Page 34 of Purr For Me
Chapter Ten
Sitting in the lunchroom, Lexie tried to concentrate on drawing up a preliminary design sketch for a new customer, but it was tough going. She hadn’t heard from Kade for two days, which was odd.
Suspicion crowded her brain, making her temple ache. Had Kade found Jason? But why would he hide that from her? She dismissed that idea because it didn’t square with what she knew of Kade.
Besides, Sully was a great judge of character, so his approval of Kade went a long way with Lexie. She chided herself for acting like a teenager with a crush. Jason had once told her that Kade always retreated from the world when he was writing a big article, or if he was on a tight book deadline. Most likely, that’s what had happened.
Lexie glanced at her cellphone sitting on the table next to her. She tapped the end of her pencil against her lips as she contemplated texting Kade. Images of their fiery embrace the other day danced in her mind. Kade’s thorough exploration of her mouth had left her aching for more.
Her temperature started rising as she remembered Kade sliding his arm around her waist, hauling her against his chest. She chuckled about being shouted at by that guy and at Kade’s reaction.
It was a good thing they’d stopped because Kade’s growing arousal beckoned. Damn, but she’d almost reached down to caress him through his jeans.
Her smile broadened. It felt good knowing that she still had that effect on a man. Jason’s cruel words and lack of interest had dented her confidence in the bedroom.
She sighed as she gazed once more at her cellphone, as though it could help her decide whether to send Kade a message. Before she chickened out, she snatched the phone up, found Kade in her contacts and hit the call button.
* * *
Kade had been up most of the night again, and it seemed like he’d just gotten to sleep when his phone rang. Growling at the intrusion, he fumbled around for it on his nightstand, but it wasn’t there. Rolling over, he spotted it on the floor near the bed. He grabbed it, and woke up fast when he saw Lexie’s name on the caller ID.
“You’re up early,” he greeted her. Her answering chuckle made him smile.
“I’m taking you up on the offer of going for a run.”
Kade rolled over and sat up on the side of the bed. Looking at the phone, he saw that it was close to noon. He yawned as he realized that he’d slept for six hours. Rubbing his eyes, he asked, “Now? Aren’t you at work?”
Lexie laughed. “Not now. Tomorrow morning.”
Kade stifled a groan. He was still on a strict deadline and would most likely have to pull another all-nighter. However, he would not turn down the chance to spend time with Lexie.
“Sounds great. Where do you want to meet?”
“Have you ever done the West Loop at Elysian Park?”
“No. I hear it’s nice, though. Easy, but nice.”
“Not the way I do it. Meet me there tomorrow at five-thirty. Bye.”
The way she’d left him no choice but to go amused Kade. Lexie’s moxie was one thing he most admired about her. With a grin, he fell back into bed. He reset his alarm for three p.m. He had a long night of writing ahead of him before his run.
* * *
Kade could see Lexie doing warm-up stretches while she waited for him as he drove up the next morning. She was as flexible as fuck, and naughty thoughts jumped into his brain. She grabbed her right ankle and brought it up behind her, and all he could think about was what those legs would feel like wrapped around his waist.
The sun’s early rays shone down on the dirt parking lot, turning it and everything else it touched to burnished gold. He hoped it wouldn’t get too hot before the run was over, or his lack of sleep might see him throw up if they ran too far.
He parked the Mercedes and jumped out. “Morning, Lex. You look more awake than the other morning.”
His blood turned hot as he took in the sight of Lexie in a pair of thigh-length, skin-tight purple running shorts and a matching sports bra. He’d seen her in a bikini a few times and knew she had a sexy, toned body, but she looked even better than he remembered. Her shapely, long legs and slightly defined midsection led up to the swell of her breasts, which in his estimation were the perfect size, just large enough to fill his palms.
Get a grip, he thought as his groin tightened with a small influx of heated blood. His sweat shorts weren’t great camouflage for an erection, so he focused on her eyes. The sun had turned them a warm coffee brown, and he loved the way her smile made them sparkle.
“That’s right. I’m bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and ready to kick your ass.”
Kade grinned as he stretched. “We’ll see about that.”
“Mmm hmm. I’m ready to go, so hurry with those stretches. Daylight’s burning.”
