Page 40 of Hiding Hollywood

“She’s just a baby. Human babies wear diapers until they’re two. You can’t expect a dog to get it overnight.”

“I’ll be sure to send her back to California with you if she turns two years old and is still not potty trained.”

A shadow fell over Addie’s face, but she continued to rub Lacy. “Right. Back to California.”

The disappointment in her voice didn’t make sense. She’d done nothing but complain about not getting to work. Getting to go home should make her happy. Then, she’d see her crappy boyfriend again.

He headed down the stairs. He’d never figure her out.

Addie’s light footstep followed him. She jogged past him. Lacy barked and whined. Not this time, girl. He wanted Addie all to himself.

“Are we going for a run or a walk?” She threw a cute smile over her shoulder before picking up her pace. “God, this feels good! I hope the rain holds off.”

He ran after her. A renewed lust pounded into him with each step. The view of her in those tight pants was almost painful. Within a few more moments, he’d caught up and could watch the road ahead of them. Her pace surprised him. Not quite as fast as he usually ran, but pretty close to it.

He thought of all the running trails they could take. Most of the trails kept to the highway. Except for one. That one swung through the woods and close to the river. An old hunting trail that Nash should have cleared for deer season. It might be a little muddy. The cut-off for the path came into view. He only had one reason for taking her that way. It was playing with fire.

The spot was romantic.

He grabbed her hand and turned at the trail opening. She hesitated for a brief second before catching up with him. Tree roots stuck out at odd angles waiting to trip up either of them. He pulled back on the pace.

Her soft breath rushed in and out, but not labored. She hadn’t complained or needed to walk since they’d left home a few miles ago.

The smell of dank grass and leaves signaled that they were close to the river bank. Cooler air greeted them the deeper they ran into the forest. The trail leveled out from a decline, and she pulled up next to him. He slowed down to a walk.

Cameron led her across the narrow bridge spanning a small branch of the river. It was shallow, but with the rain up north, the water touched the top of the riverbank as it rushed over and around the rocks, swirling into small pools that looked inviting. The sound reminded him of the noisemaker his mom had in her bedroom. In January, the river’s temperature sat closer to sixty instead of the typical seventy-five. Far too cold for a swim.

Halfway across the narrow, one-man bridge, he pulled off his sweatshirt. The cool mist fell over his shoulders.

She made a little noise. He looked back at her.

Her eyes gazed at his chest before they settled on his tattoo.

The run in the chilly morning air brought a rosy glow to Addie’s cheeks. Her brown eyes sparkled in a way that made every part of his body respond. Her hair, wet from the light rain, appeared darker and suddenly she was the same girl he remembered.

He didn’t move as she openly stared at his body. Warning signals fired. Distance. He needed distance between them before—

“Cameron?” She squeezed herself between him and the railing.

Raindrops hit the leaves and trees around them in a steady pattern as the mist turned back into a light rain. He waited for her to feed him a line and drop him. Flirt the way she’d done in the kitchen before backing away. He gripped the wooden railing behind him tight.

Her body shifted, pressing against his.

He tightened his hold instead of reaching for her. Boyfriend. His responsibility. Off-limits.

The patter of rain quickened. A few large drops hit his shoulders and rolled down his back. It could have been a monsoon. Didn’t matter. Her eyes had him pinned in place.

Addie set a soft hand on his chest, her fingers caressing his skin.

“I’m not playing these games with you, Addie.” His voice sounded stern, overcompensating.

She pressed closer. “No games, Cameron. I want you to kiss me.”

“But—”

“You know more about me than I’ve ever let any other man see before. It’s not everything, might never be everything, but it means something to me. And, right now, I want you to kiss me. I can’t leave Georgia with that regret.”

Could he go against everything he stood for and take what was offered for once in his life?

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