Major Renovations (Ritter University #1) (14 page)

Karina didn’t have that problem. She lifted her dark blonde hair off her neck, ignoring the sweat beading and dripping down her face. Her hair was barely past her shoulders and it was too hot— how did Savannah stand it? Her black jeans were stuck to the back of her thighs, and she tugged on the neck of her damp T-shirt to get some air on her skin. “How are you not sweating?”

“My momma always told me women don’t sweat. We glisten.” Savannah sipped her drink and Gabi rolled her eyes.

If it were only that simple. If only Karina would miraculously stop sweating because her mom said so. Her mom would love that, just pull some magic puppet strings and no more sweating…
Check
. Another pull of those strings and no more “slovenly” wardrobe, all jeans and T-shirts banished…
Check
. No more “horrible” attitude…
Check
.

A boy-band lookalike gazed in their direction across the dance floor. Karina smiled and nudged Savannah. “Speaking of fine. You have an admirer.”

Boy-band swaggered up to the couch and leaned toward Savannah. “See my friend over there? He wants to know if you think I’m cute.”

“Whatever for?” Savannah batted her eyelids and flipped her long blonde hair back over her shoulder.

“Because I’d like to ask you to dance, but couldn’t handle it if someone as beautiful as you said no.”

“Well, aren’t you just adorable.”

“Wanna dance?”

“Sure.” Savannah leapt from the chair and followed the boy-band wannabe. Although the pickup line was bogus, it figured that the one girl with a frickin’ boyfriend waiting at home was asked to dance by a gorgeous guy.

“I’m going back out there.” Gabi downed the last of her punch as she jumped up from the couch. “Ready?”

“Give me a minute.”

“One minute, and I’m dragging your butt out here.” Gabi shuffled through the crowd to where their group of dorm mates was dancing in a large circle in the middle of the floor. Everyone was having a great time.

Their first party at their new college campus. Away from home. Away from parents. Their first chance to be on their own.

Bodies jumped and writhed on the makeshift dance floor when the bass thudded a new rhythm. The heat in the room rose, and even sitting off to the side, new sweat lined Karina’s forehead. A guy bumped the back of the couch and landed on her lap. “Hey, sexy.”

“Hey.”

He lifted his longhaired head and blew on her with boozy breath. “Dude, did you go swimming? You’re all wet.”

“Yep.” Karina sighed.

“Awesome.” He leaned a hand on Karina’s shoulder and stumbled to his feet. As he walked away, he tripped over a set of legs. “Cool. Hey, man, did you hear—there’s a pool.”

Drunk boys. Gotta love ’em. She puffed a burst of air at her bangs. Nope not working. Air. She needed real air.

Karina slid off the couch and angled through the gyrating bodies on the floor, heading for the sliding glass doors at the opposite end of the room. She squeezed and banged her way through the crowd, wrinkling her nose as cigarette and pot smoke mixed with the overwhelming scent of sweat.
Num
.

The sliding glass door was open when she reached the Promised Land. Air. Fresh air. Karina drank down the cool evening breeze, cold air sliding down her throat. So relaxing. She closed her eyes and sat back against the railing of the back deck. Shivers crawled up her arms as the breeze washed away the sweat— no—
glisten
from her skin.

Thump. Thump.
Her body pulsed to the rhythm coming through the railing.

Thump. Thump.

Crunch.

Her arms flew out, looking for something to grab as she fell backward. Anything to stop her downward momentum. Nothing. There was not one thing to stop her. No way to stop the power of gravity. Wood jabbed into her side. Crap. Her eyes closed and her butt puckered as she braced for the cruel reality of hard ground and pointy wood.

Instead of an intimate introduction with the business end of an improvised spear, strong arms wrapped around her waist. Momentum stopped. Realization hit. She wasn't going to be making that last-minute ER trip this evening after all. She leaned into the large chest of her rescuer.

“Whoa,” a seductive deep voice rumbled in her ear. He eased her forward until she was standing upright “Are you okay?’

“I think so.” Karina tested her knees and figured she could manage not to fall in a heap. Damn deck. She lifted her head to thank her savior, and air wedged in her throat.

Wow. Her gaze locked on his hazel eyes and full lips. Both looked right at home next to chiseled cheekbones and a strong jaw. His brown hair was cut short on the sides, gradually getting longer near the top of his head. The only flaw she could see was a rounded nose— and even that gave him a unique attractiveness. A guy-next-door Adam Levine.

Did she mention she loved Adam Levine?

The guy was hot. Stupid hot. The kind of hot that conned unsuspecting women into doing stupid things. Thank goodness she wasn’t unsuspecting— anymore.

“Are you sure?” He ran a hand through his already disheveled hair.

What? She thought back— what was the last thing she said? No clue. “Am I sure about what?”

“That you’re okay. You look a bit confused.”

“Confused?” She might be a bit confused. On account of the hotness. No— because she’s almost got impaled. That was it.

“How many fingers?” He held three fingers up next to his head.

“Three.”

“And now?” He lifted one finger.

“One.”

“What’s your name?”

“Karina.” Yep. She was sure that was her name.

“Karina.”

“Wait, how do you know if I’m right?”

“I don’t. I just wanted to know your name.” He slid a finger along her cheek, pushing her hair behind her ear. “The confusion seems to be gone.”

“Sorry. I’m fine now. What were
you
doing out here?” She turned away as heat crawled up her neck. Confused? Maybe a little. But her brain was
not
pinging from his touch along her face. Not even a little. She was confused after her brush with death. Yep, death by impaling. Yep, that was it.

“Um, I needed some air.” He stuffed his hands into the front pockets of his blue jeans. He looked so good in those jeans. Narrow hips. Broad Shoulders. Did she mention the Adam Levine thing?

Okay, so she might have given up on men, but she wasn’t blind.

“What were you doing out here?” He pointed through the door toward the throng of dancers. “The party’s that way.”

“Needed some air.” She looked into his eyes. Kind eyes. Sweet eyes. Eyes that held her in place. Red and blue lights flickered against the hazel. She turned around.

No way. It couldn’t be happening. Not again. An all-night rave twerked through her stomach. This was supposed to be her chance to put the past behind her. Move on. A visit from Cedar Glen’s Finest was not in her plans.

They’d find out. Everyone would find out. Everyone always seemed to find out what she’d done.

More lights swirled through the back yard as terror gripped her by the throat.

Karina sucked in a deep breath. “The cops.”