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Rick inclined his head but looked guarded. “Okay, yeah.”
“But now that the problem with my father is gone,” she said, taking a deep breath, “we no longer have to continue this farce.”
Had she really said farce? She’d meant to say...
Rick’s expression hardened. “Right.”
“You disagree?”
He leaned in. “You’re still that little girl who is afraid of being abandoned—of someone walking out on her again.”
“Please, I know where you’re going with this is, and it’s not true.” It wasn’t abandonment she was scared of. She was a grown woman who feared she’d have her heart broken. Her heart was broken—because she was in love with Rick and he steered clear of actresses.
Still, wasn’t his keen perception what she liked about him? Loved? Yes, loved—in addition to his humor, intelligence and daring. They were qualities that appealed to different sides of her personality, even if they made her uncomfortable and yes, infuriated her sometimes.
“What about your overeager admirer?” Rick demanded.
“That’s my problem to deal with.”
“And mine.”
She furrowed her brow. “What do you mean?”
“I mean my role here wasn’t solely to play boyfriend but to make sure you stayed safe.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Odele hired you?”
“She didn’t need to hire me. Do you know how much money I have invested in Pegasus Pride? Keeping the main talent safe was inducement enough.”
She felt his words like a blow to the chest. All those lingering touches, kisses, and his motivation had been... “You lied to me.”
“Not really. You knew I was primarily a fake boyfriend.”
“And secondarily a rat.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You’re offended because I may have had ulterior motives, too, in this game of ours?”
Yes, it had been a game. She was the fool for forgetting that. “I’m annoyed for not being told the whole truth. At least I was clear about my motivations.”
“Yes, and you’re determined not to rely on any man, aren’t you?”
“Was Odele in on this?” she countered.
He shrugged. “We might have had a conversation about how it was in everyone’s interest for me to keep an eye on you.”
“Everyone’s interest but mine,” she said bitterly.
Rick set his jaw. “It was in your best interest, too, though you’re too pigheaded to admit it.”
Her heart constricted. Had he meant those things he’d whispered in the heat of passion—or had she run into the biggest actor of all? Even now, the urge to touch him was almost irresistible.
How had this conversation gotten very serious and very bad so fast? She’d wanted to talk about their charade and give him an out that she hoped he wouldn’t take. Instead, she was left deflated and wondering whether she’d ever understood him.
Still, she rallied and lifted her chin. “You should be glad I’m setting you free. We never talked about forever, and you don’t like fame. You don’t want to be dating an actress, even if it’s pretend.” Two could play at this game. If he was going to cast her as another high-maintenance starlet, albeit one with an aversion to vulnerability where men were concerned, then she could portray him as camera-shy and hung up on celebrity.
He firmed his jaw but took a while to answer. “You’re right. Fame isn’t my thing.” He raked a hand through his hair. “I should have learned that lesson with Isabel.”
Chiara held back a wince. In some ways, she understood. The last thing some stars’ egos could handle was to be cast in someone else’s shade. There were A-list celebrities who refused to date other A-list celebrities for that very reason. Still, it rankled. She was not some random fame-seeker. If she couldn’t fall in love with a celebrity, and an anonymous civilian would be put off her fame, who was left? Did she have to settle for a brief interlude with a stuntman with hidden layers? Was that all there was for her?
