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Blessed silence fell.Hallelujah. Her ears were still ringing, though.
The sheriff stepped past her and eyed the smoking ruin of her coffee machine.
“Um, I’m not sure what happened. I started the machine and went to take a shower.” She waved at the small fire extinguisher she’d found under the sink. “I used that, but I think the coffee machine is dead.”
He lifted the fire extinguisher, and she watched him carefully spray the smoking coffee machine again.
She blinked. He looked so…competent and in charge.
She’d worked alongside actors who’d portrayed cops, soldiers, and heroes. They always seemed so fake.
Not this man.
“It’s definitely dead.” His voice was a low rumble. He leaned over to set the fire extinguisher down, and her gaze went to the most muscular ass she’d ever seen—and she’d seen quite a few in Hollywood.
Then he turned to face her.
Rugged. There was no other word to describe that face. Well, maybe solid, masculine. She’d heard actors called rugged, but they didn’t hold a candle to this guy. The beard—something more than scruff but less than full lumberjack—just added to the rugged vibe.
“Thank you.” She tucked the towel a little more securely around her body and triednotto focus on the fact that she’d just been completely naked in front of this man. “I didn’t mean to start a fire.” She glanced at the black ruin and winced.
“I’m Deputy Sheriff Sawyer Lane. You’re a friend of Archer Kent?”
That deep voice shivered through her. She stared at him and realized he was waiting for a response.
Right, he’d asked her a question. She shoved a hand through her wet hair. “Yes. Archer is letting me stay here for a bit.”
That direct hazel gaze hit her—his eyes were mostly green, but with a few flecks of gold. She felt like his gaze could see inside her, see all her secrets.
Hollis had been an actress since her teens. She’d gotten very good at never giving her secrets away…because they’d likely end up in a tabloid.
She lifted her chin. “I’m…Holli. Thank you, Sheriff.”
“Deputy.” He eyed her. “You staying long, Holli?”
There was no sign of recognition on his face. She wasn’t surprised since she was wet, makeup free, and only wearing a towel.
“I’m not sure yet. I’m taking a…break.”
She wished it was that simple. She was trying to escape from the fact that she was either in danger or losing her mind. She wasn’t sure which one she’d prefer at this stage.
She straightened. “Well, thank you again for silencing the alarm.”
Deputy Sheriff Sawyer Lane nodded, then strode past her. She caught his scent—some woodsy cologne that gave her an image of him chopping wood.
Jeez, imagination, we’re on Maui. He’s not a lumberjack.
Near the front door, the deputy paused.
“Ma’am, if you want coffee, there’s a good place in Paia. It’s called Island Brew.”
She nodded. “Thanks. I don’t really function without a decent caffeine hit.”
“They’ll definitely be able to provide that.” He gave her a chin lift.
As he closed the door behind him, heat filled her cheeks. Hollis pressed her palms over them.
Way to go, Hollis. You burned down your coffee machine and flashed the local deputy.