Dare to Kiss (The Maxwell Series Book 1) (23 page)

I squirmed as a frisson of heat crawled up my legs. “Be careful. You might like it,” I said, throwing back his own words he’d said to me a week ago.

“Oh, no doubt.” His eyes darkened. “And maybe before the weekend is over, I just might have you where I’ve wanted you from the moment I saw you,” he rasped.

“In your dreams,” I said sarcastically in spite of the fact that I shuddered.

“You are what my dreams are made of, Lace.”

A bevy of emotions—optimism, hope, joy—ran through me. In that moment, he snagged another piece of my heart.

Chapter 16

M
y last few classes crawled until the pep rally. The rah-rah festivities had been scheduled for after school, this time—which was good because I didn’t care to sit through an hour of watching Grace and her cheerleaders jump around in the gym, nor everyone gawking at me. It was hard not to lash out at someone when they looked at me the wrong way. My self-control had been tested many times today. I wouldn’t say I was proud of myself since I’d lost my cool with Tammy. However, one incident out of many was a vast improvement at this school over what it had been at Crestview.

“How’s your head?” Kade asked as he wheeled his truck out of the school’s lot.

Mary had taken me to school this morning. Dad thought it would be best if I didn’t drive for another day. I told her I’d find a ride home with Kade or Becca.

“Better,” I muttered, fiddling with the truck’s heater, angling the vents to blow on me. I still had a weak headache. As soon as I got home, I was going to pop some Advil.

“We don’t have to go if you don’t want to.” He turned onto Main Street. “We could hang at my house.”

I sat back now, relishing the warm air on me, thawing my hands. I didn’t know where my friendship with Tyler stood yet. We really hadn’t talked since he brought me to school the other morning. I wanted to show him I was a good friend. He’d done a lot to help me with my pitching. “Nah. I know Tyler would like for me to see at least one of his games.”

“Should I be worried about Tyler?” He sounded disappointed.

I snickered. “Are you jealous, Kade?”

“Maybe,” he said, a muscle ticking in his jaw.

Reaching over the console, I placed my hand on his leg. A dimple popped out on his cheek, showing how content he was with my touch, I imagined. We listened to Daughtry belt out “Waiting on Superman,” while Kade maneuvered through the streets of Ashford on the way to my house.

“I’ll pick you up around six thirty.” He pulled into my driveway, parking behind my Mustang.

“Okay.” I had my hand on the door, but he stopped me. “What?”

“You’re not getting out of this truck until after my lips have touched yours.” His long lashes fell then rose.

I rolled my eyes in a fake attempt at showing him I didn’t care.

“Get your lips over here,” he said playfully.

“What if I don’t?”

“Do you want to find out?” His grin was feral yet charmed.

Without thinking, I opened the door then dashed out of the truck and ran. No sooner had I made it to the porch than Kade’s muscled arm stretched out, grabbed me firmly by the arm, and spun me around. I giggled, falling into him.

“You can run, hide, disappear, whatever. I will always catch you, Lace.”

“I hope—”

His warm lips met mine until the front door opened.

“You kids finished yet?” Mary asked.

Kade lifted his head, and I almost growled in annoyance.

“I’ll pick you up later,” he said, relinquishing his hold on me. “Hi, Mary.” He waved as he strode back to his truck.

“Is my dad home?” I asked, ignoring her lopsided smile as I fought for balance after Kade’s kiss. I wanted to tell Dad about my fight with Tammy before he found out from Principal Sanders or Coach Dean. I didn’t know if they called parents after a fight or not.

“He’s in his study. He wants to talk to you.”

I moved past her and into the house.

“A warning,” she said, closing the door behind her. “The principal called your dad today.”

I hesitated midstride. I turned, certain the horror on my face was evident.

“You’re on your own. You know I don’t get involved with stuff like this,” she stated matter-of-factly. “Dinner is in an hour.” She darted off into the kitchen.

Several swear words slipped from my tongue. Dad was going to freak. The yelling and shouting I could deal with. The disappointment in his eyes over my screw-up, though, pained me. He’d been warning me repeatedly not to get into any fights at school. I shed my jacket and my backpack, setting both at the bottom of the stairs. I circled around the bannister and padded down the hall to Dad’s study.

“I’ll check on it tomorrow. Yes, I’ll be at the club tonight. Good,” Dad’s voice trickled out.

I waited, leaning against the open doorjamb. Fabric furnishings, tan walls, and thick brown carpeting gave the room a restful feeling. However, the mood bouncing off him was anything but tranquil. His face was drawn, almost hollow, as though he’d lost fifty pounds overnight. His stitches were no longer bandaged, and he had a red ring circling the fresh wound of his left eye. Black marred the area beneath it. My pulse stilled for a moment. His green eyes looked blank. Or, I hated to think, dead.

“Sweet Pea.” A hint of hardness edged his tone as he set his cell phone on his desk.

Pushing off the doorframe, I worried my lower lip. Before I took two steps, his cell phone rang. Ignoring it, he sauntered around his desk and met me in front of it.

“Are you okay, Dad?”

He combed his fingers through his hair before rubbing his neck. Not a good sign. Whenever he was struggling with something, he scrubbed his hand over the nape of his neck. Maybe he wasn’t mad at me. Maybe his anger had something to do with his work. A daughter could hope.

“I’m fine. How’s your head?”

“Um…good,” I muttered as I glanced up at his battered face.

“Lacey, you know I haven’t grounded you in a long time, and I don’t want to start. But…” A slow scowl formed on his face.

A long pregnant pause ensued. He seemed to be searching for the right words. I had no idea what Principal Sanders had told him. My stomach clenched into tiny fists.

“Cut the crap at school.” His voice boomed with sudden anger. “Understood?”

“You’re not going to ask me what happened?” Not that it mattered. Anytime I’d been in any principal’s office, it wasn’t for good reasons.

“Why? So you can tell me it wasn’t your fault?” The rage in his tone increased. “Or tell me someone said something to piss you off? Neither of those excuses are enough to attack someone. Now, I’m tired of the bullshit you’re dishing out. You promised me that you would learn to control yourself.”

“And you promised me you would relax when we moved here. We’re supposed to spend more time together. I’m not the only one who needs healing, Dad. It’s clear—” I pointed to his face— “you aren’t any calmer than I am.”

The frown lines around his mouth deepened.

I didn’t care. He needed just as much help. I wanted my old Dad back, the one who smiled frequently. The dad who didn’t forget I had a baseball game. The dad who spent time with his daughter. While I wished I could help him, I had my own struggles. The deaths of Mom and Julie were still very raw, and probably would be for a long time. I pivoted on my heel and made it to the door when he cleared his throat.

“You’re right,” he said sadly.

I believed Dad had been hung up in two of the stages of grief—depression and denial. However, the last couple of months he seemed to have slid into the anger phase. Taking a breath, I turned. “You need to get help, Dad. I’m not the only one who needs a psychiatrist, or someone to talk to.”

“I know. I thought immersing myself in something new or with work would keep them out of my memories.” His eyes were downcast.

“Say their names, Dad.” It infuriated me he wouldn’t. It hurt, too. He loved them as much as he loved Rob and me. He hadn’t talked about them. When I did, he turned inward and checked out of the conversation.

He lifted his watery eyes to mine. “I can’t. I’m…not ready to. I’m sorry.”

I didn’t believe acceptance would ever come for either him or me. Neither was I certain if knowing who killed them would help us heal. But we had to move on with our lives. If not, we would suffer, or worse, live dying. I couldn’t walk around dead inside anymore. I couldn’t hurt other people for no reason. I wanted to feel again. Trust again. Since telling Kade what happened to Mom and Julie, a small sense of acceptance had settled within me. Sure, I was far from healed, and even though I grieved for them every day, still struggling with PTSD and my emotions, I could take a few baby steps. Tonight I was going to let go and relax. If someone provoked me, I was determined not to retaliate.

I went over to Dad and gave him a hug. “I’ll do better at controlling myself. I promise.” Maybe if I showed improvement, he would seek the help he needed.

He squeezed me. “I love you, Sweet Pea.”

“Ditto, Dad.”

“We should go eat,” he said.

I eased out of his arms. “Sounds good. But then I’m going to the football game tonight with Kade. Okay?”

He nodded, smiling as we walked out of his study. We didn’t solve anything, but he did admit he needed help, and that was a start. On the way to the kitchen we talked about the football game. Lancaster Christian, or LC as they were called, were one of Kensington’s main rivals. They’d won state last year, and they were picked to win state again this year. Tyler was on a mission to make sure LC didn’t get past the playoffs.

Mary talked a mile a minute during dinner, about the farmer’s market she had been to earlier in the day. I didn’t know there were that many different fruits and vegetables. Dad even laughed a few times, which warmed my heart. It had been eons since I’d heard his laugh.

As we were cleaning up, my phone buzzed. When I plucked it out of my jeans pocket, the screen displayed a text.

I’ll be there in a few minutes.

“He’s early,” I mumbled to myself.

“Go,” Mary said. “I’ll finish up.”

“Thank you.” I gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

I ran out of the kitchen, up the stairs and hurriedly changed my blouse for a form-fitting scoop-neck sweater. Warmth was key for tonight. Then I scooted into the bathroom and brushed my teeth. Given Kade’s relentless mission to kiss me, I had to make sure I had clean breath
.

“Lacey,” Mary called up the stairs. “Kade’s here.”

One last swish, then I spit out the pasty wintergreen liquid. “I’ll be right down,” I shouted as I crossed the hall to my room.

I flipped up the tops of my leather boots so they covered my knees. I checked in the full-length mirror—I could wear the boots either above the knee or lower, and I had yet to wear them thigh-high. The style screamed
sexy
. Satisfied, I ran my fingers through my hair, letting the long strands spill around my shoulders, grabbed my gloves, jacket, and phone, and headed downstairs.

Laughter floated out of the living room. Dad’s laugh. For the second time this evening, contentment spread through me. Nothing pleased me more than to hear my dad express an emotion other than sadness or anger. On the heels of Dad’s voice was Kade’s. Warmth slid down my belly at his deep laugh.

“What’s funny?” I asked, standing in the doorway.

This room had been intended as a formal living room, but Dad and I didn’t do formal anymore. Rob had taken most of our old furniture for his place in California. Dad hated any reminders of Mom. Where our home in California boasted elaborate floral drapes and expensive furnishings from Beverly Hills, this home had shutters on the windows and furniture from IKEA.

Like gentlemen, Dad and Kade rose immediately upon seeing me, programmed to acknowledge that a lady had entered the room. Mary sat in the lone chair adjacent to the tan sofa Kade and Dad had been lounging on.

“It was nothing, Sweet Pea.”

Kade dragged his gaze from the top of my head all the way to my toes, then back up. When our eyes met, something hot flashed in his, something primal. A delectable shiver climbed up my legs.

“We should go,” Kade said.

Yeah, we should, before I melt in a puddle of water.

“Mr. Robinson, it’s nice to see that you’re feeling better.” Kade crossed the room, long jeans-covered legs eating up the space, muscles bunching under his fitted grey V-neck sweater with a white T-shirt underneath. “Hey, there. Ready?” he asked, his voice a whisper—a very lust-ridden whisper.

I nodded, afraid to speak. Afraid that my father would hear the lust in
my
voice then ground me for the night. Or worse, for my entire senior year.

Dad and Mary followed us to the door.

“Don’t be late,” Dad said. “I’ll be at the club tonight, so I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Have a good time,” Mary added.

Lifting up on my tiptoes, I kissed Dad on his un-injured cheek. Then I waved to Mary.

Once we were in the truck, I relaxed. I wasn’t sure why. As soon as I inhaled Kade’s intoxicating scent, a sense of belonging wrapped around me. He made me feel safe, warm, happy, lusty, loved and respected. I wanted all of him, and wanted to give him all of me.

Darkness had fallen by the time we arrived at the football stadium. The lights illuminated the grassy field, casting a shadow outward to the rubber track. A cold, sharp breeze blew, stinging my face. Kade and I stood at the bottom of the bleachers on Kensington’s side of the field, searching for Becca and his brothers.

“Do you see them?” Kade asked over his shoulder.

“Not yet.” People were pouring into the stands. I couldn’t see much past the ocean of bodies.

“Over here, Lacey,” Becca shouted.

Kade and I both scanned the rows of people until we found Becca. Her arms flailed above the heads like she needed emergency help.

“I guess we found your brothers.” Kody, Kelton and Kross lounged against the railing at the top row of the bleachers with their hands tucked into their Kensington blue-and-black jackets. We climbed up the side stairs. Cautiously, we shuffled around knees and feet before we made it to Kade’s brothers and Becca.

“Tell me about Tammy,” Becca asked excitedly, sitting down in front of Kross.