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“Oh my God!” a voice screeched.
Hollis almost dropped her bags. She turned and saw a young woman in tiny shorts and a blue bikini top aiming a phone at her. Everything about the woman screamed tourist. She had long, blonde hair, and the young man with her stood beside a red jeep with surfboards strapped to the top.
“You’re Hollis Stanton! I can’t believe it.” The woman turned, trying to get a selfie with herself and Hollis in the shot.
“No photos, please.”
The woman ignored her.
Hollis turned away. “Have a great day.”
“Oh my God, I just saw Hollis Stanton.”
“I saw, babe,” the man said. “Cool.”
Without looking back, Hollis slid into her car. She pulled out as fast as she safely could, her hands flexing on the steering wheel.
She loved her fans, when they showed some respect and treated her like a person. Not when they were so focused on their own experience that they treated her like a zoo exhibit. She blew out a breath.
They were just some tourists passing through. It would be fine.
When she reached the house, she pulled up out front, and fished her phone out of her bag. One quick search and she closed her eyes, her head thudding back against the headrest.
The woman had already posted it on social media.
Just saw Hollis Stanton on Maui. #celebspotting #spotted #viral
Ugh. Okay, so Hollis had known she couldn’t lay low forever, but she’d hoped it could last at least a week.
Gathering up the shopping bags, she headed inside. She put the groceries away. So, she’d been spotted. No one knew exactly where she was staying. It would be fine.
She changed into her favorite green bikini, then gathered up some scripts, and headed outside. Sitting by the pool, she lay on one of the pool loungers, spread on some sunscreen, and got reading.
Unfortunately, these scripts weren’t as good as the other ones she’d read. She shot some texts off to Tave with her comments. Her rumbling stomach sent her to the kitchen to make a sandwich for lunch. As she ate, she wondered what Sawyer was doing. Her lips curled. He’d be in his uniform, looking all competent and official. No doubt some pretty tourists in bikinis would be drooling all over him. Now, she frowned. Okay, she didn’t like that bit so much.
After lunch and some more reading, she finally decided it was time to hit the beach. She pulled on a white cover-up, slipped on her flip-flops, and grabbed a towel.
There were a handful of people spaced out along the beach. She carefully found a spot that wasn’t too close to anyone. There were no windsurfers today; she guessed it wasn’t windy enough.
She left her things on the sand, stripped off her cover-up, then walked down to the water. A feeling of peace washed over her, and she glanced up at the blue sky. She dipped her toes in the water, thrilled at the lovely, warm temperature. She waded farther out, then she dived into the water.
She swam a little, but didn’t go too far out. She had a healthy fear of sharks. She bobbed in the gentle waves, and thought of Sawyer again.
Maybe they could come down for a moonlight swim? Or they could skinny-dip in the pool. She shivered, tingles flaring to life everywhere across her body. She couldn’t wait to see him again.
Hopefully it wouldn’t be much longer before he finished work. Maybe he’d still be in his uniform. Another shiver.
Hollis headed back toward the shore.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a dark shape in the water come nearer.
Instant fear shot through her. Then a man in a snorkeling mask rose out of the water.
She gasped, relief hitting her. Not a shark. He was wearing a black wetsuit.
“Hi.” She pressed a palm to her chest. “You scared me.”
He didn’t respond, just lunged for her.