Page 39 of Purr For Me
Kade took gauze and tape out of his gym bag that sat on a metal folding chair near them. “Not much more than that. He knows what an ass Jason is, so I’m not surprised he’d say something like that. I told Calvin that I felt bad that he hurt you so much, but I promise that was all I said to him. I didn’t air your business, Lexie.”
Lexie pursed her lips as she tried to decide whether to believe Kade. His direct gaze convinced her, and the tension in her shoulders ebbed away. “Okay. I believe you.” Embarrassment stole through her as she realized how much distrust she harbored towards men. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be bitchy or suspicious, but I can’t seem to help myself.”
Sitting down, Kade gave her a half-smile. “I understand, but I hope at some point you’ll see that you can trust me.”
Lexi appreciated Kade being so nice, but would she ever trust a man again? How could she ever hope to find someone to share her life with if she continued to be suspicious all the time?
“I'm trying, Kade. Please have a little patience with me.”
Kade patted the seat next to him and said, “I will. Now, how about helping me get ready?”
Lexie gave him a dubious look but sat next to him. “What do you want me to do?”
“Nothing too hard. I need help to tape my wrists, so it would be great if you’d do it for me since Cal is busy.”
Lexie liked a challenge and learning new things, so even though she was apprehensive, she was also eager for Kade to show her what to do. “Where do I start?
Kade handed her a roll of medical tape. “Have you ever used an Ace bandage on someone?”
Lexie nodded. “I’ve bandaged Jason’s wrists, ankles and knees tons of times over the years.”
“Good,” Kade said. “Start two inches above my wrist and, keeping the tension on the tape even, come down over my wrist. But don’t tape over the bottom part of my palm. Take the tape between my thumb and forefinger and then around my knuckles twice.”
Lexie smiled but didn’t comment further as she concentrated on the task at hand. She followed Kade’s instructions carefully, winding the tape and threading it between each of Kade’s fingers. She enjoyed the process, and also the contact with Kade’s warm skin. A few times she caught him watching her face instead of her hands and knew that he was thinking about their embrace yesterday.
As she worked, Lexie noticed little scars on Kade’s knuckles, most likely from past fights. His hands were large and powerful, and she could only imagine how much pain he could mete out during a match. And how much pleasure if she let him touch her.
His favorite pastime seemed incongruous with his profession and temperament. Of course, Kade was a study in contradiction, so it wasn't all that strange. She liked his nice-guy side very much, but she was curious to see what he was like as a fighter.
“How many fights have been in?” she asked.
“I’ve lost count,” he said. “I started boxing when I was nineteen, which was ten years ago.”
“Wow. That long ago, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“What got you interested in it?”
“Well, when I was about seventeen, I entered my rebellious phase and got into some hot water. You know how it is. I stayed out all night, drank, and didn’t do my homework,” he said.
“You didn’t do your homework? I find that hard to believe.”
“Why? Because I’m a writer?”
Lexi wasn’t sure how to answer without offending Kade. “I guess it’s just that you seem sort of scholarly.”
Kade laughed. “So, what you’re saying is that I seem like a dork or a nerd.”
“Not at all. You definitely don't look like any nerd I’ve ever seen.” Lexie ripped off the tape and smoothed down the end. “I just meant that you seem smart and more like the guy who would be good in school instead of a juvenile delinquent.”
Kade grasped his taped wrist and squeezed, securing the tape even more and testing Lexie’s handiwork. “Well done. Okay, now for the other one.”
Lexi was proud that she’d done a good job and set about taping Kade’s other hand and wrist with zeal.
Kade watched her for a few moments before continuing his story. “I guess it’ll surprise you even more to hear that I dropped out of high school because my grades were terrible, and I didn’t want to do an extra year just to graduate. I thought since my parents were rich, I didn’t have to do anything with my life. I had a nice trust fund. So you see, I could have ended up just like Jason.”
She stopped and looked him in the eye. “But you didn’t. That shows the difference between you and Jason.”
