Dare to Kiss (The Maxwell Series Book 1) (34 page)

“I know, right?” I pulled my hand from Kade’s. Or at least I tried. He had a death grip around my fingers. It was a good thing it was my left hand and not my pitching hand. I tugged again, glaring up at the love of my life.

Lines formed around Kade’s eyes as he glued a death stare on Tyler.

“Kade, baby. I need my hand.”

Reluctantly, he let go, his gaze never wavering.

Tyler glanced from me to Kade. “Hey, man. Your girl made it. You should be happy.”

I almost laughed. Kade’s grimace looked as though he were pushing all his brain waves into Tyler to mind-speak to him.

Students passed by on their way to the parking lot. Some waved at us. Others kept their heads down.

“Anyway, I saw you walking out,” Tyler said as he gave me his full attention. “I wanted to congratulate you. Which means I’m going to hug you. I’m giving fair warning, man.” He eyed Kade again. Then he swooped down and wrapped his good arm around me. I guessed the other one was still tender.

I hugged him back. I couldn’t see Kade from my peripheral vision, but I didn’t have to. He muttered something under his breath. Tyler didn’t linger long. He knew Kade wasn’t thrilled with the idea.

“Hey, man,” Tyler said to Kade. “Are you calm so we can talk?”

Oh, no
. What did Tyler have up his sleeve? Was he going to tell Kade how he comforted me when Kade left the other night?

“What is it?” A muscle ticked in Kade’s jaw.

“I heard Sullivan is hanging with a couple of guys who work for Jeremy Pitt.”

“Yeah, we knew that,” Kade said.

“Were those the two guys with him at tryouts on Friday?” I’d seen Greg and two men sitting in the stands.

“Probably. So what’s your point, Tyler?” Kade asked.

“When I had dinner at Wiley’s over the weekend, Aaron, Greg, and these two guys were there. I didn’t hear the whole conversation, but they’re scheming up something if Lacey made the team. Now that she has, I thought I’d warn you.”

Kade ran a hand through his hair. “Fuck.”

“Look, Kade. I got your back. I know you’re pissed at me. Frankly, I probably would be too if I walked into my girlfriend’s house and there was a guy there. Either way, I’m not going to let anything happen to Lacey.” Tyler swung his gaze between us. “But you need to watch your back too, dude. Greg is gunning for you. Look, I gotta run. I’ll keep my ears open. You guys do the same.” Then Tyler jogged back to his SUV.

Despite the tension between Tyler and Kade, I wasn’t too surprised at Tyler for siding with Kade. Tyler didn’t care for Greg or Aaron. I didn’t see a need to bring up what Aaron had said to me on the field. I’d only add fuel to Kade’s ire, at the moment. While all the threats bothered me, I couldn’t do much about them except watch my back. Plus I had the Maxwells behind me, and Tyler as well.

When I grasped Kade’s hand he instead wrapped his arms around me. “Are you okay?” he asked.

“Me? What about you? You look like you’re about to tear someone’s skull off.” I wasn’t sure who he would start with—Tyler, Aaron, or Greg.

He searched my face before letting go of me. Then we continued our walk to my car in silence.

When we reached my Mustang, he asked, “I know baseball is important to you. I would never get in the way of your dreams. But I have to ask, Lace. Are you—?”

“I’m not giving up everything I’ve worked hard for because some asshole is intimidated by me. Besides, you said Aaron plays mind games. So, let him play.” I gave Kade a weak smile. “I’ve got to get home. My dad is waiting for me.” This day was turning into a downer.

“Hey.” He framed my face with his hands. “I had to ask.”

I blew out a breath. “I know. Can we not talk about Tyler or Aaron or Greg?” I didn’t want to go home in a bad mood. I wanted to be excited when I told my dad. “I love you.” I tucked my fingers in the waist of his jeans.

His eyebrows rose as he sucked in air, and he grinned. I reached up and traced one of his dimples.

“Put your fingers back where they were,” he protested.

“Later.” I lifted up on my tiptoes and brushed my lips over his. “I’ll show you how magical my hands can be.”

He growled as he bit my lower lip. “You’re mine. You know that.” Then he threaded his fingers through my hair, kissed me hard, wet, and fast, leaving me breathless before he stalked away. I rubbed my lips as I jumped into my car and headed home. I felt his anger and jealousy in that kiss, but I didn’t have time to soothe his doubts. I was going to see him tonight anyway. We’d planned to meet for dinner to celebrate. Actually, Becca, the triplets, Kade, and I were supposed to go to Wiley’s Bar and Grill.

When I got home, I shoved aside any lingering signs of bad mojo before I walked into the house.

“Dad? Dad? Where are you?” I headed straight to his office first.

“I gotta run.” His voice spilled out into the hall.

I poked my head around his office door, smiling.

“Sweet Pea, you look happy. Did you make the team?” He circled around to the front of his desk. His eyes were wide, his smile wider.

I ran in and jumped in his arms like I was six years old again. “I can’t believe it,” I said, locking my hands around his neck.

“I’m so proud of you, Sweet Pea. So, so proud.” He hugged me back.

Tears flowed. I didn’t care either. We’d been through so much, and the tightness of his hug told me he was just as relieved as I was. I never wanted to disappoint my father. He was a great man and a great father.

“I have some news for you.” He set me down, searching my face with his watery eyes. “You and I have an appointment with Dr. Davis this afternoon.”

My mouth opened.

“I want us to work together to heal, Lacey. I love you, and I don’t want my pain to hurt you. I’m not promising this will be easy for you or me. But we have to move on with our lives. And we’re stuck in a place that isn’t healthy for us.”

I threw my arms around him again. This time I cried harder than I had a few minutes ago.

“We’ll leave in ten minutes,” he said.

I peeled away my wet face, kissed him on the cheek, and went up to my room. This day had been filled with so much emotion, and while making the baseball team was one of the best things to happen to me, my dad getting help bested that.

I freshened up and changed into one of my new miniskirts. I chose the black-layered lace one with black tights and my simple black flats. For a top I went with a soft pink fitted knit one with a shirred bodice. If my dad could seek help, then I could wear a skirt. He’d wanted me to dress up like a girl once in a while. What better day than today to show him?

When I met him at the car he smiled again. I loved to see him happy.

“My beautiful Lacey,” he said as we got into the car. “It’s been years since I’ve seen you in a skirt.”

The last time anyone had addressed me like that was Mom. I’d been “Sweet Pea” to Dad. Maybe he was opening his heart to heal.

“You’ve seen me in ball gowns, Dad,” I reminded him.

“Not the same. Julie would fall off her chair too.”

I swallowed, putting my fingers over my mouth. Did he just say my sister’s name?

“You can breathe, Sweet Pea.”

Every ounce of adrenaline drained from me as we drove to Dr. Davis’ office. I thought about where I started, close to a year ago. Actually, the funeral had been in early January. Immediately afterward, the nightmares began along with anxiety attacks, panic attacks, and blackouts. Now nine months later I still had all those symptoms of PTSD, but I knew with Dad getting help, my new friends, and Kade, I could handle life a little better. Would I ever overcome PTSD? Maybe with time. Maybe if I had closure with Julie and Mom’s deaths.

For now, I had a guy who loved me and opened my heart to love again. I was going to play baseball again, and Dad was on the road to recovery. I couldn’t ask for much more out of life.

Dear Reader:

Thank you for taking the time to read Dare to Kiss. I hope you enjoyed the first book in the Maxwell Series. The second book, Dare to Dream, is the continuation of Lacey and Kade’s story. Expected release date will be Spring 2015.

If you have moment to spare, I would super appreciate a short review. Your help in sharing your excitement and spreading the word would be greatly appreciated.

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Acknowledgments

Writing a book takes a team effort. It’s not just the writer who pours her life into a story. It’s also the team behind her. Without a fantastic team, I wouldn’t be publishing. Red Adept Publishing, wow! What an awesome team of editors. I love you gals. Thank you for keeping me on the straight and narrow.

Katey Coffing, you’ve been a wonderful inspiration and coach through my entire journey when we met two years ago.

Streetlight Graphics, thank you for always producing amazing covers.

Terri Valentine, you are a great teacher and editor.

To the ladies and gents of the Kastle, thank you for being great listeners, for giving me encouragement, for making me laugh when I was sad, and for always having my back. You are all beautiful and I love you.

Tracy Hope, this book is dedicated to you. You’ve been with me from the moment my first book was published. Your advice keeps me sane. Your encouragement motivates me and your honesty helps me to get better as a writer. You’re a great friend, and I love you.

Finally, I am grateful to my husband, Bill, for his love, support and encouragement every step of the way.

Dare to Kiss Playlist

Music tells a story, defines a mood, makes you laugh, cry, dance, scream at the top of your lungs and most of all it grabs your soul. When I write, music does all that to me. It helps to define my characters and their moods.

“We Don’t have to Look Back” by Puddle of Mud.

“All of me” by John Legend

“Bound to You” by Christina Aguilera

“Gone to Soon” by Daughtry

“Broken Ones” by Jacquie Lee

“Drops of Jupiter” by Train

“Say Something” by A Great Big World

“Not Ready to Make Nice” by The Dixie Chicks

“Life in the Pain” by SafetySuit

“Demons” by Imagine Dragons

Other books by S. B. Alexander

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How far would you go to save a loved one?

Natural-born vampires are born not made. Some humans, who roam the earth, are not even aware they carry such DNA

Sixteen-year-old Jo Mason is lost in a world where traipsing from one foster home to another is normal. She hates her life, she hates school and on most days, she hates living.

Her normal world shifts when she discovers her twin brother Sam has gone missing between Anger Management class and History Class.

She’s called to the principal’s office to meet Lieutenant Webb London, a Navy SEAL who is part of a secret team of natural-born vampires. His mission is to protect the twins from an evil cartel, but he’s too late. With Jo now under his protection, his team searches for Sam.

However, finding and rescuing Sam from the evil cartel may be the easy part. Jo learns she carries a dormant vampire gene that, if activated, could save him. As her normal world fades even more, pushing her closer to the edge of humanity, Jo must decide if her human life is more important than her twin brother

• An Urban Fantasy that will immerse you into a different world of vampires and the paranormal.
  
• Amazing, exciting and intriguing
  
• Intended for Young Adult Audiences
  

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ON THE EDGE OF ETERNITY – Book 2

How far would you go for your first kiss?

New vampire Jo Mason had never imagined life with fangs, or drinking blood as her main meal. She has, however, dreamed of her first kiss, her first date and her first high school dance—but for a new vampire, none of those firsts come easy. Humans now tempt her appetite for blood and the Plutariums, a rogue team of vampires, want revenge against her family.

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