The Maxwell Series Boxed Set: Books 1-3

by Alexander, S. B.

  “No. That was Kelton’s potential sister-in-law. Lacey Robinson is dating his older brother, Kade. She’s a big deal in this part of the country. She’s been in all the newspapers for her outstanding pitching for Colby College. I have to say she’s good at the game. Girls around here revere her. But she’s also the cousin to Kelton’s girlfriend, Chloe Pitt.”

  Suddenly, my heart sank. Kelton was getting married, he still had a tight-knit family, and I had nothing. Two years ago, my parents had died in a boating accident, reducing the only family I could boast about to an aunt on my father’s side and an uncle on my mother’s. I didn’t consider either of them close family. I shook off the self-pity. I wasn’t in town to reminisce, get married or start a family, or even feel sorry for myself. I was there to get what was mine, no matter what I had to do to accomplish that.

  Lacey had her hands on her hips as she peered up at Kelton, who was shaking his head.

  “We should get back to work before my mom starts ranting,” Peyton said. “Come on. Let’s refill our trays. I’m sure it’s time for the finger foods.”

  I kept my head down as I passed Kelton and Lacey. With my hand on the door to the kitchen, his smooth, deep voice caused my limbs to lock.

  “Emma,” Kelton called.

  “You know him?” Peyton stopped short, almost losing her tray of empty glasses.

  Yes. “No.” I pushed in the door and deposited my tray on the counter.

  “What do you mean, no?” Peyton gently placed her tray beside mine. “He seems to know you.” She scurried back to the door to peek out.

  Please don’t let him recognize me or come in here. Otherwise I might throw myself at him before I run.

  “You’re sweating,” Wendy pulled out a tray of quiches. “Everything all right?”

  “Emma is being chased by one of Boston’s most eligible playboys,” Peyton teased. “You’re clear,” she said to me. “Kelton is talking to Trudy Davenport.”

  I remembered that name from art class. Mr. Brewer had to keep telling the redhead to quiet down. I’d wanted to stick a sock in her mouth.

  “Is Kelton’s girlfriend with him?” Wendy asked. “I need to talk to her. She called to ask if we could cater her graduation party.”

  “I haven’t seen Chloe,” Peyton said. “Emma, dish. I want to know how you know him.” She glided back to me at the chest-high table where more trays of alcohol were ready to go.

  I was tempted to gulp down a glass or two of champagne. “I don’t. The first time I saw him was in class today, and we didn’t talk.” I wiped my sweaty palms down my pant leg. I was probably going to hell for lying. I wasn’t ready to tell Peyton that I knew Kelton. She would have questions that I wasn’t prepared to answer, especially since Kelton was such a celebrity. My scalp itched like crazy underneath my wig. I scratched it, wondering if maybe I should get out of there before I dug myself into a bigger lie.

  “Let’s keep the food and drinks flowing,” Wendy said. “You two can gossip about the handsome man later.”

  Considering I did need the cash and was hoping to see Zach, I brushed off my escape plan.

  “Emma, keep serving drinks. Peyton, start serving the quiches and shrimp cocktail,” Wendy ordered, spooning a meat-and-rice mixture into the small lettuce cups.

  Peyton picked up a silver platter of finger food. “I’ll just ask him how he knows you.” She stuck me with a glare.

  “That’s a great idea.” I would like to know how he knew my name, and what else he knew about me. I grabbed a fresh tray of drinks.

  “Peyton, send Chloe in if you see her,” Wendy called as Peyton and I exited.

  Voices droned through the packed room. Peyton and I split up again. My pulse was still on overload as I served alcohol. Knowing Kelton, he wasn’t going to let up until he got my attention. I scoped out the exits just in case I needed to hide. One sign was lit up at the far end of the room. I’d remembered an exit located in the kitchen, and the other one was the main entrance off to my left.

  “Are you about to make a mad dash for the exit like you did earlier today?” a male voice asked.

  I peered up at the skinny man on my right. “No, Mr. Brewer. I’m trying to find the other server.” Another lie.

  “Uh huh. Why don’t you tell me something that’s true?”

  “Brew!” someone called.

  A blond guy with curly hair and dressed in a blue suit, white shirt, and satin purple tie waved at him. My hand shook, and the glasses dinged on my tray.

  “You sure are jumpy.” Mr. Brewer’s long fingers wrapped around the stem of a glass of red wine.

  The closer Zach Malden got to us, the more I broke out in a nervous sweat. I’d seen pictures of Zach in his father’s office in Miami when I had been visiting my dad at work. I’d only met him once briefly three years ago when he was visiting his father for a weekend. Apparently, he’d lived with his mother in Chicago until he started at BU. I took in a quiet breath. It was time for me to shuck the nerves and get in the game. My hand steadied, as did the glasses. I scanned the room for a hefty, older version of Zach and came up empty. The ray of optimism that had gripped me vanished. At least Zach was here.

  “Sorry I couldn’t make it to class today.” Zach puffed out his scruffy jaw. Then he slowly released his breath as he snatched a flute of champagne from my tray.

  “Rough afternoon?” Mr. Brewer asked.

  Zach gulped down the champagne then replaced the empty glass with a fresh one. “It always is when my old man blows into town for the afternoon then leaves like the city is about to blow up.” He downed the entire contents of the glass.

  I felt my eyebrows come together, and I silently screamed fuck. “Your father is missing a great event,” I said coolly.

  “He’d never show his face at an art function, even if he was still in the city,” Zach said, sounding dejected or wanting of his father’s approval. “He couldn’t give a shit about my artwork or the fact my masterpiece is on display tonight.”

  I tipped my head to the side slightly. His dad had spoken proudly of his son, at least the one time he’d told me about Zach.

  “Zach, meet our newest student, Emma,” Mr. Brewer said as he sipped his wine.

  I smiled and batted my eyelashes as naturally as I could. Somehow I had to befriend Zach in the hopes I could learn the whereabouts of his father, although I never considered myself good at going out of my way to get a guy’s attention. My mom had always told me men were sometimes more attracted to the art of the chase. “You said you had a masterpiece. I’d love to see it.” God, I prayed I wasn’t coming across as fake.

  With his bottom lip between his teeth, he sized me up.

  “Maybe you can teach her some of your tricks of color and light,” Mr. Brewer said.

  Fantastic idea. “I would like that. I owe Mr. Brewer an assignment. I could use your help.”

  Mr. Brewer cocked his head. “You do owe me.”

  Zach pulled a business card from his suit jacket pocket. “Here.” He extended the card. “Call me tomorrow, and we’ll set a time for next week. As for my masterpiece, it’s a portrait of Kelton Maxwell that should be around here somewhere. If you were in class today, then you know what he looks like. I need to talk to Brew.”

  I gripped his business card as my insides waged a small fight between irritation over his dismissal of me and nervousness that everything today seemed to revolve around Kelton. “It was nice meeting you. I’ll give you a shout midafternoon.”

  I quickly searched the room for Zach’s masterpiece and Kelton. Satisfied that I didn’t need to hide from Kelton, and disappointed that I was coming up empty on Zach’s masterpiece, I continued to work the room. It was probably best I didn’t spot the painting. If Kelton was posing in nothing but a cowboy hat, I had no doubt my tray of drinks would b
e splattered on the floor— along with me.

  I weaved through the throng of people, passing those who had full glasses. As I passed a man dressed in a sharp, tailored suit standing next to a redheaded woman, I paused when I heard Kelton’s name.

  “Daddy, when are you interviewing Kelton Maxwell?” the redhead asked.

  Their backs were to me as they faced an art piece on a stand, which I couldn’t quite see. Regardless, her mousy voice was hard to forget from class today.

  “Trudy, pumpkin, stop asking about the boy. I have his résumé and application. I haven’t had time to read through it.” He shifted on his feet. “Although I’m not sure posing half naked for an art class looks good on a résumé. He’ll have to convince me he wants a job at my law firm.”

  So Kelton was sticking to his dream of becoming a lawyer. I was so proud of him.

  “Daddy. You’re so old-fashioned. So what if he models? Do you know how hard it is for someone to stay still long enough for us to sketch?” Trudy hooked her arm through his.

  They stepped to the next piece of artwork. When they moved away and revealed the painting they’d been looking at, my jaw dropped. Piercing blue eyes stared back at me. I bit my tongue when all I wanted to do was moan at the beautiful, perfect man on the canvas. Kelton was casually leaning against a large oak tree with his hands tucked into his jeans pockets, bare chested and barefooted, hair tousled, and a half smirk on his chiseled face. Memories flooded my vision of Kelton and me playing in his tree house when we were ten years old. He loved trees and how the branches swayed in the wind. He’d once told me that when the leaves rustled they were talking to each other. We would sit in his tree house listening to the trees on very windy days.

  “It’s a great piece. Zach, one of Brew’s students, painted this,” Kelton said as he came up next to me, the smoothness of his voice washing over me like a shower of melted chocolate. “Like it?” He gently placed a hand on my lower back.

  “Not in the least,” I said confidently, even though my knees were about to give out. I thought I’d forgotten what his touch was like, but the heat of his hand brought back more memories of when we used to tackle each other playing football. I had to drop that art class. I couldn’t afford to let Kelton distract me from my goal.

  He pulled on the bowtie of his tux with his free hand, stretching his neck. “Do you lie a lot?”

  I do since this morning. “I’m not lying. You have several flaws, you know.”

  He snorted as he flexed his fingers where they were splayed on my back. “I’d like to hear them.”

  “Sorry.” With my head down, I started for the kitchen and got a whiff of his fresh rain cologne. At that moment it took every bit of willpower not to whimper.

  He grabbed my arm. “Wait. Why do you keep running from me?”

  My pulse began beating like a jumping bean. “Why do you keep chasing me?”

  “I’m not chasing you. I’ve been trying to apologize. Brew said you seemed spooked about something when you left class. He thought I scared you.” His handsome gaze drank me in.

  You did scare me. You still do. “Sorry, dude. You can be a creeper.”

  He raised his hand to his mouth as one side turned upward. Damn sexy grin had only gotten sexier with age.

  “I have to work. I shouldn’t have said anything.” I gawked at him instead of doing my job.

  “People are mingling and talking with drinks in their hands. So, talk to the creeper. You might find that I can purr like a kitten if you pet the right spot,” he said in a serious tone.

  I was so doomed to fail if I stayed this close to him. I was ready to tear off the wig and my contacts and throw myself at him. But for some reason, my legs wouldn’t move.

  He cocked his head to one side. “I can’t help but ask. Do I know you?” He studied me like I was his lab experiment.

  Get out now! a voice in my head screamed as I glanced past him.

  A beautiful blond girl dressed like a runway model in a formfitting white strapless cocktail dress glided toward us with a smile etched on her face and her gaze fixed on either Kelton or me. Whoever she was after, her arrival was my cue to leave. My legs still wouldn’t move. Damn curiosity.

  “Kelton, there you are.” She reached up with her delicate fingers and touched his face.

  My guess? She was none other than Chloe.

  Kelton scowled, clearly not liking that the girl was trying to direct his attention away from me. Either that or he was irritated that someone would try and tell him what to do. Which didn’t surprise me. Kelton had never liked to be told what to do. Even when my father told him he wasn’t allowed to see me anymore, Kelton didn’t listen. The boy had a mind of his own. All his brothers were like that. Even at a young age the Maxwell boys had been brazen, not taking crap from anyone, at least not at school.

  Dropping her hand, she said, “At least introduce me to your new friend.”

  “Pardon me,” I said. “I need to work.” I bolted. Once inside the kitchen, I let out a loud sigh.

  “Animals out there?” Wendy asked.

  I laughed when I should be fleeing. As I set down the serving tray, the girl in the white dress bounced in.

  “Did I say something to make you run?” She placed a strand of hair behind her ear, exposing a large solitaire diamond earring. She definitely came from wealth. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. Kelton can be an ass, and I just want to make sure he didn’t upset you.”

  What! I wanted to hate this girl. I wanted to tear her big brown eyes out of their sockets and wiggle my nose, hoping she would turn into a toad. But I couldn’t. Her voice was soft. She had a pretty smile, and she seemed genuine. Kelton would be the luckiest man alive to snag a beautiful and nice girl like Chloe.

  “I’m sorry. I was the one who was rude.” That was the first true statement I’d said in the last hour.

  “Hi, I’m Chloe.” She held out a dainty hand.

  “I’m Emma.” We shook.

  “Chloe, have you been here the whole time?” Wendy wiped her forehead with a dishtowel.

  Chloe placed a hand on her flat stomach. “I have, but I’ve been in the ladies’ room. I think I ate something last night that didn’t agree with me.”

  Wendy went over to her purse and returned with a Pepto-Bismol tablet. “Take this.”

  After Chloe chewed the tablet, the two began talking about Chloe’s graduation party. I closed my eyes and counted to ten to get my heart to stop racing. As I did, I slipped my hands into the pockets of my apron. My hand closed around a business card—the key to finding Terrance Malden.

  Chapter 4

  Kelton

  A booming bass pulsed as I strutted into the back entrance of Rumors, shrugging out of my tux jacket. The damn bowtie was enough to strangle me, especially when I stood beside Emma. Her jasmine scent about choked me with memories of Lizzie. The more I talked to her, the more I swore I knew her.

  I pushed past a long line of girls waiting for the restrooms. They were all ages, shapes, and sizes for a Friday night. A handful smiled at me suggestively. I’d picked up one or two on occasion after Chloe and I had broken up. But I wasn’t trolling tonight. I was here to listen to my brother, Kody, perform. He’d written a new song he was trying out.

  When I passed the last two girls in line, one of them flipped her dark hair over her shoulder. “Did you see? Dillon Hart is here. I can’t believe he’s in a trendy club like this. I’m going to try and talk to him,” she said to her friend. “I would love to get my hands on him. He’s hot.”

  Her friend choked. “The only way you’re talking to him is if you’re a homeless girl under the age of twenty,” the other girl said in a high-pitched voice. “And how do you know he’s here? No one really knows what he looks like. My brother tells me he’s a ghost in this city.”

 
Dillon Hart’s name had been mentioned once or twice in conversations among the locals who frequented the club on occasion. Word on the street was no one could pick him out of a lineup. But he did offer food and a warm bed to runaway girls who wanted to get off the streets and away from their pimps. I wasn’t one to eavesdrop, but I was curious. If Dillon Hart was in the club, then I’d like to meet him so I could shake his hand for helping keep girls safe. I slowed my pace.

  “I caught a glimpse of him when I overheard the bald guy I bumped into call his name,” the girl with the dark hair said.

  I ducked into the manager’s office not too far beyond the girls.

  Kade whistled from behind his metal desk. His copper eyes grew wide. “My baby brother in a tuxedo.” He sat back in the chair.

  “Bite me. I didn’t have time to stop at my condo to change. Got any spare clothes here?” I knew he did. With Lacey away at college and the club a good distance away from where we lived in Ashford, Kade spent at least three nights a week in Boston.

  He flicked his head toward the private bathroom. Mr. Robinson had it built just for Kade when he handed over the management of Rumors to him after we graduated high school. I beelined it into the spacious room. He was older than Kross, Kody, and me by a year, but we were all over six feet tall and fit into the same size clothes, more or less. I opened a cabinet adjacent to the sink and snagged a pair of jeans and a Hinder Band T-shirt. I changed quickly and stuffed the tuxedo into the cabinet. Since Chloe and I were no longer dating, I hoped I would never have to wear that monkey suit again. For a second, I thought to throw the tux into the trash but decided against it.

  I went back into the office. “I left the tux for you, bro. You can make use of it when you marry that beautiful girl of yours.” Parking my butt in a chair, I propped my feet up on top of the desk.

  “Where is she, by the way?” Kade glanced at his watch. When Lacey was home from college, Kade hardly let her out of his sight.