EARTHQUAKE ETHAN

by 

R.L. Merrill

BLURB

The Earth shook the morning actor Ethan Bradley arrived in Los Angeles looking for a second chance. He hoped his former producers Reese Matheson and Toby Griffiths meant it when they said to look them up if he were ever in LA because he had no other options. The pictures the paparazzi took at the wrap party for their London show made sure of that. What he wasn’t counting on was the reception he got from their manager, Arthur Frye. He was absolutely the kind of together guy Ethan wished would notice him, and for more than his pretty face and talent. Too bad Arthur only sees Ethan as a complication.

Arthur Frye has his hands full with his best clients—and best friends. The last thing he needs is another diva to care for, especially one who has a reputation for causing trouble. He has a strict rule against getting involved with the talent, no matter how pretty they are. Only Ethan Bradley shines for real, and when Arthur realizes his nice-guy innocence is genuine, he’s ready to do anything to help Ethan get his career back on track and get him out of LA. He’s too much of a temptation, and Arthur can’t afford to lose focus…not even for a chance at happiness for himself. Especially not when his star clients are about to risk their professional and personal happiness with their newest creation; a musical about two boys falling in love in the 1960s featuring music written by Reese’s grandfather, whose health is in decline.

Ethan Bradley shakes things up wherever he goes, and Arthur Frye is afraid he’ll be left in the wreckage if he gets too close. Can these two opposites find love on solid ground?

Forces of Nature Series: Talented men whose lives are natural disasters and the men who love them.

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EXCERPT

“So what’s been going on, Ethan? How did that Anna Kendrick movie turn out?”

Ethan dug deep for those acting chops. He had to play this cool. 

Screw that, Ethan. It’s time to be honest. 

“I hear it turned out great, but I, uh, was let go.”

“What?” Reese looked genuinely concerned. Thankfully. “What do you mean you were let go?”

“Um, so the producers thought the pictures would hurt the film…”

Reese cursed and looked away. 

Arthur stared. And kind of smirked. 

Ethan knew a lot of folks didn’t like him, and that was okay as long as he got work. He’d asked his acting coach once long ago why he seemed to face so much hostility from people he thought he’d been perfectly kind to and his coach told him, “Ethan, you’re beautiful. People can’t stand that. They will tear you down any chance they get, so you have to have thick skin if you’re in this business for any length of time.”

“And my manager dropped me.”

“Jeez, why?” Reese asked. 

Ethan felt his jaw muscle twitch. “He said he didn’t represent artists who couldn’t handle themselves in a respectable manner.”

“Jesus,” Jude said and shook his head. He stood behind the recliner where Reese sat.

“How bad were these pictures?” 

Reese looked at Ethan, his cheeks reddened, and then he reached for Jude’s hand.

“Well, you saw how Jada reacted.”

Jude rolled his eyes. “Yes, and? Her reactions obviously don’t hold a lot of weight with me. Are we talking blow jobs in public? Full frontal nudity?”

Reese barked out a laugh, seemingly relieved by Jude’s lack of concern. 

“No, there was no nudity—”

“It was a drunken embrace,” Arthur interrupted. “It was easily misunderstood.”

Reese frowned at Arthur. “We were laughing, that’s all. And yes, we had our arms around each other, but—”

“It was my fault,” Ethan said. “I’m sorry the pictures caused problems for you.”

Reese shrugged. “Everything happens for a reason.” He smiled up at Jude and tugged his hand to pull him down for a kiss. Jude lost his balance a little and pulled away before Reese could deepen the kiss.

“You’re impossible,” Jude whispered, but he grinned. “I’m going to check on Grandpa.”

Ethan was glad to see Reese so happy. That was what mattered most. Any lingering crush Ethan had on the man was better off forgotten. 

“That sucks about your manager,” Reese said. “Do you have any contacts here in the States? Anyone you’ve worked with?”

Ethan shook his head. “I only did the one Broadway show before I did Ruby. I went to London. I did the two movies before we did Ruby there, but that’s it. I had two film projects lined up and after the pictures came out, everything dried up. Look, I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty or take small parts, I just want to work.” It hurt to smile, but damn he’d do it. “I need to work. Reese, you told me once that if I was ever in LA to look you up, that you’d hire me again, and I know it’s unprofessional to show up at your house, but I didn’t know how else to get ahold of you.”

“Calling his manager is usually a good way,” Arthur muttered.

“Arthur.” Reese admonished his manager. He was being so nice. Ethan felt even guiltier for being there. “What kind of work are you looking for?”

Ethan exhaled. “I’m literally up for anything: theater, film, voice work…I’ll do anything. I heard you had a new show—”

“Which we cast already,” Arthur said. 

“Arthur!”

“Reese, can I speak to you for a moment?”

Reese and Arthur exchanged a long look and then Reese stood from the chair. 

“Will you excuse us, please?” He held a hand out and gestured for Arthur to follow him out back. 

Arthur gave Ethan an ugly look on the way out.

“I have never seen that man be nasty to anyone,” Jude said, his eyebrows raised. “And normally I don’t engage in gossip, but I’d love to hear just what happened in London.”

Ethan smiled. “The show was great. We had such a great cast. It was my first time onstage in London and the audience was so polite. But at the wrap party, we’d all been drinking, and I’m not much of a drinker. I remember Reese and I singing together, which was when the pictures were taken I think, and then I woke up with…well, anyway, they left and I was scheduled to start shooting the next week, which was the end of October? I’ve been trying to line up auditions on my own, but no one will speak to me after Randolph Winthorpe, my old agent, dropped me. I’ve never really worked in LA so I thought maybe I could have a fresh start here.” And if Jude kept being nice to him, Ethan was going to cry. It was that simple. 

“I’m sure Reese and Arthur can figure something out. Would you excuse me? I need to get Mr. Matheson his medicine.”

Ethan faked another smile and then slumped back against the couch. Maybe he should have worn his suit, but it didn’t fit right anymore after he’d lost weight. He hadn’t been working out and he hadn’t eaten much. 

This had been a mistake. Why did he have to come and disrupt someone else’s life because of his problems? He should just start hitting the job placement centers, maybe some temp work, or he could check with the carpenter’s union and see if they’d accept him since he’d been a member years ago back in Iowa, although he’d let his membership lapse.

If only he could have gone home…

ABOUT R.L. 

Whether she’s writing contemporary romance featuring quirky and relatable characters or diving deep into the paranormal and supernatural to give readers a shiver, R.L. Merrill loves creating compelling, diverse, and inclusive stories that will stay with readers long after. Winner of the Kathryn Hayes “When Sparks Fly” Best Contemporary award for Hurricane Reese, Paranormal Romance Guild’s Best Rockstar Romance for You Can Do Magic, and Daphne DuMaurier finalist for Connection, Ro spends every spare moment improving her writing craft, networking with fellow writers, and striving to find that perfect balance between real-life and happily ever after. You can find her connecting with readers on social media, advocating for America’s youth, cruising around town with Great Dane Velma, cuddling with twin black cat familiars Frankenstein and Dracula, or headbanging at a rock show near her home in the San Francisco Bay Area! Stay Tuned for more…

Connect with Ro at rlmerrillauthor.com, twitter.com/rlmerrillauthor, instagram.com/rlmerrillauthor, tiktok.com/rlmerrillauthor1342, or facebook.com/rowritesrocknromance.