And that made Jules want to laugh, because tonight, she actually felt like it was her first time ever, even after all these years. Today marked the first time she and Rhys would hit the red carpet together as an engaged couple.
“Make your way through the step-and-repeat,” Yasmin said. “Then you have two minutes on the press line.”
Jules nodded, knowing all that, but appreciating the way her friend was coming into her own in the new job.
“And you know when to back away?” Yasmin eyed Rhys again as if she hadn’t also drilled him. “You’re not the bodyguard tonight. Will you remember that?”
He smirked. “I don’t know how anyone could forget with you around.”
This red carpet was unlike any Jules had experienced before for more than one reason. No one would know except for Rhys and a very select few. Exhilaration pulsed in her blood. It had been years since the electricity of a night like this had resonated.
Rhys squeezed her hips. “Ready to kill it, baby?”
All Jules had to do was make it through the last interview. “Ready.”
Yasmin gave them a final once-over then spun and strutted into public view as a precursor to Jules’s arrival. A thunderous clamor arose. If anyone ever said they didn’t react to the frenzy, they had to be lying. Because even when Hollywood had sucked her soul dry, the buzzing energy on red carpets still stirred it.
Rhys held her clutch and took her elbow. The man had been born for Hollywood. She’d never be able to convince him of it, but that was part of his charm. The public loved his allure, and he never noticed.
They stepped from behind the partition, and a roar exploded.
“Jules!” Flashes popped. “Rhys!”
She mentally mapped where their first mark was. A few spots together, then they’d split apart, and he’d stay as far back as he could manage. He might not like the limelight, but he hated to relinquish security duties. Wes had stepped in, the only person Rhys trusted for events like this.
“Jules. This way. Over here.”
“Show us the ring!”
She eased into Rhys’s strong arms. He tucked her to his side, and she gave them what they wanted—a slight twist of her hips,resting her palm on his flat stomach, a diamond engagement ring gleaming.
An explosion of lights blinded them.
Rhys tipped his lips against her ear, his face turned from the photographers capturing every moment. “They have no idea you were just coming on my hand.”
She had to keep a straight face and tried not to move her lips. “I will kill you later.”
“Suffocation? Strangle me with your thighs?” His palm pressed against the small of her back as he maneuvered her to the next mark while still keeping his mouth hidden. “That’d be fun.”
With hot cheeks and excitement fluttering far below her stomach, she managed to hit her next mark. Step. Stand. Turn. Repeat. This was an endurance test. Flashing lights poured over her as she posed, smiling for pictures that would be everywhere within minutes, all while thoughts of Rhys being buried between her legs remained forefront in her mind.
“Either way will be a great way to go,” she said sweetly for anyone watching.
He totally wanted her to try to kill him with her pussy tonight, but that wasn’t his only agenda. The distraction was working. Tonight, Jules had her first real task on this new twist in her career. It was a simple one, but one that had had her on pins and needles for the last twenty-four hours.
She reached the press line and scanned for her target. Rhys approached with her clutch. Yasmin signaled whom she should speak with first. The quick interviews flew by.
“Who are you wearing?”
“How do you feel about the premiere?”
“Set a wedding date yet?”
“Who’s on the guest list?”
She hadn’t heard any question that should trigger her next step.
“Can you sign—”
