Free Christmas Eva by Clare Revell

employed her because she’s Miss Anderson’s sister. It’s blatant nepotism.”
    Eva’s face burned and she looked down, wishing she could run from the room. If they thought that now, what would they say once they knew she and Harry were friends?
    April pointed to the door. “My office. Now.” She glared at the others as Hilda stormed out. “Do any of the rest of you feel the same way? Because I can easily fire you, too. Eva is more than qualified for this job and that is what I’ve employed her on.”
    No one said anything.
    “Good. The rest of you go and do some work. Fi, try to find someone to replace Hilda.”
    Eva looked down at her hands as her sister left the room. This was why she hadn’t wanted to work again.
    April turned to her. “I am really sorry.”
    “It’s OK.”
    “No, it’s not OK. I won’t have anyone discriminated against in my theatre. If I didn’t think you were capable of doing the job, you wouldn’t be here.”
    Eva nodded. “OK.”
    April pushed Eva down the corridor. “Matthew is a pussy cat really. He’s like any actor—he has his moments, likes things done a certain way, but then, don’t we all? Be polite and he’ll treat you with respect.” She knocked on the door.
    Something fell inside and then the door opened. Harry stood there, in costume, minus the wig. “Hi…” His voice dried up. “Eva?”
    April grinned. “I’m assuming you two know each other.”
    Harry nodded. “Yes, yes we do.”
    “That makes my job a lot easier. Eva is your new personal makeup assistant. She’s only doing your makeup, no one else.”
    “Eva, you dark horse,” Harry grinned. “You said a new job. You didn’t say it was here.”
    “You didn’t ask.”
    Harry opened the door properly. “Come on in.”
    April pushed the chair inside. “We’ll do the paperwork after curtain up.” She smiled and headed out, shutting the door behind her.
    Eva looked at Harry. “I warn you now. I’m a right bossy cow if you don’t keep still.”
    Harry nodded. “When I filmed Peter’s Betrayal , I was in the makeup chair for eight hours a day, with a three thirty AM wake up call. So I know all about keeping still. This is a picnic compared with that.” He lowered the chair and sat in it.
    Eva put the bag on the table. She fitted the hairnet over his head and looked over the makeup. “OK, let’s do this. Lie back for me.”
    Harry tipped the chair back, so his head was almost in her lap. “I should suggest to April that we get a dentist chair for you.”
    “That might be easier. Or a bed.”
    “Nah, I’d fall asleep.” He winced as she started work.
    “Am I hurting you?” Concern filled her.
    “It’s just a little sore, that’s all.” He winked. “I need a mirror on the ceiling so I can see what you’re doing.”
    Eva passed him the hand mirror she’d bought that morning. “Better?”
    “Much.” He blew kisses at her before angling the mirror to watch her.
    Goosebumps tracked down her spine, and the hair rose on the back of her neck. Why was working on him so different to anyone else? Of course she knew why, just hadn’t expected it to make her feel this way. Normally when she worked, there wasn’t the feeling of intimacy that this position produced.
    After about ten minutes, she glanced up from the eye shadow. “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the dastardliest pirate of all?”
    Harry’s eyes glinted, and she realized too late what she’d done.
    “Oh, no, don’t you dare,” she told him.
    “Too late, sweetheart,” he drawled. “I be a’ stealing that line and the mirror.”
    “Men,” she sighed.
    Harry laughed. “Pirates, actually. We steal things. It’s in the job description.”
    “OK. Sit up for me.” She fitted his wig and smiled. “You’re done.”
    He looked in the mirror and smiled. “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome. I can touch you up at the interval if needed.”
    “Oh err, missus,” Harry laughed. He tossed his long locks over his