The Maxwell Series Boxed Set: Books 1-3

by Alexander, S. B.

  He pulled me to him, wrapping his muscular arms around me. “Talk to me.”

  Becca ambled over with a frown on her face. Was she mad because Tyler was holding me?

  I pushed Tyler back. “I’m fine.”

  He raised his hands. “Okay. I just want to make sure.”

  “What’s going on?” Becca asked, concern in her voice. Then her phone beeped. She opened it up and gasped before laughing. “Seriously, girl. You didn’t just get into a fight with Tammy Reese.”

  Tyler ripped the phone out of her hands.

  “Hey!”

  Tyler’s face tightened as he studied the screen. He lifted his head, meeting my gaze, sparks of fury in blue eyes.

  “What? You’re not my father. Don’t look at me like that,” I said.

  “I’m only going to say two words. Baseball tryouts.”

  Why was he always the one who rained on my parade? “She started it.” Now I sounded like I was talking to my father. Those were always the first three words out of my mouth when Dad looked at Julie and me after one of our sister fights. I let out a sigh. Dad wasn’t going to like this if he found out, even if it was an accident.

  Tyler laughed. It wasn’t a funny laugh but a nervous one.

  “I’m not going to let anyone threaten me. Besides, it was an accident.”

  The tightness around his eyes loosened as he handed the phone back to Becca. The bell rang. “I’ll see you ladies in English,” Tyler said, shaking his head as he strode off.

  I closed the door to my locker.

  “Okay, I’m not going to ask right now what that was all about between you and Tyler.” Becca’s words dripped with resentment. “But I do want you to spill about Tammy.”

  “Later,” I snapped.

  “Pissy, aren’t you?” She laughed, her eyes dancing.

  Then I laughed. We both walked into English giggling. Tyler peered at me from his seat near the far window. Then he dropped his gaze to his phone. After taking our seats, Becca tapped another student’s shoulder—Zane, a lineman for the football team. He was tall and built to tackle. He turned, flashing soft brown eyes at her.

  “Kade Maxwell finally showed up. Where’s he been all week? I also heard that some girl gave him a shiner,” Becca said, gushing with excitement.

  Burying my nose in my backpack, I pulled out my English book, trying to hide the heat staining my cheeks.

  Zane laughed. “Yeah, right. What girl in her right mind would hit Kade Maxwell?”

  “Who’s this Kade guy?” I asked. I didn’t want anyone other than Tyler to know it was me who’d ruined a handsome face like Kade’s. I’d have all the girls after me, for sure.

  “Just the hottest badass guy in school,” Becca gushed. “I also heard his brothers are back.”

  Zane’s jaw dropped. “What? Kross, Kody, and Kelton are all back?”

  “What kind of name is Kross?” I asked.

  “Who cares about names?” Zane asked. “It’s party time. They always throw the best parties. This just might be the best senior year ever.”

  Zane had a man crush on these guys. Then it dawned on me—Tyler’s voice had hitched with excitement that night in the parking lot when he’d asked Kade about his brother Kelton. Was Tyler excited about the parties, too?

  Mr. Souza, a short, gray-haired man, sat at his desk, taking roll. A couple of students snuck in, sliding into their seats before their names were called. Mr. Souza had a policy—if students were not in their seats when he took roll, then he’d mark them tardy. After the third tardy, he took points off the offender’s next test. “Good morning, class,” he said as he closed his red-covered grade book.

  Zane swiveled forward.

  “The topic for today is Shirley Jackson. We’ll begin with her background, then we’ll talk a little about some of her stories.”

  I drifted off into my own world—a world of who the hell was Kade Maxwell? And why did he unnerve me so? I got hot flashes when I replayed the closet scene and how his mouth barely touched mine. My lips tingled. Snap out of it, girl. Then I replayed the scene with Tammy. I bit my lip. Why did she hate me? I hadn’t done anything to her.

  Becca nudged me, ending my trip down memory lane. She nodded to the door. A tall, sexy male specimen walked in. All heads followed his movements as he made his way to Mr. Souza’s desk.

  Whoa!

  “Welcome back, Kelton,” Mr. Souza said.

  So this was Kelton? He had artfully messy black hair, a strong angular jaw, and a small scar on his chin. He wore a tight, fitted black T-shirt that emphasized a toned chest and arms, and his worn-out jeans fit nicely on his hips. The only resemblance to Kade was in the build. I wasn’t surprised, since Julie and I had had different features.

  “Take a seat behind Ms. Robinson.”

  “Like I’m supposed to know who that chick is?” he asked, glaring at Mr. Souza.

  “Manners, Kelton. Did you lose them at your last school?” he asked.

  “I never had any. You know that, Teach.”

  “Enough. Ms. Robinson is right there. Raise your hand, Lacey.”

  Okay. Now I wanted to run out of here and hide in that closet Kade had had me in. In fact, maybe being held hostage by this guy’s brother was better than this.

  I didn’t raise my hand, but out of the corner of my eye, I caught Becca pointing at me. Great. Just what I needed—a distracting testosterone factory staring at me, thinking I didn’t even know my own name.

  Running a hand through his hair, he sauntered down the aisle toward me, casual, cool and confident. In the five long strides it took him to reach me, several whispers and a few squeals erupted. “You’re Lacey?” he drawled with a cocky-ass grin, showing a set of white teeth.

  Grace Edison, who sat in front of Zane, muttered something about me under her breath.

  Kelton’s blue eyes gleamed when he met my gaze. Folding his tall physique into the seat behind me, Kelton grabbed a handful of my hair in his strong hand and sniffed, loudly.

  Who did that? Well, he did, of course.

  “Wow, woman, you smell delicious,” he said.

  I whipped around. “Get your paws off me, shithead.”

  “Kelton? Lacey? Quiet,” Mr. Souza commanded. “Okay, class. I want everyone to turn to page twenty-five, and read ‘The Lottery.’ I’ll give you a few minutes, then we’ll discuss it. There will also be a quiz tomorrow.”

  Gathering all my hair, I swept it forward so the animal behind me wouldn’t touch it.

  “Man, you’re turning me on with that spunky attitude of yours, girl. I would take a punch from you any day,” he whispered.

  Horrified, I shot another one of my death glares at him. “Maybe you would like a hard knee to your crotch,” I whispered.

  “Gee, you know how to make a guy flinch, don’t you?” His voice was tight.

  “Just ask your brother, Kade,” I muttered.

  “Lacey,” Mr. Souza called. “Read.”

  I was trying to, if it weren’t for the cocky little shit behind me.

  “What?” Becca asked, horrified. “You? You’re the one who gave Kade a black eye?”

  I shrugged one shoulder.

  “Oh, my God,” she mouthed.

  I opened my book and skimmed through the pages. I’d read “The Lottery” before. Shirley Jackson was one of my favorite authors. I had a collection of her short stories on my shelf at home. Before long we were discussing the themes of the story.

  “We talked about the randomness of persecution as a theme. What’s another one?” Mr. Souza asked, setting his gaze on me. “Lacey?”

  “How dangerous it can be to follow tradition,” I said.

  “Very good.”

  “She’s smart too,” Kelton whispered.<
br />
  The bell rang. Students scurried for the door.

  I stuffed my English book in my bag. I had to get out of there. Between Kade, Kelton, and the incident with Tammy, I needed to hide for the rest of the day.

  Kelton stood in front of me, looking down from his six-foot height. “My brother was right. You’re freaking gorgeous.” His lips curled on one side of his mouth.

  I rose. “You got a problem with that, jerk face?” Kade thought I was hot?

  Becca giggled.

  Kelton leaned in, his lips at my ear. “I don’t, Sexy. But if my brother didn’t have eyes on you, I would make a play for you in a heartbeat.”

  I shivered. His brother had eyes on me? Why didn’t I believe him? After what I’d done to Kade I wasn’t certain of his intentions.

  I pushed him. “Get away from me. Are you, like, an animal or something?”

  “I would like girls to think so,” he rasped. Christ! His deep, smooth voice sounded just like Kade’s.

  “Hey, man. What brings you back to school?” Tyler asked, dodging a couple of desks to stand next to me, resting his hand on my lower back.

  My muscles tensed. What was he doing with his hand on me? I wasn’t his possession.

  “Tyler. What’s shaking?” Kelton wagged his finger between Tyler and me. “You two going out or something?”

  “What? Why would you ask that?” I asked. Was it because Tyler had his hand on me?

  The remaining spectators, Grace and Becca, pinned their gazes on me, Grace’s being especially forceful. Her eyes were burning a hole through me. I didn’t know if it was because she’d heard about my run-in with one of her squad-mates, or if she was jealous of Tyler hanging out with me.

  “He’s being all protective of you, Lacey. My brother isn’t going to like that,” Kelton announced.

  “And why is that?” Tyler asked, a scowl forming on his face.

  “Kade doesn’t share his women, dude.”

  What the…“I’m sorry. I’m not an animal like you, Kelton. I don’t belong to anyone. I don’t even know your brother.” Although I would like to.

  “That’s not what I hear,” Kelton said.

  Grace’s face twisted into all kinds of pain as she glared at me, muttering my name and Tammy’s under her breath.

  Was she implying Tammy and Kade? Of course he would have a girlfriend. Why wouldn’t a gorgeous guy like Kade not have one? Maybe that was the reason she had lashed out at me earlier.

  The room had become deadly quiet.

  “What did you say?” I asked Grace.

  She glowered.

  “Don’t you have somewhere to be, like soothing Tammy’s wounds?” I slung my backpack over my shoulder.

  She narrowed her eyes at me. “Watch it, Robinson,” she all but growled, which was a new sound coming from of her. “The Tammy incident isn’t over. But then again, I’m sure you knew that. You started a war.”

  “Grace,” Tyler warned.

  I stepped closer to her. “As I told your Barbie robot, I don’t take kindly to threats.”

  Grace walked backwards, never taking her eyes off me. I waved, wondering what other drama was in store for me. I’d only been at this school for a week, and already I’d managed to bully a badass dude and one of the cheerleaders.

  Chapter 5

  On our way to chemistry the next period, Becca had explained that Kelton was one of a set of triplets. While Kody certainly looked like Kelton with blue eyes, the same black hair and strong features, he had a quieter personality. We talked about the assignments he’d missed. Class was quiet, thank God. Kelton was paired up with Grace, of all people. Her face lit up when Ms. Clare switched out her lab partner. When Kelton sat down, Grace sent me one of those ha-ha looks that said I got him and you didn’t. Little did she know I didn’t want anything to do with the guy.

  I was content with Tyler as a lab partner until the teacher switched him out and told me to sit with Kelton’s brother Kody. Tyler frowned. He got stuck with a nerdy girl who glowed ten shades of red when the hot quarterback sat down next to her. I laughed as I watched the exchange. She kept pushing up her glasses as she ogled Tyler.

  Toward the end of class, we were working on a short experiment when Kody turned and gave me the strangest look, as though he were trying to read my mind.

  “Lacey,” he said, “are you sure you want to play baseball?”

  Now that had me scratching my head. Normally people ask me why I want to play baseball. Not are you sure? “Absolutely. Why do you ask?”

  “No reason,” he replied. “Boys can be assholes, that’s all.”

  “Oh. I can handle them,” I assured him. He reminded me of my conversation with Principal Sanders, and how she had to reprimand a few of the boys on the team. “Does your question have anything to do with Mandy Shear?” I whispered.

  His knuckles turned white around the pen he was holding. The bell rang. He hurriedly gathered his books and stormed out.

  Later that afternoon I sat in the gym, still puzzled by Kody’s reaction to my question. But when the pep rally began, I pushed the thought aside for now and focused on the event. The cheerleaders entered first, performing a cheer in the middle of the basketball court. Once they finished, Tyler and the football team ran in, decked out in their blue and black football jerseys. The crowd exploded, whistling and clapping.

  Since Tyler was the captain, he stepped up to the microphone. “Are you ready to beat Northwoods’ butts tonight?”

  More whistles and claps and cheers.

  “Good. This is the beginning of our season. And we’re taking this school all the way to state this year,” he said.

  Stomp stomp stomp. The bleachers rattled with excitement. Then cheerleaders jumped into a routine, ending the cheer with a human pyramid.

  After the rally, I went to my last class of the day. I’d found out from Kody that neither he nor Kelton had psychology. I’d thought I’d be free from the Maxwell brothers, but then Kade walked in, chin up and confident. Next to him was a guy who looked exactly like Kelton and Kody—I assumed that was Kross.

  I slithered down in my seat as I buried my head in my psychology book. Great. Just freaking great.

  “Looks like your boy is proud of his shiner,” Becca whispered over her shoulder.

  She was in most of my classes. I was thankful for her presence, although Tyler seemed to be shielding me from all of the Maxwell brothers, for some reason. I had to have a talk with him, especially after the little possessive act in English this morning.

  “Turn around,” I whispered.

  “Maybe you should. Your boy has eyes on you.” She waggled her eyebrows.

  Becca and I sat in the first row. Kade and his brother had taken seats in the last row near the window in the very back.

  My brain told me not to turn. My body didn’t listen. Sneaking a peek, I froze. Kade was staring at me intently. After my heart stopped sputtering, I glared at him. Two could play this game.

  “I told you,” Becca whispered.

  “Shut up,” I muttered under my breath.

  “I would say he wants you bad.” She giggled.

  What guy would like a girl who pulled a gun on him and kneed him in the balls?

  The teacher, Mr. Dobson, a gentleman of fifty, walked in at that moment. When he spoke, I tuned him out. The class went by in a blur. If we had homework, I wouldn’t know. My brain was so consumed with how it would feel to have Kade’s lips on me. I replayed each event from the first day I met him. Then I couldn’t shake what Kelton had said. “My brother was right, you’re freaking gorgeous.” I bristled when I remembered his other comment. “Kade doesn’t share his women.” Who did these guys think they were?

  I didn’t realize that class was over until Becca nudged me. “Are you stay
ing here?”

  Blinking, I scanned the room. Except for Becca and me, the room was deserted.

  “Whoa! You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” she said, with her hands on the straps of her backpack. “He’s not going to kill you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  I let out a nervous laugh. “Did you see the way he looked at me?”

  She snorted. “Yeah, Lacey. The guy wants to do something to you, but I don’t think it has anything to do with killing.”

  “Ha ha. I’m sure he has lots of girls he can go out with.”

  “Oh, you’re right. But Kade Maxwell doesn’t do steady girlfriends. I don’t know if the triplets do. They haven’t been here since their freshman year.”

  I sat up straighter in my seat. “Where have they been?” I asked.

  She walked to the door and closed it then sat down in the seat next to me. “You’re new, and you should probably know some of the history.” She made it sound like knowing whatever she was about to tell me would condemn me.

  “Yeah, like Mandy Shears. Are you ever going to tell me about her?”

  She flinched. “Not at school.” Her gaze darted to the door then back at me.

  Wow! Something bad must’ve happened to that girl.

  “Anyway, a guy named Greg Sullivan hated Kade. Actually, they despised each other. It was an ego thing. You know how guys are. They both competed against each other for the same spots in football, basketball, and baseball. Each time, Kade won. They would always get into fights. When they both started their sophomore year, Greg thought a new year, new tryouts, and maybe this would be his year. But when Kade won again, Greg had a freaking cow. He destroyed the boys’ locker room—threw a trashcan at the mirrors. Then to top it off, the triplets got positions on the varsity baseball team that year as freshmen, even over some of the returning seniors. Then Greg made it his mission to get back at the Maxwell brothers, especially Kade. They said that Greg and his buddies beat the shit out of Kody, because he was the weakest of the brothers. When Kade found out, he went nuts. The rumor—and it was never verified—was that Kade, Kross, Kelton, and some friend of Kade’s, Hunter, jumped Greg and put him in the hospital.”