Page 2 of Hiding Hollywood

She ran a hand over her hair. “Why, sweetie, I already told you my name is Addison Johnson.” Her sugary tone of voice sounded strained.

Why didn’t anyone believe her? The first time she’d ever lost her wallet, including her driver’s license. Just lousy timing considering they arrested her for driving a reported stolen vehicle. She was too fact-minded and didn’t believe in fate, so she chalked it up to bad luck.

She smirked as she ran through the dozen or so things she could do to Brian’s online footprint to ruin his career for leaving her in this situation. Thinking of it as revenge made her sound petty. It was more along the lines with helping to teach him a little humility.

The blue uniform arched his bushy eyebrow but didn’t correct himself or use her name.

Addie clenched her hands together for restraint. Now, both middle fingers inched themselves up to the sky.

Flirt. Smile. She’d done it dozens of times before. She’d perfected her cover over the past eight years.

“I sure do hope you’ve come to set me free.”

“Nope. Chief Deputy Dempsey has come to take you into custody,” the blue uniform called out, motioning to the man next to him.

The newcomer’s eyes glinted in the late afternoon sunlight coming in through her small window. Even from this distance, she noted the unique moss-green color. She’d seen that color once before.

One summer, she’d used every waking minute sneaking glances at a boy with hypnotic green eyes. A color that she’d have killed for instead of the dull brown her parents had gifted her.

Too bad the color didn’t do much to soften the incredibly pissed-off look he shot her way. That was a change. From confusion to anger. Why was he mad? She was the one behind bars. He at least had his freedom and unobstructed access to coffee.

Addie smiled in a sexy way that always took Brian out of his foul moods. That was the only downfall to her choosing to date an actor. He seemed to have more mood swings than an adolescent girl.

The blue uniform blushed and glanced away. One down.

Chief Deputy Dempsey’s scowl darkened when she aimed her smile his direction. She tried to place his face. Had she seen him in L.A. at some point? She’d have to figure it out later. Right now, she had a role to play.

She held her hands out as she glided toward him. “Am Iyourprisoner now?” It came so easily. That seductive voice that made most men respond. It glossed over the hard edges of her intelligence. Two extremes.

“Somethin’ like that,” he said in a thick, Southern accent. He crossed his arms and added, “Addie.”

Her smile faltered a moment. She hadn’t told anyone her nickname. With both men watching her, she went back to her act.

She ran a hand through her hair, arching her back and tilting her head a little to the side. Brian always bragged he’d win an Oscar someday. She needed a flipping Oscar after her eight-year performance of trying to act like a sex kitten to throw people off her tracks. God, it was exhausting.

The blue uniform shook his head and unlocked the door. “Good luck, Cameron.” The iron bars swung open wide. “She’s a handful.”

She pursed her lips together and focused solely on her new guard. It seemed her luck had changed a little. If she had to flirt, she would rather flirt with the cute guy. “Can I call you Cameron?”

Addie licked her bottom lip before catching it for a moment between her teeth.

Bingo. That time a low, slightly annoyed, growl rumbled in his chest, complete with an eye roll. Okay. He wasn’t dead, just not interested. Didn’t matter. His bad mood didn’t change his status as a serious hottie. A little ironic that she stood there checking him out since she typically hid away from the law. Her lack of real affection for Brian provided her with guilt-free flirting. She’d never make a move, even being in a fake relationship, but she would definitely look. A lot.

“Follow me.” Cameron turned and left her and the blue uniform staring at his broad back. She might have had reservations about a jailbreak seduction with the sweaty man motioning her forward, but those same reservations did not apply to Cameron. She paused by the blue uniform.

“It’s been fun,” she murmured, tapping a finger on the edge of his shoulder. “Let’s see if I’ll have more fun with Cameron…”

She dropped her hand. Cameron Dempsey?

Her breath stalled in her lungs, and her head snapped back to Cameron’s retreating figure. It was him. The eyes. The body. The smooth bronze skin that highlighted his half Native American heritage. How had she not seen it right away?

Oh. My.

This time, she licked her lips to keep from drooling. The boy that’d hung around their house in California fifteen years ago had certainly grown up.

He whirled around at the end of the hallway. “I’d prefer you call me Chief Deputy Dempsey.”

Oh, that was him.

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