The OUT OF LINE Series

by Jen McLaughlin

  I climbed off his bike, letting his hand fall to his lap. He quickly followed me, staying close by my side. I stopped walking, giving him a stern look. “I don’t need protecting.”

  “I’m not.” He threw an arm over my shoulders. “I’m just being friendly.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Yeah. Sure.” As I approached the woman I’d seen earlier, I reached into my pocket, took out a gift card to McDonald’s, and pressed it into the woman’s hand. “Here. For this week.”

  The woman took the card and smiled at me, her eyes lighting up. “Thank you.”

  I nodded, uncomfortable with the gratitude. This should be something more people did, and it shouldn’t bring about such appreciation. I wished I could help everyone. I went to the man on the other side of the door and did the same. He thanked me and fell back asleep.

  As we entered the building, Finn shook his head. “Does your father know you do this?”

  “No.” I tucked my hair behind my ear. “I use the money he sends me every month. He always sends twice what I need. Sometimes more.”

  Finn fell silent, but he looked at me weird. As if I was an enigma he couldn’t figure out, which was silly. It was a simple matter. I had money, they didn’t. Easily fixed. It wasn’t exactly rocket science.

  We walked up to the woman who looked to be in charge. “Hi. I’m Carrie, and this is Finn. We’re here to help.”

  The woman eyed me. Her weathered face cracked into a disapproving frown. I’d been judged and found wanting within seconds. “You okay with getting your hands dirty? A pretty little thing like you?”

  Finn stiffened. “Excuse me? I’ll have you know—”

  “It’s okay.” I placed a hand on his arm. There he went again, going into knight-in-shining-armor mode. It was cute and all, but I could take care of myself. “I’ll be fine. Where do you want us?”

  “The kitchens. You’re on dish duty.”

  I nodded and headed for the kitchen. Finn started to follow me, but the woman stopped him by stepping in his path. She barely reached the bottom of Finn’s shoulders, but he stopped instantly. “Not you. You’re out front. Watch for trouble and break it up if it starts.”

  He hesitated. “I’m with her.”

  “I’ll be fine back there.” I shooed him away. “Go be a protective Marine for someone else tonight.”

  “All right.” He gave me a hard look. “Don’t leave this building without me. Not even for air.”

  I saluted him. “Yes, sir.”

  He grinned. “Good girl.”

  I shook my head and headed into the kitchen. The whole way there, I could feel his eyes on me, but once I got inside the kitchen, I was too busy to focus on Finn. The rest of my night was spent scrubbing filthy dishes. By the time I was finished, I was coated in a sheen of sweat and feeling pretty darn gross.

  I came out of the kitchen and scanned the room for Finn. He was at the door, his arms crossed. He looked more like a bouncer at a popular nightclub than a volunteer. I shook my head and smiled. He looked as out of place here as I did at the fancy balls Mom always dragged me to.

  The woman in charge came up to me. “Thank you for the help.”

  “Thanks for letting us contribute.” I swiped my wrist across my sticky forehead and then reached into my pocket. “Do you mind if I leave these with you? If any families come in, or anyone you know who needs the extra help, just give them one.”

  The woman took the gift cards, but her forehead wrinkled. “Are these all from you?”

  “They’re from Senator Wallington. He likes supporting the less fortunate.”

  The woman’s eyes lit up. “Wow. A politician who actually cares?”

  “He tries.” If Dad ever found out about me spending the funds he sent me on someone else, I could at least point out that it helped his campaign. That would end the lecture pretty fast. I squeezed the woman’s shoulder and winked. “Remember him if he’s ever up for president.”

  “I will,” the woman said, wonder in her voice. She headed straight for a family eating in the corner and gave them two cards. When the family looked my way, I smiled and headed for the door. Time for me to leave.

  Finn stood there, watching me. When I reached his side, he looked at the family who had just received the gift cards. “More Robin Hood acts?”

  “Yeah. And?”

  “Nothing.” He shook his head. “Let’s go home and eat something ourselves. I’m starving.”

  My stomach chose that particular moment to sound like a hungry beast. I pressed a hand to it and smiled at him. “Deal.”

  “Islands?”

  “What?”

  “Don’t tell me you’ve never been to Islands…”

  “I’ve never even heard of it. What is it?”

  “Only the best burgers this side of the Mississippi.” He handed me his helmet. “I solemnly swear that you’ll never be able to eat McDonald’s again once you’ve tasted their burgers.”

  I laughed. God, he made everything so much fun. “Oh yeah?” I put the helmet on and watched him climb on the bike. “We’ll see about that.”

  “Want to make a bet?”

  If I was betting with Finn, then I was in way over my head. “Sure. What’s the bet?”

  “If I win and you love the burgers…you have to spend the whole day with me next weekend, watching movies.”

  Please. I’d purposely lose just to spend the day with him. I better make an equally enticing deal for if I hated the burgers. “Deal. And if I win and I still prefer McDonald’s, you teach me how to ride the bike.”

  He shook his head. “Hell no.”

  “Then no deal.” I leaned in and ran my finger down the side of his cheek and lingered at his jaw. His eyes lit up at my touch, smoldering and hot. I wanted to run my hands through his light brown curls, but I resisted the urge. Barely. “I bet you would’ve won.”

  He captured my hand in his, holding my palm against his skin. “Damn right I would, Ginger. The bet is on. Now climb on and hold on tight.”

  I got on the motorcycle behind him, my heart still racing from earlier when he’d held my hand close. The look in his eyes did weird things to me. “Don’t I always?”

  “Yeah. My favorite part of the ride is feeling you plastered against me.”

  My breath caught in my throat. “What?”

  He revved the bike, not bothering to answer. I clung to him as he sped down the road, obviously in a hurry to leave the shady part of town far behind us, but even over the whirring of the engine…

  I heard him laugh.

  Almost a week later, I leaned against the tree and watched Carrie through the window, firmly in stalker mode, as requested by her father. She sat in the library with Cory. The senator had done a background check on him, and he’d gotten the Daddy stamp of approval. He was probably picturing all the perfect little grandbabies he could get out of the perfect little couple already. What a picture they would make on the campaign poster.

  I hated the fucking kid for being so perfectly suited for Carrie. Plus, he sat too close to Carrie all the time, and Carrie smiled at him too much.

  I sighed and leaned my head back against the tree, closing my eyes. All I wanted was a cold beer and a good game to watch. I was fucking beat. I was getting pretty damn tired of following Carrie around. Not because I didn’t like her, but because I liked her too much. It’s not like she needed me supervising her all the time. It was Friday night, and she was studying instead of partying. Besides the few parties she’d gone to, she’d been remarkably tame. Well-censored with a good head on her shoulders.

  She didn’t need me. Didn’t need Big Brother watching.

  I had been even more convinced of this fact after I helped Carrie at the soup kitchen last week. That had been a side of her I probably would have been better off ignoring. Just like the sight of her in a bikini. I could have done without that too. Both made me like her even more. Both made me want things I shouldn’t be wanting. Things like her in my arms, smiling up at me li
ke I owned the fucking world. I liked when she looked at me like that. No one else did.

  She leaned over and pointed at some nerdy-looking guy’s page, her hand gesturing wildly while she explained something to him. The guy looked like he’d never had a friend in his entire life, but Carrie had drawn him under her spell. Cory watched with a disgusted look on his face, but Carrie was oblivious to that. She was too busy smiling at the tiny nerd to notice.

  That was Carrie. Loving and accepting of everyone—even a liar like me.

  I glanced down when my phone lit up in my hand. It was Carrie. I looked up, checking to see if she was still in the library. She was. So…she was texting me while studying with that Cory kid?

  I looked down at her text. Surfing tomorrow?

  I smiled. It’s supposed to rain. I tapped the phone against my chin. Movie marathon at my place? You owe me my winnings.

  She picked up her phone and smiled. Deal, but that’s not fair. It’s a bet you knew you would win. Pick me up at ten?

  Hell yeah I did. I never make bets I’ll lose. See you then.

  Before putting my own phone away, I jotted off a quick text to let her father know that she was in the company of Golden Boy, and then I slid the phone into my pocket. As she came out of the library with Cory, she laughed and swatted his arm. The nerd was with them. She hugged him goodbye and promised to call him next week to hang out. Looked like I needed to do another background check.

  Once the gleeful nerd walked away, Cory sighed and pulled Carrie to a stop. They stood at the end of the path, where the boy’s dorm went to the left, and Carrie’s to the right. If I had to watch her kiss another guy, I wouldn’t be responsible for my reactions. I couldn’t have her, but I didn’t want anyone else to have her.

  Yes, I knew how horrible that sounded. I didn’t care.

  Cory crinkled his nose. “What’s with the new guy?”

  “I don’t know. He seems nice. Why?” Carrie asked, seeming confused.

  “Word has it he’s an orphan with no one who loves him.”

  Carrie flinched as if she’d been hit. “Aw, the poor guy. I can’t even imagine what he’s been through.”

  “But—”

  “No buts. He’s nice and I like him.” She stared Cory down. “I think I’m going to head up now. Thanks for the study session.”

  “Want to come to the party over there with me?” Cory asked, pointing behind him. “It’s supposed to be fun.”

  “No, thank you. I have plans already.”

  She did?

  “All right.” Cory hugged Carrie close. “Good night.”

  “Night.”

  Carrie headed to her dorm room alone, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I didn’t want to watch her drink herself stupid tonight. I wanted to drink myself stupid, in my quiet, empty apartment. Cory mumbled something under his breath as he passed me, and then headed toward the party raging a few buildings down.

  My phone buzzed, and I took it out of my pocket as I headed toward my bike. Want to start our movie fest tonight? I’m in the mood for a sleepover…

  My eyes went wide. You want to have a sleepover? At my place?

  Barely a second passed before she replied. Why not?

  I could think of at least ten reasons “why not” off the top of my head. Every single nerve in my brain shouted no. Screamed it was a bad idea. Even so, I typed: Sure. Be there in five.

  I waited the required time and walked up to her dorm door. Or, the one she showed me was her dorm door. She stood there, wearing the same outfit she’d had on earlier but holding a bag on her shoulder. “Hey.”

  I caught my breath at the sight of her, her eyes shining as she smiled at me. I swore she got more beautiful, more irresistible, each time I saw her. I took her bag from her and slung it over my own shoulder. “Hey, yourself. How was your night?”

  “Good. Marie is at a party, so my dorm was quiet for once. I studied with Cory until a few minutes ago since we have our first exam on Monday, but he went to the party. Now I’m with you.”

  Thank motherfucking God for that. “So, I’m not your only friend anymore?”

  “I guess not.” She lifted a shoulder. “I don’t even know if Marie is my friend. I think we just kind of deal with each other. We get along and all, but we’re really different.”

  I’d say so. I had seen Marie come out of at least three different guys’ rooms during the week, but hadn’t seen her crack open a book even once. “Yeah. Not all roommates are instant friends like in movies.”

  “I guess not.” She stopped at my bike. “I like her, but she’s not my friend. Not like you are.”

  I swallowed hard. “Not like Cory, either?”

  “Cory is nice. I like him.”

  “There’s that word again. Nice.” I flexed my fingers on her bag. “Future boyfriend material?”

  She stole a peek at me and her cheeks went all pink. “I have no idea. I’m not really into planning out that portion of my life. If I find someone I like, it’ll happen. Until then, I’ll focus on my studies, and keep my lips to myself.”

  I tried to ban the memory of her mouth on mine from my memory. Tried to forget how much she’d seemed like she liked me as she moaned into my mouth. I failed. Miserably. “That’s a very mature way to think of it.”

  “If you say so. I just call it common sense.”

  I sat down on the bike and handed her the helmet I bought for her. She looked at me with wide eyes, as if no one had ever bought her a fucking present before. “Did you buy this for me?”

  “I did.” I shrugged and slammed my own helmet over my head, more to hide from her scrutiny than anything. I liked having her on my bike, so I bought her a helmet. Nothing more to it than that. “If you’re going to be riding with me, it makes sense for you to have one.”

  “I’ll pay you back.” She pushed the helmet down on her head. “How much was it?”

  “I don’t want your money.” I booted up the kickstand. “Now hold on tight.”

  “But—”

  “Just close your eyes and relax.”

  I revved up the engine, bringing the bike to life. I waited for her to argue, like usual, but she didn’t. And when she wrapped her body around mine, laying her head on my shoulder, I closed my eyes. For a second, I pretended she wasn’t my boss’s daughter or my assignment. Pretended I wasn’t lying to her, and that she wouldn’t hate me when she found out the truth. For a brief second, I let myself enjoy the way she felt pressed up against me, her body all soft and willing.

  I inhaled deeply, memorizing her scent. She smelled amazing, even when fresh out of the ocean. It haunted me daily. She taunted me daily, without even trying. I wanted her.

  Too bad I couldn’t have her.

  I opened my eyes and pulled out onto the road. I took my time on the ride there, taking as many back roads as possible for the short ride. This was the only period I got to feel her arms around me without feeling guilty as hell about it. The only occasion I was permitted to touch and be touched. If I had my way, we’d drive around all night long.

  But I didn’t.

  When I pulled up at my place, I killed the engine and sat there for a second, not moving. Interestingly enough, neither did she. As if by some unspoken agreement, we held each other. It wasn’t until a truck drove by that either one of us moved. She dropped her arms from around my waist and removed her helmet.

  I took mine off too and our gazes clashed.

  She was so beautifully off limits that it hurt. Her hair was sticking up, she had no makeup on, but she looked abso-fucking-lutely perfect. She licked her lips and didn’t drop my gaze. “Thank you for the helmet,” she said softly. So softly I almost didn’t hear her. “And the ride.”

  “Don’t mention it,” I said, my voice gruff.

  I slid off of the bike and offered her my hand. I should stop doing that. As a matter of fact, I should take her home right now, before I proved myself unworthy of trust—hers and her father’s. But sending her away now would only
hurt her feelings, and the last thing I wanted to do was that. She would hate me once she found out who I really was.

  I didn’t want to hurry the inevitable along.

  She slid her fingers inside of mine, her fingers so small and dainty, and I held on tight. Right or wrong, I didn’t want to let go. I wanted to hold her close, cherish her, and continue to show her how fun life could be when you spend your time with the right person. I wanted to show her everything.

  “Why are you so quiet?” she asked, darting a quick look at me. “Is something wrong?”

  Shit. How long had I been quiet? “No, nothing’s wrong.” I led her up the walk toward my small studio apartment. “I’m just tired.”

  “Oh. Do you want to cancel?”

  Yes. “No.” I unlocked the door. “It’s nothing a little bit of coffee won’t help.”

  “No beer tonight?” She nudged my arm.

  “Not for the nineteen-year-old. Your father would kill me if he found out I was giving alcohol to a minor.”

  “You don’t know him and he doesn’t know you.” She rolled her eyes. “I think you’re safe.”

  My heart squeezed tight. “Not if he has security watching you like you said.” I hated this game. I hated lying. I hated not telling her I was the security watching her. “I’m not going to jail for supplying a minor with booze.”

  She huffed. “What’s the good of having a friend who is older than twenty-one if he won’t get me drunk?”

  “I’ll tell you what I’m good at,” I said, stopping and slinging her over my shoulder. “I’m good for surfing, riding a bike, and carrying your cute little ass around.”

  She giggled and tried to squirm free, but I tightened my grip on her thighs. I liked her in this position. I had a great view. “Put me down!”

  “Nope.” I juggled her weight and my key, finally managing to open the door to my apartment without dropping her on her perfect little ass. “I’m keeping you forever. Tell your bodyguards that, nice and loud.”

  She snorted. “If they’re watching, they’ll come running.”

  “Then this is a good way to find out if they’re here. Play the part of damsel in distress properly.” I slapped her ass and stood on the threshold. “Call out for help, or I’ll smack you harder.”