Page 63 of Purr For Me
Lexie couldn’t move at first, but Marcus’ order to get off her butt and follow him did the trick. The smell of stale coffee hit as they moved through the break room into the cavern of grease-monkey heaven that was the supply warehouse. She almost ran smack into Marcus’ back because he’d stopped.
“You wanted to show me the supply closet?”
He opened the door and turned on the light. “Welcome to your new office.”
Peering around him, all Lexie saw was brooms, buckets, cleaning supplies and other odds and ends. “It’s the supply closet, not an office.”
“True, but itwillbe an office soon, and you’ll help design it.”
She put a hand on his arm. “I don’t understand. Why do I need an office?”
Marcus turned the light off and shut the door. “Day after day, I watch you draw in the break room or in the garage on that table. The designs you create are freaking amazing. I’ve seen my parents buy art that’s supposedly worth thousands of dollars that doesn’t come close to what you do. You need a proper place to do your work, Lexie. That’s how good I think it is. I always have.”
“Okay, you are super freaking me out right now,” Lexie said.
Marcus’ grin drew a smile from her. “I can see that.”
“I didn’t realize you liked my design work so much.”
His expression sobered. “At the risk of sounding like a wuss, this place is precious to me, Lexie. There’s no way in hell I’d accept inferior work here. Ever. Your work is the best I’ve ever seen, and it’s getting noticed. It will bring in more business.
“You deserve that raise and a work office where you can design your ass off. And whatever clients you bring in, you’ll get a commission on. I haven’t run the numbers yet, but we can figure that out later.”
Marcus’ praise and friendly attitude with Lexie was so strange, she was certain she’d been transported to a parallel universe where everything was opposite to this one.Fringe on steroids,she thought. Between that, the pay raise and the check he’d handed her, Lexie couldn’t hold back her emotions.
She clutched the check to her chest as tears flooded her eyes and she tried to speak. However, she couldn’t even manage a whisper. Holding up the check, she nodded and gave a thumbs-up sign before a sob slipped out. She could pay off most of her debts if this kept up.
Marcus’ black eyebrows knitted, and he put his hands on his hips. “Why are you crying? You don’t cry. At least, I’ve never seen you cry. I don’t like it. Stop it.”
Laughter bubbled up to mingle with her tears over his reaction. A huge hiccup escaped her, and she covered her mouth to muffle another one.
“Damn it.” Marcus tentatively embraced Lexie as though she were a bomb he expected to explode at any moment.
This further amused Lexie, making her sobs change over completely to laughter. But she put her arms around his waist, grateful beyond words to Marcus for his generosity. It seemed like he wasn’t the complete tool she’d thought.
Marcus gave her a squeeze before releasing her and holding her at arm’s length. “Well, at least you’re not crying anymore. You okay?”
Lexie nodded and used the sleeve of her overalls to wipe away her tears. “Sorry. It’s just that you don’t understand how much this means to me. It’ll go a long way towards paying off my bills. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, but I want to clarify that I’m not doing this out of pity. You earned it. I always reward good work,” Marcus said.
Back in control, Lexie smiled. “I’m glad to hear that. I wouldn’t take the money if I thought you felt sorry for me.”
Marcus grimaced a little. “Well, I’m sorry that you had to put up with a scumbag like Jason for so long, but I don’t pity you. He’s an idiot for not appreciating what he had, but it’s nice that Kade does.”
“What do you know about that?” Lexie narrowed her eyes. “Has Tom been talking to you about me?”
“No, but I have eyes, Lexie. I see how he looks at you every time he comes here. It’s easy to see he’s really into you. Kade’s a good guy. He’s a straight shooter and he doesn’t play games. Besides that, he’s responsible and has a good work ethic.”
Lexie laughed. “Are you trying to sell me on him?”
Marcus shrugged. “No, just telling you what I think.”
“All right. I’ll take that under advisement. And I’ll add that Stella’s a great woman, too.”
“Stella? What’s that mean?”
She smiled, loving being back in the driver’s seat with Marcus. “Sssh. I’ll keep your secret. I saw you kissing her a few nights ago.”
