Page 53 of Hiding Hollywood

“Intense.” Her fingers stroked along the back of his neck, making his thirst for her even stronger. “I used to watch you in those scrimmage games. Incredibly focused on the ball. A darker side. That thirst for blood reappeared with Brian. I think we’re both a little different than how people perceive us.”

“I agree. Being the dumb kid in high school with something to prove is a little different than who I am now. You, on the other hand, are wonderful this way, without the plastic coverings.”

“The plastic coverings, as you call them, make everything look a little nicer. This is the most I’ve ever gone talking to someone without makeup since I was in high school.”

“You don’t need makeup. You’re beautiful this way.”

She lowered her lashes, looking at his shirt. “With my job…” She trailed off, leaving only the sound of their breath. He hadn’t pinpointed what had bothered him more. The fact that she didn’t know for who or for what reason she hacked into computer systems, that the lure of the money drove her to commit crimes, or, worse, that she’d mentioned that what she did put her in danger. Based on her description, dangerous people had threatened her in the past. Who had been there for her?

Instead of working with law enforcement, she worked outside the lines and unprotected.

He’d known women in law enforcement his entire life. A woman that chose that profession knew the risks and knew how to defend herself. Addie wasn’t law enforcement. Unless she had a chance to use her speed and run away from an attacker, she'd end up defenseless. She had no business trying to catch criminals.

And by next week, he wouldn’t be there to rescue her. That angered him more than anything.

She rubbed his arm. “Are you still mad at me for mentioning things to Dexter last night?” Her lighthearted tone had disappeared. “I know you didn’t want the town to know about us, not that there is much of an 'us'—”

He silenced her with his lips. He’d never contemplated another woman hurt before. Not like that.

Her lips returned each kiss, scribbling right over his rational thoughts as to why they shouldn’t do this. In his house.

Wrapping his arms around her, he held her as close as possible. Right now, she was safe. Here. With him.

Lacy whined and jumped up, placing two paws on Addie’s back and threatening to push them all off balance.

“Down.” He pushed the dog away. “Dumb dog.”

Addie's lips parted, her eyes defensive. “She’s not dumb, just trying to get some love.”

“Funny, so was I.”

Addie giggled and buried her face in his shoulder. A second later, her teeth grazed over the column of his neck that sent a shock to his feet. He patted her hip.

“Before I forget, I had a call from my mom earlier. She can’t go to this benefit thing tomorrow night. Do you want to go with me?”

She straightened. “Like get dressed up and go somewhere.”

“Yes.”

“Like a…date?”

“Yes.”

“A date where everyone in town will know we’re together?” At his nod, she beamed a smile. “I’d love to go.”

“Good.”

Her body sagged against his. “You didn’t answer my question.” She pressed a kiss to his jawline, nibbling her way across until her teeth grazed over his earlobe.

His hands remained glued to her hips. A purely physical reaction, no matter how intense, he could resist. Realizing that every facet of Addie, not only her body, brought out something primal and possessive in him made distancing himself damn near impossible.

“Are you still mad at me, Cam? About what I told you I did for a living.”

He stepped away, hating the confusion in her eyes. “I’m not mad, exactly.” Irrationally overprotective was another way to describe it but admitting to that would confuse the situation even further.

Cameron led her into the living room, avoiding the kitchen at all costs. Every second he’d spent at his house the past five days he’d spent working the theft cases and looking for clues. The quick fix meals and lack of time had left the kitchen resembling more like a nuclear waste site than anywhere he wanted Addie to see.

Addie slipped her hand into his in a natural, carefree way. How was this so simple for her? He’d not felt like this since well before Jennifer had skewered his heart. Going through that pain again, once Addie left, didn’t give him much motivation to fall for her even more. Not that he had any hope of avoiding it. Then, there was Trevor. Her brother had called twice since Brian left, checking on her and asking Cameron to make sure she was alright. He was supposed to play the big brother role since he wasn’t there to do it.

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