Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
W alking into the office, Sawyer enjoyed the blast of cool air from the air-conditioning.
The Sheriff Department office on Maui wasn’t huge. The lower level was a large, open space filled with desks. The Maui Police Department had a bigger presence and a larger building in the center of Kahului. The two departments worked closely together.
A woman popped up from her desk. “Hey, how did it go?”
Leilani Sola was tiny, not even five feet tall and her Hawaiian heritage showed in her long, black hair and cute face. She looked fifteen, but he knew she was in her mid-twenties. She had a habit of wearing bright colors, and today was no exception. Her shirt was a lollipop pink that seared the eyes.
She was also the heart and soul of their little office. The woman could do just about anything.
“Fine. Got the prisoner delivered to the airport. He didn’t cause any trouble.”
“Because you were all scowly and intimidating.”
“I don’t scowl.”
She snorted. “Yeah, right.” She lifted a piece of paper off her desk. “There was a call for you. Tyler Janson was released from the hospital. He’s going to be fine.”
Sawyer smiled. “That’s great news.”
“His parents said to say thank you for the turtle toy you brought him yesterday. He loves it.” She grinned at him. “You’re just a big softie, aren’t you, big guy?”
Sawyer grunted and headed for his desk. He dropped into his chair, and it creaked underneath him.
Leilani bustled over. “How come some woman hasn’t snapped you up yet?”
“Not interested.” Of course, his brain instantly provided him with an image of Hollis Stanton, naked. He blew out a breath. He was spending too much time thinking of creamy skin, blue eyes, and russet-red hair.
Leilani perched on the corner of his desk. “I have a friend from Oahu visiting?—”
“No.” This was a topic Leilani loved. She was forever trying to set him up.
She got a stubborn look on her face. “I want you happy, Sawyer. You deserve it.”
“I am happy.”
She rolled her dark eyes. “Fine. I want you getting some. You deserve that too. You know that regular sex leads to lower blood pressure, decreased stress, better sleep, better heart health?—”
“Leilani…”
“You look tired,” she said quietly. “I worry about you.”
“I’m all right. I just didn’t have a great night’s sleep.”
She wagged a finger at him. “Sex would help with that.”
He groaned. She was like a damn terrier that wouldn’t let go of a bone.
Deputy Sheriff Jesse Lee stopped beside them, file in hand. “Leilani playing matchmaker again?” The man was in his late fifties, with graying black hair and a barrel chest.
“I’m being a concerned friend,” Leilani said.
“What have you got?” Sawyer looked at the file, hopeful Jesse had something that would get him out of the office again.
“PD called. Asked if we can take a look at a place out in Haiku. They think the people staying there might be linked to the drug case they’re working. I’d go, but I’m due in court.”
Sawyer stood and held out a hand. “I can take a look. Surveillance, only?”
“Yeah.” Jesse slapped the file in Sawyer’s hand. “They’re building a case and hoping to take the entire ring down. They’re peddling fentanyl on the island.” Jesse’s face hardened. “Been an uptick in fentanyl overdoses lately.”
“I’ll check it out.” Haiku was on the other side of Paia. It wasn’t too far away.
Leilani hopped off his desk. “I haven’t forgotten our conversation.”
“I have,” Sawyer said.
She poked her tongue out at him, then headed for her desk.
Sawyer grabbed his keys and headed out. In the parking lot, there were several Sheriff Department SUVs parked in a row. He climbed into his, then opened the file. He scanned the details, then plugged the address into his navigation system.
Yes, his work now wasn’t as dangerous or high-intensity as his Ghost Ops days, but it was still important. He liked knowing he was helping to keep the people of Maui, and the tourists who visited, safe.
He tossed the file on the passenger seat and started the engine. As he drove out onto the street, he wondered what Hollis was doing today.
No. No thinking about Hollis Stanton . His hands flexed on the wheel. He had work to do.
This . This was what she needed.
Hollis had done some research, and found a hiking trail just along the coast from Paia. She paused on the trail, gripped the straps of her small backpack, and breathed.
The air was warm and humid, and the lush scent of plants and flowers filled the air.
She continued on, her leg muscles pleasantly warm. She got to the top of the hill and smiled. There was a gorgeous view of the ocean and coastline. She exhaled. She could feel her blood pressure lowering.
It was easy to see why Sawyer had moved here and stayed. Of course, that made her thoughts turn to him, and not the view, or the interesting, complex script she’d read that morning.
It was clear he’d needed a haven after the military. She hadn’t asked what branch he’d been in, and now she wondered how he looked in a uniform. If it was anything like the way he looked in his Sheriff Department uniform… She fanned herself. Here she was, drooling over a man like a teenage girl.
It had been a long time since she’d felt such an attraction to someone. It usually took her more time, until she really knew someone. Fame made it hard to trust people, which made it hard to get close to anyone.
Her nose wrinkled. She hadn’t been the most trusting person before she’d become famous. She’d had a mom who was too busy and tired to be interested in her kids. Her father had flitted into her life once or twice, before he’d disappeared for good. She’d been close to her brother when they were young, but when he’d hit his teens, he’d gotten into drugs. Her heart squeezed.
And her last boyfriend had taught her that trusting someone was a risk that didn’t always pay off.
Nope, she wasn’t letting thoughts of Brody ruin her morning.
She paused to take a drink of water, then munched on a granola bar. She pulled out her camera and snapped some pictures of the view. It was stunning. She hadn’t passed a single person on the trail. It felt like she had the entire island to herself.
She reached the end of the hike loop and sat on a rock, watching the waves below.
This Reuben situation was stressful, but she realized that on top of it, she was already close to burnout with her work.
She had an Oscar sitting on her shelf at home. She got paid an eye-watering amount of money to star in films. She got to pick the roles she wanted. The days of taking anything that came her way to build her resume were long gone.
She knew she could slow down. She just wasn’t sure how to go about it.
She tapped a finger on her leg. Slowing down didn’t sit well with her Type-A personality. Since she was a kid, she’d been driven to get good grades, star in the best part in the play, win at all her sports. To claw her way out of an unstable, poor childhood.
To prove what, Hollis? And to whom?
She was financially stable now, but maybe she felt like if she turned down roles, they might dry up altogether. And everyone would realize she was an imposter. That she was still the poor kid with her brother’s hand-me-down shoes, tangled red hair, and no one to help her with her homework.
Only one person had helped her with her homework. Dave. He’d married her Mom when Hollis had been thirteen. He’d been a firefighter and worked odd shifts. That meant he often looked after her when her Mom was at work. He’d helped her with her dreaded math homework, and he’d gotten her into watching old movies. She smiled. Some of her favorite memories were curled up on the couch watching Casablanca or The Wizard of Oz with Dave.
She knew that Dave would be proud of everything she’d achieved. And pissed she was running on fumes while some asshole was scaring her.
Okay, enough overthinking . She rose and set off back down the trail. What she really needed was sex—hard, hot, forget-your-name sex. She laughed. It was funny, since she was pretty sure she’d never actually had sex like that.
Sawyer popped into her head because, of course, he did. The vision of his bare chest and all those lickable muscles was hard to shake.
A twig snapped somewhere behind her. Startled out of her sexy daydream, she whirled, expecting to see some hikers.
There was nobody there.
Frowning, she scanned the trees.
With a shake of her head, she kept walking. It must have been an animal. Her thoughts turned to her plans. She’d stop in Paia for lunch, and maybe visit Island Brew again.
There was loud rustling in the nearby bushes.
She froze. “Hello?”
Nothing . The wind played with a few wisps of her hair that had escaped her ponytail. Tension crept in, coiling in her belly.
“Who’s there?”
More rustling, but no answer. Maybe it was an animal?
Or someone was following her.
Hollis set off at a half jog. She wanted to get back to her car.
In the distance behind her, she was sure she heard a voice. She picked up speed, her heart beating hard. Then she heard footsteps pounding.
Someone was following her.
She broke into a run. Oh, God . She glanced back, and spotted a hint of a black shirt in the greenery.
She ran faster. She’d always liked distance running at school. She stumbled over some overgrown tree roots, flailed, but managed to catch her balance. She fumbled to get her phone out of her pocket, breathing heavily.
She swiped the screen, then pressed it to her ear.
He answered on the first ring. “Hollis?”
“Sawyer, oh God…” She gripped the phone tightly.
“What’s wrong? Did you set your toaster on fire?”
“Sawyer…” A sob escaped her.
“What is it?” His tone sharpened.
“I’m on a hiking trail. Someone’s chasing me.”
He cursed. “What trail?”
She tried to think. Some of the Hawaiian names sounded so similar. “I’m just north of Paia. Um at…the Ho’okipa Beach trail. Near the lookout.”
“I’m not far from you. I’m coming.”
“Hurry. Please .”
“Get to your car.”
“I’m trying.” She glanced back, and could hear a body moving through the vegetation. “I can hear them.”
“Get to the trailhead, Hollis. You can do it.”
“All right.” She tucked the phone back in her pocket, and lifted her chin. Get to her car. She sure as hell wasn’t going to let some asshole terrorize her.
Sawyer stepped on the gas, his department SUV roaring down the road toward Ho’okipa Beach.
He gripped the wheel. He had to get to Hollis.
Maybe an overzealous fan had recognized her? Maybe whatever she was hiding from had caught up with her?
The thought of her, alone, in danger, had his heart pounding. He pushed the SUV for more speed.
Finally, he saw the sign for the trail and lookout, and wrenched the wheel. The tires crunched over gravel, and he pulled to a stop.
As he got out, he noted there were no other cars in the lot except for Hollis’s rental.
Where was she?
He strode forward, scanning around. Then he heard a sound, and Hollis sprinted out of the trees.
Panic was written all over her face. When she saw him, relief was like the sun breaking over the horizon.
“ Sawyer ,” she panted.
Then she was in his arms.
He caught her, his arms wrapping around her. “I’ve got you.”
“Sawyer…” She was out of breath.
“Take it easy.” He ran his hand up her back. “Just breathe.”
He lifted his head to take in the trees again. He didn’t see anyone after her, but he stayed alert.
Hollis was shaking.
“Come on.” He urged her over to a wooden fence. He sat and pulled her down beside him.
She leaned into him, like she needed the contact. He put an arm around her.
“You’re safe now.”
She looked back at the path. “You must have scared them off.”
He tipped her face up. It was still pale. “How are you doing?”
She smiled, but it was still a little shaky. “Oh, you know, girl goes for a peaceful hike, and ends up getting a little extra cardio.”
He cupped her jaw. “You’ll be fine.”
She nodded. “I will. I always am.”
“I’m going to take a look around.”
Her hands gripped his arm. “You’ll be careful?”
His lips quirked. He’d been a Navy SEAL, then in Ghost Ops, and now a deputy sheriff. No one ever reminded him to be careful.
“I’ve got it. Now, I want you to sit in my SUV, with the doors locked.”
She swallowed. “Okay.”
He got her settled in the passenger seat and locked the doors.
Then Sawyer turned and strode up the trail. As he followed it up the gentle slope, he didn’t see anyone. He scanned around. Nothing. He went on a little farther, until he reached a muddy patch of ground. Hollis’s neat shoe print was obvious.
There were no other prints.
He checked off the trail, looking for any sign of whoever had scared her.
Nothing . No sign of anyone but Hollis on the path.
With a frown, he headed back to the SUV. He didn’t want to leave her alone too long. He felt a faint prickle on the back of his neck, and turned fast.
There was no one there.
Some birds squawked loudly in the trees.
He headed back to the parking area. Another car had just pulled in, and he saw some young hikers getting out. They nodded as he walked past them.
Before he reached the SUV, Hollis opened the door. “Did you find him?”
Sawyer shook his head. “I found your footprints, but no others. There was no sign of anyone else.”
Her shoulders sagged, and she looked away. “You think I imagined it.” Her voice was dull.
He grabbed her hand. “I didn’t say that.”
She didn’t respond.
“Someone tell you that you’re imagining things?” he asked.
She let out a long breath. “It doesn’t matter. I’m a high-strung actress, we love making things up and being the center of attention.”
And being sarcastic. “Hollis?—”
“It’s okay, Sawyer. Thanks for coming. I’m sorry to waste your time.” She hopped out of the SUV, and turned toward her car.
“Hey.” He grabbed her hand again and pulled her to face him. “If anything worries you, big or small, you call me. I have no idea what happened on that trail, but just because there’s no evidence, doesn’t mean that someone wasn’t there.”
Her lips parted. Her perfect, kissable lips.
“Thanks, Sawyer,” she whispered.
“We’re having a barbecue on the beach this evening. My cousin and some of his family. You should come.”
“A barbecue? Like a luau?”
“Sort of. It’s just family. Luaus are usually to celebrate special events, with traditional dress and entertainment. This is just family sharing good food and drink, and a bonfire.”
“I’d love to come.”
Sawyer really liked seeing the happy look on her face.
“Good.” Not good . It was a dumb idea to spend more time with her. “From Archer’s place, just head out to the beach, then turn right. You’ll see the bonfire. Benny always makes a big one.”
“It sounds great. Thanks, Sawyer.”