Dare to Kiss (The Maxwell Series Book 1)

by Alexander, S. B.

  He raked a hand through his soft hair. “With digital cameras, it’s possible. My dad has one. He’s taken pictures in very low light.”

  I knew nothing about photography, but the thought of Greg hiding somewhere around the Cave watching us gave me more than the chills. A stabbing pain pricked my skin as though someone was sticking a thousand needles into it. My buzzing friend started quietly, humming in the back of my head. I squeezed my eyes shut. I inhaled a long breath. Hold. Count to five. Release.

  “Lace, you okay?” Kade’s voice fluttered to my ears, soft and smooth.

  I didn’t want to tell him I was dizzy. I didn’t want him to see me have another panic attack. But if I didn’t tell him, I was afraid my body and the concrete were going to become friends.

  “Can you take me home?” I said, slowly opening my eyes. When I did, the world tilted slightly. I swayed. I wasn’t going to pass out. Sweat coated the nape of my neck.

  Kade wrapped an arm around me. “Maybe you should see the nurse.”

  I lifted my brows. “No. Take me home. If you don’t want to, I’ll call my dad.” I was not walking into that school with a panic attack festering. No way, no how.

  He snagged my backpack, slinging it over his shoulder. “Can you walk? My truck isn’t far.” His worried eyes searched my face.

  I nodded. “Just stay close.”

  He interlocked his fingers with mine. Okay. I liked his big hand and warm touch. I also liked the tone of his voice. Maybe it would help to take my mind off of me.

  “So since you’re carrying my bag, does that mean we’re going steady?” Yep, that was my first thought.

  He laughed, a great sound to help soothe my nerves. “Do you want to go steady?”

  “Hell no.” Yes. I also want you and me naked.

  “Liar,” he said, squeezing my hand.

  The sun dipped behind the dark clouds that were rolling in. The weatherman had predicted rain today. A gust of cold wind blew. I shivered, wrapping the thin sweater I wore around me with my free hand.

  As we approached the truck the buzzing slowed, the pricking-skin sensation was gone, but I still felt lightheaded. “I thought you normally parked near the ball field.”

  “I do, but I was running late this morning, so I parked in front.” He pressed the key fob, and the locks clicked. He let go of my hand as he opened the door. I wobbled.

  “Lace.” He moved so I was between his body and the inside of the door. “Step up slowly.”

  “You’re not going to grab my butt?” I lifted one brow, anchoring myself with the inside handle.

  “Who, me?” he asked, his eyes looking so innocent. “Lace, why would I touch you? You just told me in so many words that you wanted nothing to do with me.” His dimples emerged.

  “So? That didn’t stop you on Saturday at the club.” I smiled.

  “Get in, Lace. I’m not going to feel you up…yet.”

  Before Kade dropped me off at home, I called Dad to let him know I was on my way. I didn’t want him to flip out when I walked in the door. I didn’t tell him about my almost-panic attack. I didn’t want him to worry, especially after Saturday night, so I used my sore arm as an excuse. He’d wanted to take me to the doctor, but I convinced him to give me one more day. We agreed if my arm wasn’t any better by tomorrow, I would go see a doctor. Mary made me a cup of tea, gave me two Advil, and sent me to my room. I spent the morning sleeping, until my phone woke me up around eleven a.m.

  “Hello.” I cleared my throat.

  “Lacey, are you okay?” Becca asked.

  I stretched my good arm over my head. “Yeah. Just a little cold. I’ll be fine.” Considering I wasn’t quite awake, I didn’t want to get into the specifics of why I was home or my run in with Greg. If I did then that would lead to more questions I wasn’t prepared to answer yet.

  “Good. By the way, Kade was asking about you. He seems sad over something.”

  “How do you know? What did he ask?” I sat up. Oh, God. Did he tell Becca about my panic attacks?

  “He wanted your cell number. So I gave it to him. I hope you don’t mind. I know you like him.” She giggled.

  “Becca, what else?” I bit my lip.

  “Okay, chill. He had a sad look about him when he punched your number into his phone.”

  I flopped back onto my pillow. “He didn’t ask or say anything else?”

  “No. Listen, I gotta run. Class is starting. I’ll take notes.” Then she hung up.

  I didn’t know whether to be relieved Kade hadn’t said anything about my attacks or concerned he might be feeling sorry for me. I was all for a little consoling when needed, but people who took pity on others acted differently around them. Or they didn’t know how to act. I couldn’t handle someone taking pity on me. All it did was bring me down, and according to Dr. Meyers I had to be around those who supported me.

  No sooner had I swung my legs off the bed than my phone chirped again. “Hello.”

  “Hey. Are you feeling better?” Warmth slid down to pool between my legs at the sound of Kade’s voice.

  “I am. Aren’t you supposed to be in class?”

  “I signed out. I thought I would finish working on your car. You want to come with?”

  I did, but not to work on my car. “I’m not sure my dad will let me since I stayed home from school.” I got up and crossed my carpeted floor to the window. Trees lined our property along the back. The wind blew, shaking the dead leaves from the branches. They fluttered to the grassy yard below.

  “Tell him you’ll be in school, learning how to fix your car.”

  I did need my car. I had an appointment this afternoon with Dr. Davis. Dad was going to take me, but if he didn’t have to he could go in to work early like he wanted to. Mary didn’t have a car yet, so she couldn’t help. “I’ll ask.”

  “Good. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.” Then the phone went dead.

  To my surprise, Dad thought it was a good idea for me to help Kade as long as I was feeling better. I’d asked why.

  “It would be good for you to learn,” he’d said. “Plus you do need your car. And I can get into the club early like I planned.”

  After Dad gave me the nod to hang with Kade, I freshened up. I’d fallen asleep in my clothes. My jeans were fine, but my blouse was wrinkled. I opted for a long-sleeved, V-neck cotton T-shirt. With the cloud cover and the cool fall temps, I wanted to be warm. Kade was prompt, showing up within fifteen minutes like he’d said. I grabbed a jacket, my phone, and my purse, then we were on our way.

  He navigated through town, and in no time at all, we were traveling on a country road. Two-story colonial homes dotted the road’s edge as we passed.

  “How far out of town do you live?” I asked, keeping my gaze out the side window.

  “We’re almost there.”

  “Did you grow up here?”

  He turned right, off the two-lane country road and onto another. Tall trees rose majestically along both sides, the tips of the branches gracefully arching over the road, creating a tunnel effect.

  “No. My dad was in the military, so we’ve moved around a lot. This is the first place we’ve lived for more than four years.”

  Before I had a chance to ask any more questions, Kade was turning onto a paved driveway.

  My jaw dropped. “You live here?” A massive two-story brick home sat with tall oak trees in the background and a lake behind it. A large wraparound porch skirted the house, and the front yard was landscaped with manicured shaped trees, green grass, flowers and bushes. His family must be wealthy. He did say his dad was a psychiatrist.

  At the end of the long driveway, he drove past the house, and braked in front of a six-car detached garage. Killing the engine, he jumped out. I had my hand on the handle when my phone b
uzzed.

  Sliding the bar on the screen, I answered it. “Hello.”

  “Lacey? This is Coach Dean.” His voice was low-pitched.

  “Oh, hi.” Why was the coach of the baseball team calling me?

  Kade stood in front of the truck with his head cocked to one side, watching me.

  I shrugged a shoulder.

  “I understand you’re not in school today. Are you feeling okay?”

  “A little better now. Is there something wrong, Coach?” I twirled a strand of my hair around my finger. Wow! I couldn’t recall the last time I had played with my hair. It used to be a nervous habit of mine. I let go.

  “I was hoping to discuss a few things with you today before tryouts Wednesday.”

  “Like what?” I asked. A knot formed in my stomach. What could he possibly want to talk about?

  “Why don’t you stop by my office after school tomorrow? I’ll see you then,” Coach said. Then he hung up.

  Kade opened the truck door, his face tight with worry.

  “Who was that?” Kade asked.

  “Coach Dean.” Pocketing my phone, I hopped out of the truck. “He wants to see me tomorrow.”

  Kade let out a breath as though he was relieved for some reason. “For what?” he asked.

  “He didn’t say.” I racked my brain, trying to think. Was I in trouble? Was he going to tell me I couldn’t try out?

  Kade enfolded my hand in his, and when he did, worry about Coach Dean and why he wanted to see me slowly dissipated. I swore the guy had magic in those large hands of his.

  He led me into the garage through a side door. My car sat in the second bay with its hood open. All the other bays were empty, except the last one had a boxing ring set up in it. I yanked my hand away and went over to the ring. So this must’ve been what Kross and Kelton were referring to the other day.

  “Kross likes to box,” Kade said, walking up to me.

  “Is he any good?” I asked, picking up a glove from the padded floor of the ring.

  “Yep. Do you like boxing?”

  “Maybe.” I glanced up at him and shouldn’t have. His lips curled into a sly smile as his gaze skimmed over me. I knew that look. It was the same one he’d had on Saturday night, right before he kissed me.

  I didn’t have time to run. The glove fell from my hand when he backed me against the boxing ring. My legs hit the padded base while my head connected with the bottom rope.

  My chest rose and fell in rapid succession.

  “Do you want to go a round in the ring?” he rasped, grabbing the ropes on each side of my head.

  Oh yeah. I would love to go a round—just not in the ring. “You know I would kick your ass,” I said.

  One of his hands got lost in my hair. “I hope so,” he said, his eyes darkening. “But right now”—he leaned down, his lips so close to mine— “I would like to kiss you.”

  The cocoons of butterflies in my stomach burst free in a happy frenzy.

  Sliding his hand from my hair to the nape of my neck, his lids half closed. “I’ve been dying to taste you again.” His voice was hypnotic, caressing, and if he didn’t kiss me I just might have to punch him again.

  “Kade?”

  Grinning, his lips brushed the corner of my mouth, then he kissed his way to my ear, where he sucked and nibbled. I arched into him, our body heat igniting an inferno between us.

  “What is it with you and ears?” Every hard inch of him molded to me.

  “I love the way your body responds,” he breathed.

  “Is that one of your lines to get girls to do what you want?”

  “Only you, Lace.”

  I didn’t have time to squeak out a comeback. His other hand wrenched me to him, and the fire grew in my belly, sending sparks of pleasure lower. Reaching around him, I slid my hands into his jeans at the small of his back—warm, hard, and smooth.

  He sucked in a breath and a low groan followed. Snaking his tongue through my lips, he felt his way around slowly, teasing my tongue with his, coaxing me to engage. Pressing in closer, I sucked on his tongue. Growling, he dove deeper into a punishing kiss as though he couldn’t get enough. He tasted all male, all sin. Desire blasted in me, making my brain foggy.

  I didn’t hear the footsteps echoing across the floor until Kade broke the kiss.

  “Get out, Kelton,” Kade barked, trying hard to control his breathing while he held me tightly to him.

  Thank God he was, or else I would’ve collapsed right there. This kiss had been even more intense than the first, and I wasn’t sure I had control of my limbs. As my brain cleared and I tried to get my own breathing under control, Kelton’s laugh doused the flames inside me.

  “Bro, you know you have a bedroom up at the house,” Kelton drawled.

  If Kade didn’t kill Kelton, I just might. I kept my head buried against Kade’s deliciously scented black T-shirt. He rested his chin on my head, his back to his brother.

  “Kelton,” he warned. “I will kick your ass if you don’t get the fuck out of here. And what are you doing home from school?”

  “I could ask you the same thing.”

  “Don’t move,” Kade whispered to me. “I’ll be right back.” He let me go and stalked over to Kelton, who was leaning against my car, ankles crossed, with one of his cocky grins on his face.

  I eased down onto the edge of the padded ring floor.

  “I swear, Kel,” Kade said through clenched teeth.

  Kelton grinned, raising his hands chest high. “Calm down, man. I have a dental appointment. Remember? I had a few minutes to kill. I came home to brush my teeth since the dentist is just down the road.”

  “Then go.”

  “Chill.” Kelton started for the door. “Oh, and I thought you would like to know Sullivan is working for Pitt.”

  Kade ran a hand through his hair. “Who told you that?”

  “I heard it at school. You should probably get Hunt to confirm it with his brother.”

  I jumped to my feet. What was going on? Did this have anything to do with the confrontation at the club the other night? I joined Kade and Kelton at my car. “Who’s Pitt?”

  “Jeremy Pitt runs an organization out of Boston that would put the mafia to shame,” Kelton said matter-of-factly.

  A muscle ticked in Kade’s jaw as he looked at his brother.

  Kelton glanced at his black-banded diver’s watch. “I gotta run. Have fun, you two.” He walked out.

  Kade stared absently at the pristine, painted, gray concrete floor.

  I moved to stand in front of him. “What happened between you and Greg?”

  “I told you,” he said in a hardened tone. “Old history.”

  “Not good enough, Kade.” I placed a hand on his soft cotton T-shirt. “Have you forgotten I’m involved now?”

  “Lace, the guy wants revenge for me beating his ass into the ground a couple of years ago. I’m afraid if he’s working for a gang, he has more firepower to retaliate.” He pulled out his phone from his front pocket. He tapped out a text as he paced over to the boxing ring. When he finished, he came over to me. “Come on.” He held out his hand.

  “That’s it? You’re not going to share anything else about Sullivan?” With the anger coursing through me, I dug my nails into my palm, then I shook my head. I wasn’t going to get upset. I didn’t want to go into freak mode for the second time today. Let it go for now. Concentrate on relaxing. Tryouts are in two days.

  “Lace, there’s not much to tell. He and I got into fights. As far as the gang he’s supposedly with, that’s his business unless he decides to make it mine. I’ll address it then. I’ll explain more when I know more. Right now, I would like to show you something.” His expression was soft, yet impenetrable.

 
I relaxed enough to finally let my breath out, and I unclenched my fists. “I’m not going into your bedroom.” Although I would like to.

  One side of his mouth turned up. “You’re not. Not today, anyway.”

  I almost pouted. “What about my car?”

  “We’ll work on your car later. I promise this won’t take long.” His arm was still stretched out. Curious as to what he wanted to show me, I took hold of his warm hand. His touch was electric, sending little prickles of pleasure dancing along my skin. We left the garage through the same door we came in. Instead of going up toward the house, we went left toward the lake.

  Chapter 9

  The breeze carried with it the scent of damp earth as we made our way down toward the lake. A panoramic view made a picture-perfect scene. Myriad beginnings of fall colors hung from the trees surrounding the water that was smooth as black glass. A tangled mass of sticks and leaves covered the ground as the landscape dipped down to a boathouse that skirted the water’s edge.

  “What did you want to show me?” I asked. I’d seen lakes before. While this one was nice, it didn’t compare to the ocean-blue water of Lake Tahoe. My family had vacationed there in the summertime. Dad would rent a house for a week. Mom, Julie, and I would hang out and sunbathe by the lake, while Dad and Rob played golf. At night we’d play board games and have a cookout. I blinked a few times to stave off the tears pooling in my eyes.

  “You’ll see,” he said as he padded up the wood steps to a small deck that led to a door on the boathouse.

  “You want to show me a boat?” I climbed up after him.

  He pushed open the door and waited until I went in first. If Mary could see Kade now, she’d probably kiss him.

  Looking around, I realized this wasn’t a boathouse but a man-cave, of sorts. A pool table was the focal point in the middle of the room. A poker table stood in the right corner adjacent to the door, with a refrigerator and a tall two-door cabinet in the far corner. A couch sat in front of the window that overlooked the lake, comfortable fabric chairs at each end.