Page 8 of Hiding Hollywood

Dewey Mitchell chuckled, sounding lighthearted as always. “I wish. I’m banging my head against the wall on this one, Cam. No fingerprints. Just like before. My gut is saying it’s not someone in town.”

“Then, why has it gone on for three weeks? We can’t overlook locals, Dewey.”

“I know. You almost back?”

Addie muttered, “finally,” as her fingers flew over her phone screen again quicker than any middle school girl he’d seen.

“I’ll be back in about thirty minutes. I need to drop Addie off at the house and swing by to check on Lacy. I’ll come in after that.” He ignored Dewey’s question of “Who is Addie?” and ended the call before he pulled back onto the highway.

Her head snapped his direction. “Where am I staying?”

“Hotel Dempsey.” He’d tried for a joke, but she didn’t seem to get it.

Her lips parted, and a blush crawled up her neck and across the exposed part of her chest, the one area he’d avoided looking since their first meeting. The space between them seemed to shrink as he swallowed over the lump in his throat.

“Cameron,” she began, a serious, steady tone to her voice. “I appreciate the offer, and I know you’re Trevor’s friend, but I don’t think I need to stay at your house.” Her tongue darted out, wetting her bottom lip. “With you.”

At his house…in his bed. Not going there with her.

“Sorry.” He rubbed a hand over his buzzed hair. “You’ll stay at my parents’ house. My dad is the Sheriff. Since you’re Trevor’s sister, my mom refused to let you stay in a hotel, and the local bed and breakfast is full. We’d rather you stay close since you’re our responsibility. And because the next acceptable hotel is over an hour away. It’s better than back in jail.” He tried for a smile. “Better food.”

“I bet the toilets are nicer, too.”

Her deadpan expression caught him off-guard, but he would play along. “And there’s free cable T.V.”

“An extra blanket?”

He nodded. “A very comfortable queen-sized bed.”

She shifted a touch, an inch closer, her eyes giving him that direct stare he’d remembered from so long ago. “And”—she paused—“Coffee?” The cute conspirator look on her face almost broke him.

He stopped at a red light. He moved until their shoulders brushed. Tiny flecks of gold reflected in her brown eyes. “I’m sure unlimited coffee is a negotiable item in the terms of your release.”

She tilted her head, barely a millimeter, but enough that if this had been any other woman, any other situation, he would’ve leaned in and kissed her.

“What else can be negotiated?” She asked, a little breathless.

He’d have to be dead not to feel the chemistry popping between them. Like throwing one lit match after another into kerosene, it was nothing he’d ever experienced with another woman before. Especially, not with Jennifer.

This was about to be two weeks in Hell. He straightened in his seat. It wasn’t real. Her actions. His feelings. They had to be fake since everything about her was fake.

How many other men had fallen under her spell? At least one. Her boyfriend. “Tell me about Brian.”

One of many reasons that made his friend’s little sister off-limits.

She blinked, and the cute dimple on her cheek disappeared. She sank back against the seat, curling both legs under her as she leaned her head against the window. “He’s gorgeous. A really talented actor trying to break into the business. I already told you he’s done a commercial, a few other modeling gigs. We’ve been together a couple of years.”

Nice resume. It confirmed one thing: She didn’t love the jerk.

She might think she did but listing off a man’s accomplishments didn’t lend itself to the once-in-a-lifetime love that Cameron wanted. The kind his parents had found. That eased his guilt a touch at lusting after another man’s girlfriend.

Is that all Addie looked for in a man? Money? She and his ex-fiancé could’ve been best friends.

“What about you? Girlfriend? Wife?”

“I have one girl in my life right now. Lacy.” He started to explain that she was a rescue dog, but Addie’s phone chimed with a text.

“Sorry. Trevor needed the name of the resort where Brian is staying.” She typed for a moment before setting the phone down. “Do you think I’ll see you, sometime, at your parents’ house?”

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