Out of Line (Out of Line #1)(5)
Author: Jen McLaughlin

“Back atcha, Carrie,” I said, forcing a grin. I hated acting like a foolish boy. Hated pretending to be something I wasn’t. “But I still prefer Ginger.”

She hesitated, licking her lips. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure. Go for it.”

“Why are you teaching me how to surf? What made you offer?” She stole a quick glance at me. “Why are you being so nice to me?”

Already, she was questioning my motives. My respect for her grew. This wasn’t a bimbo socialite. She knew to use caution, even if she wasn’t using enough of it. I shrugged. “Why not?”

“In my world, there’s always a reason.” She lifted a shoulder and stopped at a pathway leading to a big dorm. “So you’ve got to have one.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t.” I leaned against the building next to hers and crossed my ankles. “This your building?”

She didn’t answer my question, but narrowed her eyes on me. “I’ll meet you out here at eight.”

“All right.”

She stared at me. I arched my brow in return, waiting to see what the hell she was waiting for. If it was a good night kiss, she would be waiting a hell of a long time. She tapped her foot. “You can go now,” she said.

“I’ll wait until you’re safely inside.”

Her foot stopped tapping and she glowered at me. Oh, yeah. She definitely took after her father. “And I’ll wait till you leave.”

We stared each other down, neither one of use seeming to want to be the one who looked away first. After a bit more of our little Mexican standoff, I chuckled. “I can do this all night, Ginger.”

“So can I.” She tilted her head and studied her nails. “You know, you’re starting to remind me of my father’s private security firm.”

“Your father has private security? Or he works in it?”

She flushed. “Yeah, he has security.”

“Why?”

“None of your business. Is there something you want to tell me?”

“Of course not.” I laughed but shifted on my feet. She was way too close to the truth already. I would need to back down to remain undercover. “Do I look like private security?”

She ran her gaze over me. “Not really, but that doesn’t mean anything. You’re being awfully…protective.”

“Ya know, I’m a Marine. It’s kind of our thing to guard people.”

She pursed her lips. “Fair enough, but still. Go home before I call security on your butt.”

“There you go, bossing me around again.” I picked up a piece of her hair without intending to do so. It was so soft and pretty. “Fine, but I’ll see you right here in the morning.”

“Okay.” She nodded and bit her lower lip. “Bye.”

I dropped her hair and headed back toward the beach, where I could then hop on my motorcycle and ride back to my empty apartment. As I turned the corner, I stopped and peeked out. She headed toward her building, her head low and her steps unhurried. I pulled out my iPhone and jotted off a quick text to update the senator.

I’m here and have seen her. All is well.

As I slid the phone into my pocket without awaiting a reply, I watched her go with a smile on my face. The senator had obviously underestimated his daughter’s street smarts. Sure, she’d made a few blunders, but she’d also made some smart choices. She hadn’t given me her full name, and she’d lied to me to hide her true location in case I was some creepy stalker.

Her father would be proud.

Chapter 3

With only ten minutes to spare, I hurriedly applied the last touches to my lip gloss, checked out my hair, and turned off the bathroom light. If I had primped right, I looked effortlessly, naturally beautiful. That’s what the website said I would look like, anyway. I had never really bothered to primp for a boy, so I’d had to rely on my best friend for help.

Google.

Was it pathetic that I had no one else to ask? Sure. But at least Google never let me down. It had also given me the talk, the same one my mother avoided until right before I left for school. And when I’d finally been given the talk, it had been with so many euphemisms even I had become confused while trying to figure out what drumsticks had to do with warm apple pie.

I smoothed my tank top over my stomach. I had paired it with some yoga pants, and I wore my red bikini underneath the simple outfit just in case Finn wanted to go out in the water afterward. Tiptoeing past a snoring Marie, I managed to make it out of the dorm without waking her up.

I probably worried for nothing. I doubted a stampede of elephants would have woken Marie up. The girl had been snoring loud enough to wake the dead. Her arms were flung out to her sides, and a huge puddle of drool gathered under her cheek. She’d probably have a hell of a hangover when she woke up, so I had set my bottle of Motrin next to her bed on my way out.

I glanced at my phone and walked faster. A quick call home would be a good idea. That way I wouldn’t have to deal with my parents while out with Finn. I quickly dialed home and leaned against the wall. They picked up on the first ring, as if they’d been hovering by the phone waiting for me to call all morning.

“Hello?” Mom said.

A line clicked as Dad picked up the phone in his office. “Carrie?”

I smiled. “Hi, guys.”

“How’s college going?” Mom asked, her voice trembling.

“Have you met anyone nice yet?” Dad asked.

“Yeah.” I pictured Finn and smiled. “A couple of people.”

“What are their names?” Dad asked. I could picture him sitting at his desk, pencil in hand, waiting to look into anyone who dared say hello to me. “I’ll do a background check.”

“Dad. No.”

“But—”

“No.”

Mom sighed. “Let her be, dear.”

“Fine.” I heard something slam down. “But if you get involved with someone, I’ll expect to get his name from you.”

“She’s not going to do that yet.” Mom paused. “Right? We had our little talk. Do we need to have another one?”

I flinched. “God, no.” I cleared my throat. “I mean, uh, no, thank you. I’m good. And I’m not seeing anyone yet. I’ve only been here two days.”

Dad laughed. “That’s my girl.”

I peeked at the time. I had less than one minute to get downstairs. “I’m about to go out with a friend of mine, though. Shopping.”