Margot and Sloane dedicated a large percentage of their time to Jules’s career. If she didn’t act, they’d have to find a new focus. Mason had once told her they saw Jules as a cash cow. She’d told him to fuck off. He, apparently, was the one who had seen her like that.
But his sentiment wasn’t far from the truth. Everyone around her made money—stupid money. Because she did. Margot and Sloane would be fine if she retired, but it would be a shock to their system.
Why would anyone want her to retire? Who cared this much? The only thing she knew was that it was someone with money. Someone near home. Someone with the dumbest message imaginable. What could they possibly gain?
“Are you still hooked on acting?” Rhys asked her.
She stared out the dark window. “Would you believe me if I said I was just an award-season junkie?”
He laughed. “Not even a little bit.”
“It’s what I know how to do. I’m good at it, and it would affect more than just me if I stopped.” She refused to say ‘retire’ and would never quit. “My parents—”
“Your parents wouldn’t give a shit if you were giving an acceptance speech for an Oscar or winning the teacher of the year award. They’d be proud of you no matter what.”
“I wouldn’t be a good teacher.”
“Sweetheart, you’re good at everything you do.Everything.”
Lightning skittered down the nape of her neck.Everythingshouldn’t make her stomach clench. She repositioned on the leather couch and tucked her feet underneath her. “Do you like what you do?”
“Yes,” he answered with no hesitation, just like everything else about him. Rhys never wavered. His default mode was decisive. Decisions were black and white. Gray, blurry options didn’t exist in his world.
“Why?” she asked.
He settled back and crossed his arms. Interesting that his answer didn’t come so fast. He tilted his head to glance out the oval window. Nothing but black skies could be seen. “Have you ever had something in your career that you couldn’t break away from?”
“Like a typecast?”
He pursed his lips, considering, and after a moment, he nodded. “Yeah, I guess so. Seems like you’ve avoided it.”
“My parents helped.” She’d distanced herself from them when she was starting out, wanting to earn the roles on her own. Except for their strict demands on her security, they’d allowed her to stumble and fumble into her career. They didn’t call infavors for her or anyone in their family, but they freely gave advice when asked. “They helped select roles, gave insight on how to talk to casting directors. Then Margot came into the picture, and we were on the same page, not wanting to pinhole myself.” Just run herself ragged. Maybe it wasn’t acting she was tired of, but the dog and pony show, the fakeness and the frenzy. Maybe she’d needed this vacation more than she’d realized. “I’m rambling. Sorry. I’ve avoided typecasting.”
“I wasn’t at the FBI long but was sorta typecast. They had me for one reason, and no matter the assignment, it always came down to that.”
“Your memory.”
He nodded, casually shrugging. “It’s helpful.”
“It’s how you found me. I’m alive because of that big, beautiful brain of yours. Otherwise, I would’ve frozen to death in a barn. Not the way I want to die.”
Rhys stretched as though suddenly uncomfortable, as if the spacious, luxurious leather seating and infinite legroom had turned into a tiny box. He stood and paced to the end of the small aircraft and back then settled on the opposite side of her couch. “It’s a blessing and a curse.”
“What do you mean? Everyone wants you on their trivia team. You probably had perfect grades in school. You recognized a damaged highway billboard in the background of a picture Jordan Everett sent me and somehow saved the woman who talked you into making out for the paparazzi.”
Rhys shoved his hands into his pockets. “Yeah, well…”
“Well?”
He sighed then leaned back, seeming like he couldn’t sit still. “Today’s the perfect example. I walked in, heard what I heard, saw what I saw, and even though I know you’re okay, that it probably wouldn’t have turned as dark and ugly as it could, I’mliterally never going to be able to erase those moments from my mind.”
She’d never thought about that before. Her lips parted, but she didn’t know what to say.
“What happened today will never dull or fade from my mind. The fear on your face is permanently etched in my memory.”
“God, Rhys. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t say that.” He shrugged like he hadn’t dropped a bomb. “Like I said, it can be a blessing and a curse.”
