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She looked around the coffee shop. “I bet it’s different from military life.”
“Definitely.” He glanced around, checking that no one was close by. “How did you get into acting?”
“Annie.”
He raised a brow.
“The orphan, Annie. I was nine and we went to see it because my brother was working backstage for the production. I was mesmerized. This girl, with red hair—which I took as a sign—was singing and dancing, and being so big and bold. I was hooked.”
“And the rest is history.”
She rolled her beautiful eyes. “Oh no. I told my mom that I was going to become an actress, and she freaked. Single mom, working two jobs, desperate for some sort of security. She didn’t see acting as a good career path, and she wasn’t afraid to share her thoughts.”
He frowned. “Winning an Oscar must have changed her mind.”
She shrugged. “Not really. I think she’s still waiting for me to wake up one day and realize I need to be a doctor or lawyer. It’s fine. I know I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. I love it.”
That smile again.
“Good for you.”
She lifted her coffee mug. “Thanks.”
He checked his watch. “I need to get to work.”
“Oh, I’m holding you up. Sorry. Nice chatting with you, Deputy La?—”
He raised a brow.
“Sawyer.” She grabbed a cookie. “Thanks for the coffee recommendation, too. Oh, and the rescue yesterday.”
He rose, feeling strangely reluctant. “Try not to set any more fires today. I’d hate to have to arrest you for being a firebug.”
Her laugh went straight to his gut. “I’ll try my best.”
CHAPTER THREE
Bend. Stretch. Breathe.
Hollis held the downward-dog pose, breathing calmly. She was on the beach, doing yoga to relax. The morning sun was warm on her skin, the sand was cool under her feet, and the gentle sounds of the waves lapping on the shore echoed in her ears.
But she didn’t feel relaxed.
With a huff, she dropped onto her towel. She was in literal paradise, and she still couldn’t relax.
She’d slept badly…again. Dreams of Reuben standing over her, holding a knife, had plagued her. She knew she shouldn’t have accepted that role in that horror movie a few months back. It had been a fun cameo, where she’d been brutally murdered in the opening scene. It had only been one day of filming, and it had been lots of fun.
Except, it had left her with perfect mental images of messy stabbings.
“Michael Reuben doesn’t know where you are,” she whispered. “Just breathe.”
She did some deep breathing. Two days in Hawaii, and she was still edgy and tense. She pushed her hair back.
The only time she hadn’t been stressed was when she’d been talking with Deputy Hottie.
Sawyer.
Okay, last night in bed with her vibrator she hadn’t been stressed, either. She bit her lip. She’d been imagining Sawyer’s head between her legs instead of her toy.