Opportunity? New audition? That didn’t surprise her. Matt’s career was going to skyrocket, and she was lucky enough to have VIP access to watch it take off.

A moment later, he joined her on the deck and she studied him. He leaned back on the other lounge chair and closed his eyes. “Mmm, that sun feels amazing.”

His rock-god statue-like body was amazing, but she forced her hormones to take a back seat. Business first. Pleasure later. It was their agreement. Careers came first. Relationship second. “Well? Did you tell him?”

“Yeah.”

Her skin tingled with a sense of foreboding at the not-so-enthusiastic one-word response. “What did he say?” Normally, his business was his own and she could resist being inquisitive, since this industry required a lot of information to be kept confidential until press releases went out, but this particular project involved her, too.

Matt didn’t open his eyes. “He’s not convinced it’s the best thing for me to do with my career on the rise.”

Selena’s jaw tightened. Managers. Thought they knew everything. If Matt wasn’t careful, soon every career decision would be out of his hands. Getting advice and guidance as a new actor was essential, and with his limited résumé, he was lucky to be represented by one of the biggest talent firms in LA, but Selena knew the trappings of money and quick success in this industry. She didn’t want Matt to get caught up in it all and lose sight of why he’d started acting in the first place. Still, she had to be careful not to be too pushy. They’d both agreed not to meddle in the other’s career.

“He hasn’t even read the script,” she said carefully. “So, how would he know?”

“He just thinks we should keep reaching higher while riding the success of the last film. Backsliding might give the wrong impression or something.” He shrugged like only a newbie deferring to the expertise of his manager could shrug.

“Backsliding?” Wow. Hollywood still couldn’t appreciate the value of independent films. They truly believed actors took on these roles when they could no longer get top billing. Not because they might want to try expanding their skill set or be involved with something a little deeper, maybe more meaningful…

She certainly wasn’t taking on this project as a way to pay off parking tickets or anything.

“You know I don’t think that,” Matt said, opening his eyes and rotating his head to look at her.

“Are you sure?” She hated the note of uncertain vulnerability that entered her voice. She didn’t like that she cared so much about what he thought about her and her recent career decisions. She hadn’t thought she had to prove to him that this new direction wasn’t from lack of options, but out of a desire to move forward, reach higher, expand her talent further.