Dare to Kiss (The Maxwell Series Book 1) by S.B. Alexander Read Free Book Online Page A

than he had ever been with this new club, Rumors. He’d told me that with the college semester in session, his club was packed just about every night. It was good for him, but bad as well. We had little time to talk. I’d only seen him briefly after school. When I got up in the morning he was sound asleep. Since he was going to be home this evening, I made a mental note to ask him for some cash to go shopping. I’d offered to get a job when we moved here. He’d said to concentrate on school. With Dad’s businesses, lack of money wasn’t an issue. He’d given Rob, Julie, and me allowances as we were growing up, provided we did our chores around the house. I didn’t have any specific chores now. Dad and I had fallen into a routine of picking up after ourselves.
    “Hey, maybe we could go to the mall this weekend,” Becca said. “That way I can get a new outfit for Saturday night.”
    I’d forgotten all about Saturday night. Her dad owned a teen-only club in town. He opened it several years ago as a place where the high school crowd could go to eat, dance and sing karaoke. The only adults allowed were the ones who worked there.
    “I’m not sure I want to go,” I said, taking another sip of my latte. Clubs weren’t my scene. I’d been in my dad’s club in LA on a few occasions when I had to drop off something he’d forgotten, like his wallet. The club was like standing in a fireplace with all the hot bodies packed in, not to mention the sweaty bodies I had to plow through to get from the front door to his office.
    “You’re going. You need to see my dad’s club. Besides, your dad will be there, too.”
    My father had gotten a call from Becca’s dad when she found out that Dad owned Eko Records. Apparently, Mr. Young was in the market to hire a band or two to headline on the weekends. Dad had made some calls, but most of his clients were currently on the West Coast. Maybe he could book some new clients who needed exposure.
    “I don’t have anything to wear.” It wasn’t a lie. My wardrobe consisted of casual clothes—very casual clothes. Well, I still had a few dresses from the charity events I’d attended, but those were way too fancy for a teen club.
    “Hence the mall, silly. I’m not taking no for an answer.”
    I guess I’d been told. I blew on my hands, since my latte was now cold and almost empty. I was all for finding warmer clothes, especially gloves with warmers in them.
    “Lacey, if you’re this pathetic now, what are you going to do in subzero temps and mile-high snow?” Becca asked.
    “Fly back to LA,” I joked. It wasn’t a bad idea.
    “You’re not going anywhere,” Becca said. “I just made a friend that I like.”
    “Okay, don’t get all huffy on me. I was just kidding.” I’d been curious why she didn’t hang out with any of the other girls in school. It wasn’t like she was the new girl. I’d learned her best friend had moved at the end of last year. Since then, she just kept to herself. Sure, everyone knew her and she talked to other girls in school, but there weren’t any that she cared to hang out with on a daily basis. She said a lot of them were fake and just using her to get into her dad’s club.
    At that moment, Tyler walked up with Grace Edison tethered to his arm. Just like he’d said, the head cheerleader ruled her clique of friends. If she said jump, they would ask how high. She was in my English class, but it wasn’t until chemistry that I had a chance to meet her. She was nice to me, but it was a phony nice. She’d smile, but it never reached her eyes. I wasn’t certain what her deal was yet, so I kept my tongue in check.
    “Hey, guys,” she said in her mousy voice. Her brown hair was swept up into a high ponytail with a blue and black ribbon wrapped around it. All the cheerleaders displayed the school colors somewhere on their clothes or bodies. I’d even spied one of her minions who had a tattoo on her wrist with the school colors. I wasn’t