Page 70 of Hiding Hollywood

Addie rubbed her arms as a cold chill crept over her skin. She swallowed over the lump in her throat. “I hope they’ll be okay.” Because, for the first time, she’d understood that bone-deep ache for someone. Cameron and his grumpy, straight-laced personality had taken root. Dirty dishes and everything. She wasn’t ready to give it up yet.

He hadn’t mentioned their next step, and she didn’t have a solution. They were farther apart than simply miles. Their jobs didn’t mix.

“Let’s go make some tea.”

Addie arched an eyebrow at Mrs. Dempsey, causing her to laugh.

“Fine. I’ll make you some coffee before we eat lunch. You can tell me all about the benefit dance last night.” She draped an arm over her shoulders. “And anything else you want to talk about that might have happened.”

Mrs. Dempsey might be one of those cool moms, but she’d stick to PG-rated topics and leave her son’s incredible skills in the bedroom out of the conversation.

She chatted about the dance while Mrs. Dempsey warmed up leftovers for lunch.

After two hours of waiting in the kitchen, Addie moved to her room, changing out of his pajama pants and into a pair of leggings. She curled up in her bed. Her whole body felt drained from the tension of waiting to hear about Cameron.

Cameron’s smell, that pine tree scent she’d discovered that morning came from the soap he used in his shower, infiltrated her light sleep.

“Addie.” His hand stroked her hair.

She jolted upright. Their foreheads smacked together.

“Ah!” She cried, rolling over holding her head against the immediate pain.

“Shit, are you okay?” He pulled her hand away, brushing the pad of his thumb over what was sure to be an ugly bruise.

Reality busted through the throbbing ache. “You’re back.” She threw her arms around his neck, breathing him in deep. “I was so worried.”

Strong arms held her close. A half-laugh vibrated in his chest. “I didn’t realize it’d scare you that much.”

“I didn’t either.”

He set her away from him. She pointed at a long, shallow gash across his forehead. “Did I do that?”

“No.” His jaw a light discoloration of a bruise. Sweat beaded along his hairline, the back of his neck and shirt collar damp.

“What happened?”

“The guy wrecked his car and tried to run.”

She traced the bruise with a light finger. “Did he fight you?”

A dimple formed next to the corner of his lip. “No. But it wasn’t for lack of trying on my part. When I caught him, I tackled him, and we rolled down a hill, and the motion threw me into a tree.”

She leaned up and kissed his jaw. “I’m sorry a tree beat you up, but I’m glad you came back somewhat intact.” She moved to kiss his neck and found herself pressed back onto her pillow. Cameron’s delicious body weight pushed away from the worry, replaced by a new need she recognized as more than pure lust. Love. She didn’t ever want to give this up.

His kiss parted her lips.

How had she missed this feeling her whole life? The longing to get as close to a man as possible. The realization that she loved him made everything bright and sunny now that he was back and safe. She pulled him tighter. He gripped her thigh, pulling it up next to his hip.

God, she wanted him.

“You’re stopping by tonight, right?” Her question came out in a pant. No use playing hard to get.

“Yes.”

“Good,” she muttered against his lips.

He smiled, breaking their kiss. “I have to get back to the station.” He sat up, dragging her to a sitting position.

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