, about mermaid tears. It was obvious to her that Eric took in mind her revelation that night, about flashing earrings that didn't suit her. Instead, he gave her these simple yet meaningful gift.

"Oh my God. It's so beautiful." She felt her throat constricted.

He smiled shyly. "So, you like?"

"Eric, I really like it. But you shouldn't have…"

"Uh huh, I won't hear any of that. Here, let me put these on."

He ignored her protest and shifted his body to face her. God, why is suddenly hot in here?

"You have piercings but don't wear any earrings?"

"My mom insisted I wear earrings when I was a child. It's cute she said, but I've overgrown it."

In fact, it was the only time her mom said she was cute. But that wasn't a past she wanted to relive now.

He picked one of the pair, and tenderly tucked her errant hair to the back of her left ear. She drew her bottom lip between her teeth, suppressing the urge to flinch slightly, never expecting something so random to be this electrifying. Slowly, slowly he touched her earlobe, the coldness of his hand burned her skin, yet she remained still so he could finish putting it on.

Why was her heart racing like that night in the car?

"Okay, one more," he smiled at her. How could she endure this kind of torture one more time? "Look at me."

She turned to face him, slowly. They were so close that Ana could see his long lashes and his stunning gray irises. Her nose came right up on his shoulder and she could smell the faint fragrance of his body wash, and sweat, and something that entirely him. His fingers on her ear were tugging at her earlobe. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his jaw clenched.

She longed to stroke the overnight stubble there. Would it be soft, or spiky? Would he mind if she ran her fingers along his jaw?

Fuck. What was she thinking?

But what if he didn't object?

She shivered.

"Are you cold?"

Great, now he would think of her as a pervert. She shook her head frantically, "No, no. It's just, uh, I'm not used to be assisted before."

He just smirked at her, but she noted his darkened eyes when he focused on her ear again. Was he mad at her?

"Why are you looking like that?"

"Huh? Oh, I was just remembering something." She didn't have a time to ask more because then he pulled back, and grabbed her shoulders. "I know they would bring out your pale skin and blue eyes, Ana. You're so beautiful."

She bit her lip. At this rate, she really hoped it wasn't a heart attack that she suffered.

"What will you do after this?"

"Nothing. Oh, I mean, I'm going to choose some photos for Kate's fanpage update."

"Ah, you have time then. Can I borrow your shoulder?"

"Huh?"

He leaned closer to her, and without any preamble, he rested his head on her shoulder.

"Chris—Eric…"

Her heart skipped a beat. God, what was wrong with her?

"Hm, this is nice. I could get used to this."

Unable to utter a reply, she just stared down at his tousled copper hair, wanting to stroke him there, too.

"Ana?"

"Yes?"

"Will you finally have a date with me?"

Good heavens, she thought he had given up by now.

"Aren't you tired hearing no already?"

Eric shook his head, and the smell of his shampoo made her lose her mind. "Never."

Words failed her. "I mean, it must be what, almost two weeks since our supposed-to-be date?"

"Exactly. You're very difficult, Miss Thompson."

"And you're very persistent. Don't you have work to do?"

"You're right, I have. This is my last scene for the week, hopefully, and I'll be back to Seattle tomorrow. However, my schedule will be clear this Saturday."

"You need to rest."

"I know."

He lifted his head from her shoulder, and Ana was afraid that she had offended him somehow. She studied him closely. Eric's hair was burnished gold, and his slate-gray eyes looked magnificent under the light. He was wearing a white shirt with the sleeves folded around his elbow. He looked so…

He was scrutinizing his feet before meeting her gaze and smiled softly at her.

"What it is, Ana?"

Nothing, I was just admiring you for a second. "I was wondering why are you doing all this."

"Doing what?"

"This," she pointed her finger at him, then at her. "And the earrings. You serious about wanting to have a dinner with me?"

"If I'm not, do you think I would've stopped already?"

"Yes," she admitted.

He chuckled, obviously liking Ana's reaction. "Tell you what. You and I, we go on to this date, and then you'll know my intention."

She shut her eyes closed. It always went back to that, huh? What was so appealing about her that this guy wanting, no, needing a date with her? What was his deal?

She opened her eyes just to be greeted again by his smile.

Oh, fuck it. It was a lost cause anyway.

"Okay. Let's go have a dinner."

Eric's eyes widened. He gulped, "It's not a joke?"

"Nope. I just can't win with you, can I?"

Then, he whooped like a child it brought an involuntary smile on Ana's face. He was really something else.

"You would not regret it, Miss Thompson!" he laughed.

Somehow, she doubted that.