Page 29 of Hiding Hollywood

If Sheriff Dempsey was anything like Cameron, Addie understood. Cameron couldn’t hide his rough, male attitude and style if he dressed in a skirt, added some lipstick, and threw on a pair of glitter high heels. She smiled into the mug as she took a sip. He probably had great legs.

Mrs. Dempsey pulled on a light blue and green oven mitt with lace trim. “What did you do last night? Jimmy said he heard you on the computer when he got home from working that wreck.”

“I’m sorry if I disturbed anyone.”

“No. Not at all. Just wanted to make sure everything was alright.”

It would be alright if she could make herself hack intoSunflower’snetwork. She’d started to, twice. Rerouted her location. Blocked her signal the best she could. Nightmares of leading the drug lord right to Mrs. Dempsey’s sweet kitchen assaulted her each time she started to type.

So, she concentrated on Cameron’s video problem instead. Easing herself into that computer system didn’t pose nearly the threat of a drug mafia. Those were the types of people that’d kill you first and ask questions later. A lumber company with an army of lawyers not carrying assault rifles she could handle.

With a blast of hot air from the oven, the divine vision of biscuits appeared.

Addie gripped her mug tight.

One biscuit. Just one, girl.

Her stomach growled. Did they have biscuit eating contests like the hot dog one on July fourth? IfMiss Alicekicked her out ofWhite Rabbit, maybe she could earn a living eating dozens of biscuits for prize money.

“Here you go.” She set one on a pretty plate that matched the mug. “You said one, right?”

Yeah, but…

Addie almost cried as Mrs. Dempsey slid the second one on the plate.

“I won’t make it my priority to see you gain weight while you’re here, but life’s too short to look that dejected over a simple biscuit.”

Addie accepted the plate and butter. And jelly. And then experienced heaven on earth with her first bite. Her eyes closed. Mrs. Dempsey had annihilated her usual breakfast of a whole wheat muffin and a piece of fruit. The light, flaky biscuit melted on her tongue.

Geez, was the biscuit literally made of butter? She’d find somewhere to exercise to make up for it. She’d go run alongside the highway if nothing else. No way she’d refuse that second one now.

She took another bite. And another.

Totally worth the extra hour of exercise later. Much, much later.

“Please, tell me Addie didn’t eat all the biscuits.”

Addie jerked her eyes open at the sound of Cameron’s voice. He stood inside the screen door in his Sheriff’s uniform. She’d have to assess his cuteness later. It’d be dangerous to think of him on little sleep until her coffee and common sense kicked into high gear.

Her second biscuit sat there, all alone on the plate, and now she’d have an audience judging her decision. Brian wouldn’t have let her have the first biscuit, let alone make a joke about eating a whole pan. He never joked about his health or fitness, and he expected the same level of commitment from Addie. She usually kept her opinion to herself.

“I was joking,” Cameron said as he sat down next to her. His lips pulled back into a playful half-smile. “I do have a little bit of a sense of humor.”

Addie stared hard at her biscuit. “But this is food. I don’t joke about food.”

Cameron chuckled and waved at her plate. “Eat the biscuit, Addie.”

“I really shouldn’t…”

Mrs. Dempsey’s tinkling laugh floated from the other side of the kitchen. “Give her a break. She’s been scared of that second biscuit since she walked in here.” She pointed a purple spatula at Addie. “We’ll break you of that. The next meal you’re learning how to cook is sausage and sawmill gravy. We’ll use these leftover biscuits.”

Cameron’s eyebrows drew together. “What are you worried about? It can’t hurt you.” He picked up her knife and poked at it. “Yup. Good as dead.”

Of course, Cameron wouldn’t understand.

“Eggs, Addie?”

“No, thank you.” Eggs on top of biscuits? They’d have to roll her back to her room and prop her up.

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