By the time he became Carbon Man, he’d had too much money and name recognition to trust the women who threw themselves at him. Especially actresses. Wynn shut the door on all relationships not involving family, just as he’d shut down his emotions so many years ago.
He made a few notes in the margin, things he wanted to discuss with Scarlett, and put his pen down. Was he crazy to go up against a behemoth like Rylon? Would it sabotage his career? Make him unhireable in the future? He had no idea. If this move didn’t work, he’d be stuck filming for the next two years. Miserable the entire time. Wasting away creatively. Probably on the director’s shit list, which meant being reamed out for nothing after scenes were shot and getting fewer close-ups and no say in his character’s development in either film.
Wynn realized how much faith he’d put in Scarlett Corrigan and her abilities. He knew she thrived on a challenge and would do her best for him—but would it be enough? If not, would he still have a chance with her beyond a professional relationship once this fight ended?
His phone buzzed. Wynn pulled it out. “Hey, Cady. What’s up?”
“I just talked to Del. You dropped him?”
Wynn heard the outrage in her voice and knew he needed to perform damage control. When Cady arrived in Hollywood from the two years she’d spent living with their spinster aunt, he’d inherited a sullen thirteen-year-old in need of not only physical therapy but emotional support. Even now, when things upset her, Cady could spiral out of control.
“I needed someone with an off-the-charts level of expertise in entertainment law. Del agreed with me and he’s fine with it,” he said calmly. “In fact, he’s the one who suggested it.”
“You realize a bulk of his income comes from his dealings on your behalf. How is he supposed to survive financially?” she demanded.
“We talked about it. Del’s pro bono cases have always come first. I guaranteed him I’d make sure he could continue taking those on at the same rate. Del’s never wanted much as far as creature comforts go. He won’t live on the streets, Cady. You know I’ll always take care of both of you.”
“I do.” Her tone softened. “You saved me from Aunt Louise.”
“That witch had no business becoming your guardian. I took over as soon as I could.”
She sniffed. “I was pretty awful to you when I first came to live with you.”
“You were fine,” he reassured her. “You were hurting from losing Mom and Dad. Your leg. Your home and your friends. And Payne died right after that. It took a while to put your pieces back together but look how great you’ve turned out, Cady.”
“I owe everything to you, Wynn.” She paused. “Which is why this is hard to say.” She cleared her throat. “I need to move on.”
“What? I’ve given you everything you need, Cady. You work from home. You earn a great salary.”
“I barely do anything for you, Wynn. I pay some bills. Book a few flights. Do everything I can to keep your name out of the media. It’s not enough to keep me busy. I need more. I want to be around people. Feel useful.”
Wynn started to protest and changed his mind. “I agree. I’ve been selfish. You’re a grown woman, not a sad, helpless kid anymore. What do you have in mind?”
“This may sound crazy but I want to go back to school. My bachelors in English Lit won’t get me far. I . . . I want to teach, Wynn. Like Dad.”
“At the university level?”
“Yes. I’ve been volunteering for over a year now, working three nights a week with an adult GED program. It’s been rewarding but I’d like to kick it up a notch.”
“That means getting a masters and your PhD,” he noted.
“I know. I start classes after Labor Day at UCLA. They have a masters available on a doctoral track. I have no idea what the workload is like, otherwise I’d stay on with you and handle things.”
“I’m fine fending for myself. I’m not totally inept and can pay a bill or two. If for some reason I need help, I’ll hire it.” He paused. “I’m proud of you, Cady. Mom and Dad would be, too.”
“I’m relieved to hear that, Wynn.”
Scarlett walked into her office. Wynn knew she was there before he could turn around, thanks to that subtle floral scent she seemed to favor.
“Listen, Cady, I need to go. I’ve got a business meeting. We’ll talk more later.”
“Okay. Love you.”
“Same here. Bye.”
Wynn disconnected the call as Scarlett sat across from him.
“Let me read through the contracts before we talk. I want to get a handle on them before you and I brainstorm.”
He pushed the file folders toward her. “I did that while you were gone. Made a few notes. Ask if you have any questions. I know what’s in them, backward and forward.”
Opening the Kindle app on his phone, Wynn began the book about Edward III he’d downloaded last night. History, especially the medieval era, had always fascinated him. England, in particular. It was the chief reason he’d bid on the trip at the silent auction. Wynn had been to cities all over the world—London, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong—but like a rock band which never knew what town they played, he’d never been able to experience these cities. The closest he’d come to seeing the Eiffel Tower or Big Ben was his view from a plane window.
As he tried to settle into the book, he watched Scarlett surreptitiously. She read with a pen in hand, sometimes trading it for a pink highlighter as she marked a passage in the documents. She also had a tendency to tap her index finger against her lips while in
