Read Online Charm School After Dark: Lesson 1 by Lynn Carmer - Free Book Online

the shoulder. “I think she’s going through something, but she won’t open up. Sound familiar?”
    Caelen almost spit out her beer. “Hey. At least I’m not going off on everybody.”
    “No. You’re just guzzling your problems away.”
    Caelen decided she resembled that remark and took another swig. “I feel like I just got punched in the stomach. What did she mean?”
    “I think it has to do with her and Jake. You were right, though. There is one thing that we know Athena always wanted to be, ever since we were kids.”
    Horror dawned, slowly and painfully. “A mom.”
    “Yup. And she and Jake have been married now, for what, five years? She doesn’t even talk about it anymore.”
    “I’m such an idiot.”
    “Pretty much.”
    “God, Brynn. I messed up so bad. She’s never going to forgive me.” Not that Brynn had any idea about the real secret Caelen was keeping. Athena would never forgive her for having an affair. And she didn’t blame her, not one bit.
    “Hey, come on now. It wasn’t that serious. Just a small fight. Just another night for the Calvo Quads.”
    “That’s what you think,” Caelen muttered.
    “What?”
    “Nothing.”
    “One burning question.”
    “What?”
    “If you really go through with this, who’s going to be your Guinea pig?” Brynn said with a twinkle in her moss green eyes.
    Caelen winced as Dare’s toned body and mischievous smile did a jig in her frontal lobe. She had to admit, as her plan started to solidify, it was only Dare that came to mind. Damn it. But she couldn’t stand him, right? “I haven’t exactly worked out the details.”
    “Dare was checking you out pretty hard earlier today,” Brynn said with an exaggerated wink.
    Both girls burst into laughter.
    Caelen caught her breath and took another swig of her beer. She perked up when “I Will Survive” came over the loud speakers, but the minute the karaoke singer, who acted like he thought he was Gloria Gaynor, started to shriek out the song, her enthusiasm faded. “He’s just such a jerk!”
    “Kettle, meet Pot.” Brynn laughed.
    “Hey, I’m lovely. Just not with him.” Caelen took a quick drink, the next words flying from her mouth before she could stop them. “What’s his dealio, anyway?”
    “What do you mean?”
    Maybe she could pick Brynn’s brain and it would help her make a final, and apparently quick decision. “The 411. What’s he doing here? He grew up in L.A., like the rest of us. Is he making the drive all the way out here just to help the school?”
    “He really loved Ms. Belle. He would’ve done anything for her.”
    Brynn’s soft words reminded Caelen of Dare’s rough childhood. Abusive father, house full of brothers. He’d worshipped the ground Ms. Belle walked on, although he’d never admit it. If any of the kids had teased him about it, he’d kicked their asses. Dare was definitely a brawler. All those rock hard muscles…
    “Turns out he moved to Sierra Madre a couple years ago to work at the local firehouse, before his divorce.”
    Brynn’s last words knocked her back to the present. “Divorce? He was married?”
    “Yeah, and news on the street was that it was a bad breakup.” Brynn took off her glasses and examined them, tilting them back and forth, finding the smudge and then cleaning it off with her soft, pink tee.
    “What happened?” Caelen asked in hushed tones.
    “Don’t know. You’re going to have to ask him. Not that you care, though. Right?” Brynn laughed softly.
    Bzzz. Bzzz .
    Damn it, Victor. Not now. Not ever .
    “Your phone has been ringing nonstop. What’s up with that?” Brynn plopped her glasses back onto her nose.
    Caelen shrugged and took another swig from her beer.
    “Oh my God. It’s him, isn’t it? Your ex. You wouldn’t ever consider going back to him, just for Ms. Belle?” Brynn placed a hand on Caelen’s arm, the small smile fading from her face.
    Caelen twirled the end of one of her braids. “No… No. Well, I