Page 55 of Hiding Hollywood

“You know she’s my ex-fiancé. Jennifer moved to Statem the beginning of our senior year in high school.” He glanced back at Addie. “We dated off and on the entire year. We were actually broken up when I went to that football camp in California. I asked her to marry me at the end of the summer. We were engaged the entire time she went to college. She came back. I expected us to get married that next year. She told me she’d only marry me if I moved to a bigger city. I refused.”

Addie stepped in front of him. He looked down at her sweet face.

“That doesn’t sound unreasonable. Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“Because I was stupid to think she’d stay here. Small towns aren’t for everyone. You see the same people every day. Hear the same old stories. Everyone knows if you have a cold or you had a fight with your parents. Change is virtually impossible in Statem.”

“It sounds like an entire town of people who care about you.”

“Jennifer saw it as a trap. She’d never advance her career. She was an accountant and wanted a career with a high rise and fancy clients. I thought she wanted us to be together as much as I did.” He threaded his fingers through hers, his soul feeling a little lighter for telling Addie. “She’d asked me to leave with her. She’d been offered a job in Nashville.” Kissing the back of her hand, he brought it to his chest. Touching her had made retelling the story easier than before.

“You didn’t want to leave?”

“You asked me if I played football in college. I never told her, but I got offered two different scholarships to play football after that camp. I turned it down because of Jennifer. I didn’t want to waste time in college playing football. I was here, working, saving for a future with her.

“In the end, my dream outweighed my love for Jennifer. She had her goals, and I had mine. We were two different people. Grew apart while she was in school. It got a little messy at the end.”

Addie rose on her toes and kissed him. “I’m glad you chose to stay here.”

He shouldn’t want her so bad. It shouldn’t feel like they had a future. They didn’t. Her job, her entire life, didn’t suit him. How could he run for Sheriff while dating a woman who carelessly played with danger and broke dozens of laws?

“Are you still trying to break into the drug dealer’s computer?”

The glow of excitement died in her eyes. “It’s my job, Cameron.”

“No matter what I say, you’ll still do it?” Feeling her body under his hands reminded him how fragile life was.

“Yes.”

She hadn’t hesitated, which scared him more than anything. Did she not take her safety seriously? She’d sacrificed her job to ensure his parents were safe. He swore under his breath. He really shouldn’t encourage her.

“If you have to do it, I can at least keep you as safe as possible. Here.” He released her and took a couple of long steps to the hall closet. “I hate computers.”

“What does that have…” Her question died on her tongue as he pulled out a laptop, new in the box. “Cameron?”

It made no sense why he’d condone the activities. Let alone in his own house. But deep down, if it meant risking his profession to ensure, at least for the week she had left, that he kept Addie safe, he’d do it.

“I got this last year for Christmas and never opened it up. I really do hate computers.” Funny. He was falling for a woman who was a computer genius. He held it out to her.

“What are you doing?” She clasped her hands behind her back.

“I’m giving you a present.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t get you something. What are we celebrating?” Her voice hitched with excitement.

Cameron lowered the box and crooked his finger, wagging it for her to come closer, “It’s been two days since I first did this.”

He kissed her again. Long. Slow. Relishing every part of her sweet mouth. Her body felt made for his, and he fought against every urge to take her the short distance to his bedroom.

“Thank you for my gift. I’m sure your mom will be happy that I’m not hogging their computer.”

“I’m sure she will since you can only use this here.”

Licking her lips, she eyed the computer and then him. “What?”

“You heard me. I want you here when you do your job. You said it yourself that you needed a different internet connection. Use mine. Do whatever you need to do.” He linked his fingers behind her back and watched her velvety brown eyes. “Your job isn’t safe enough to do at my mom’s house. At least if you’re here, you’ll have Lacy, who is a big deterrent. Plus, I’ll make sure I’m here more often.” Trying to stay away seemed pointless. “If anything is tracked, I’m armed and ready.”

She pushed away from him. “You want to babysit me.”

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