Page 12 of Hunted Hearts
The audience broke into applause, and Juliette ground her teeth until it faded away.
“The children’s charity is something I’m deeply passionate about. The children there—many of them lost everything. And we provide food, education, and most importantly, access to music.”
“Would you like to have a family of your own someday? You must want to pass on your talent to a young Juliette.”
She twined her fingers in her lap to keep them from shaking with irritation. “As a matter of fact, I already have lots of kids. In the charity I support, which is why so many performances on the tour are fundraisers.”
Another spattering of applause broke out, and the night show host gave them a broad grin. “The audience agrees that your passion for music and your philanthropic endeavors are things we all admire.”
Seeing the door of her interview time slot about to shut in her face, she leaned forward, eager to convey more about her charity, how they spread awareness about their work and helped match orphaned kids with loving families.
“What I’d reallyloveto highlight is the program’s future expansion. Our efforts helped to open a new facility six months ago. And we’ve launched a scholarship program to send older kids to different countries to study the subject of their choice.”
The host nodded, but it was clear his interest was waning. “That’s wonderful. Truly. But let’s circle back to your family—what was it like growing up with so much expectation on your shoulders?”
Juliette smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Actually, I prefer to focus on what’s ahead. My past doesn’t define me—my music does.”
Well before she was finished, the notes of her own recorded music filtered through the studio, cutting her off.
The interview wrapped up with the usual polite applause, and she thanked the host with the same careful smile. But by the time she made it to the green room, she could barely keep her frustration from boiling over.
She strode inside, yanking a bobby pin from her bun and tossing it onto the coffee table.
“God,” she muttered. “Why do they always act like I should be apologizing for not being more of a scandal?”
Her team surrounded her, reassuring her with all the same words she’d heard before from them. Nothing truly ever changed.
Except now she felt the silent presence of her new bodyguard. Theo was posted in front of the door, watching her.
And making her more aware of how hard she was clenching her fists.
Suddenly, the anger that had been simmering since her team decided to make a huge deal out of a little bug accidentally crawling into a bouquet boiled over.
Theo didn’t shift his attention from her now, and he hadn’t the entire time she was on that stage. The man was a distraction Juliette didnotneed. Of course Camden Kline had picked up on how intensely Theo stared at her. And shedefinitelydidn’t need people spreading rumors about something going on between them.
As if she would ever be with a man like Theo. She wanted him gone, out of her life forever.
Too bad if she fired the bodyguard, Henri would shut down her tour.
She looked straight at Theo. He hadn’t moved an inch—arms folded, jaw tight, a wall of muscle planted just inside the green room doorway. The kind of man who didn’t flinch even when bullets were flying. The kind who didn’t leave until the danger was gone.
Ifthere was danger at all.
His gray eyes met hers—keen and searching. Like he could read her more deeply than she wanted to be seen.
He didn’t look away.
He didn’tblink.
The silence stretched between them with an electricity of its own.
Juliette’s heart beat a little faster, not from fear, but something far more dangerous.
They were stuck together now. Whether she believed the threat or not, whether she wanted him in her space or not. And by the look in his eyes, he wasn’t just assessing the room anymore.
He was assessingher.
She couldn’t decide if that made her feel safer—or exposed.
