Dare to Kiss (The Maxwell Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

sir.”
    Dad shook his hand. “Next time my daughter hits you, please call me.”
    Horrified, I stalked over to Dad as Kade walked past me. Our shoulders brushed and an electrical charge zapped me. I cast him what I hoped was a snarky glare over my shoulder, but he didn’t even turn around.
    “Nice boy,” Dad said as he fished the keys to my car out of the front pocket of his faded jeans.
    I harrumphed and crossed my arms over my chest. “Really, Dad. You want him to call you if I sucker punch him again. He deserved it.”
    “Everyone deserves to get punched—because that’s what you’ve been doing since the funeral. I told you already, you need to learn restraint.”
    I dropped my head, looking at my black flats. I hated that he was right.
    “When is your appointment with Dr. Davis?”
    Since we’d moved, we had to find another psychiatrist. Dr. Meyers had recommended Dr. Larry Davis, who had an office in Lancaster, which was the next town over. Good thing—I wasn’t all that tickled about being seen walking into a psychiatrist’s office. This was a small town. I didn’t want to have my name on the lips of everyone who lived here as they talked about how crazy the new girl was.
    Blowing out a breath, I lifted my head. “At the end of the week.”
    Dad folded his bulk into my car and started the engine. It turned over like the well-oiled machine it was. He gave it more gas, and the engine purred. “Let’s let it run for a few minutes. Actually, why don’t we take it around to the front of the school? I’ll follow you over there,” Dad suggested. He jumped into the Impala, and I got into my car.
    It only took two minutes to pull into the visitor parking at the front entrance of the two-story brick building. Grabbing my book bag, I slid out of the car and threw my keys into my purse. I didn’t think students were allowed to park here, but I was new, after all. I walked up to stand at the flagpole and waited for Dad. He’d parked two spaces over from me. What was taking him so long? I was about to go over to his car when he jumped out, flattening his lips and biting on the bottom one.
    “What is it?” I asked.
    “Nothing, Lacey,” he said, sauntering up to me.
    “Are you sure? I know you don’t like to tell me things because of my…” Geez, I didn’t know what I had anymore . I was beginning to believe I was nuts. Maybe something other than PTSD festered inside me. Whatever it was, I had to get it under control. After yesterday and this morning, I really did need help. I prayed my new psychiatrist would help me like Dr. Meyers had.
    “You worry about school and baseball. After all, that’s why we’re here, right? Your future and to get a fresh start.” I didn’t like the sadness in his voice. He made it sound like it was my fault we moved three thousand miles away.
    “Dad, we both agreed to this.” Tears threatened. The last thing I wanted to do was be the cause of my father’s unhappiness.
    He threw his arm over my shoulder. “I’m sorry, Sweet Pea. The club is just a little out-of-control right now.”
    “Why did you even buy another club?”
    “We’ll discuss it later.”
    Cars were slowly filling the parking lot in the distance. As we made our way into the school, Dad and I talked about my classes and what was expected of me. I had to hunker down and make sure my grades were top-notch—otherwise ASU wasn’t even going to consider me for a baseball scholarship. The problem was I still had to take a few junior classes that I hadn’t had a chance to catch up on since we were moving, not to mention my senior subjects, too. I had a tough year ahead of me.
    We were on our way to meet with the principal and guidance counselor to see if they would allow me to test out of trig and calculus. I’d always been good in math, and I needed those two subjects to graduate. I’d been teaching myself both all summer. If I passed, I would have more free time for all my other subjects and