Page 35 of Hiding Hollywood

She headed inside, Mrs. Dempsey stood alone at the sink washing plates from breakfast.

“What’s wrong with Cameron? Did he recognize the image on the video?”

“No.” She picked up another plate and ran it under the steaming water. “I’m sure they’ll both get around to thanking you for the video, though. Jimmy rushed out of here after watching it a dozen times and, well, I guess you saw Cameron leave.” She set the dish in the dishwasher and reached for the frying pan.

Addie snagged her coffee cup off the table and poured herself a refill before Mrs. Dempsey washed it. She’d take another ten cups of the Kona coffee if Mrs. Dempsey offered it to her.

“I’m not sure what I said to make him so mad this morning other than not answering the phone when Brian called.”

“I think it’s what you didn’t say.” She turned off the water and wiped her hands on a towel. “Addie,” she began, hanging the towel on the front of the cabinet. “I don’t think you've been very honest.”

Worry shot through her. What had they discovered on the computer? She knew this whole thing had been a bad idea. She hadn’t even hackedSunfloweryet. “I’m sorry for that. It’s just, with my job, I have to keep some things secret—”

“I meant with yourself, dear. Do you enjoy men looking at you the way they do?”

Her lips parted, but no words came out. She’d never considered her own feelings in this. “I don’t think of it that way.”

“You got that video, didn’t you? You somehow got into their system and pulled down the video.” At Addie’s silence, Mrs. Dempsey crossed her arms. “I knew there was more to you than tight pants and makeup, but this is something else, Addie. Something serious.”

“They won’t be able to trace it back to your address. I promise. I rerouted the signal.”

Mrs. Dempsey laughed, loud and vibrant. It felt out of place considering Addie’s nerves were winding up so tight, she could get physically sick at any moment.

“I don’t mean that kind of serious. I mean the difference in what you present and who you truly are. Cameron is having a tough time resolving all the conflicts that surround you with his own reaction.”

“Did he tell you this?”

“Honey, I’m his mother. He doesn’t have to tell me.”

Addie’s brain skimmed past asking about Cameron’s reaction and focused on the conflicts she’d mentioned. “What conflicts surround me?”

“Well,” she started and crossed her arms over her chest, “you’re under his custody. You’re his friend’s little sister. I’m sure that’s bothering him. I think one of the biggest issues he had was that you had a boyfriend.”

“What makes you think that he even has those kinds of feelings for me?” Addie wasn’t sure how mood swings translated to any type of attraction. Sure, he’d touched her knee, kissed the back of her hand, looked through her with those deep, green eyes…

“I wasn’t too sure about it until he was so rude to you earlier.”

At least she wasn’t the only one who’d thought he’d been extra nasty.

“He doesn’t think Brian is good enough for you.”

Addie shrugged. “So? Neither does my brother.”

Mrs. Dempsey gave her a look that could only be described as “don’t be stupid,” before she said, “Brian isn’t good enough for you because you deserve the best. Cameron is wrestling with himself because he knows he is a better man than Brian. It frustrates him to see you go through this.”

“Oh.” That was an interesting thought. Although, Cameron had acted this way since first picking her up at the station. Didn’t matter. Mrs. Dempsey said he wouldn’t pursue anything while she was under his custody. Once that wasn’t the case, she’d be on her way to California to clean out the condo she shared with Brian.

“What did Brian have to say, Addie?” Mrs. Dempsey didn’t hide her dimples. “I heard you read him the riot act.”

She grimaced. “Did Cameron hear that?”

Her smile looked sympathetic. “No. They were still in the back.”

“Did you hear the rest, too?”

“I’ll be polite and say no, but you’re welcome to tell me yourself.”

Leave it to Mrs. Dempsey to make her smile. “I broke it off with Brian.”

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