Page 8 of Purr For Me
Chapter Three
Aweek later, Kade returned to Bad Boy Autos to check on the progress of his car. He’d told Tom that Lexie should do whatever felt right with the vehicle, giving her complete control. She was one of the most respected restorers in LA. She’d make his car purr.
Although he’d wanted to see Lexie sooner, he’d been away working on a story. Besides, knowing her as he did, he knew she’d have become defensive if he’d smothered her. As long as she was still hunting for Jason rather than letting the police do it, he could give her the space to work her magic, which would give her some time to adjust to him coming around more often.
At least he now had a plan of how to help her. The private detective he’d hired to find Jason had followed his trail to Michigan. When he found him, if Jason didn’t have the money he’d stolen, he’dgiveJason the money and watch him give it to Lexie to clear the debt. She’d never know it came from him.
Although a confident man, Kade didn’t enjoy being a hard-ass or using intimidation tactics when dealing with people, but this time Jason had gone too far. He’d broken the law, and he prayed he could make his brother get the help he needed.
He wondered if he was doing his brother more harm by not reporting his crime. On the one hand, prison might get him off the drugs, but on the other, it might simply feed his addiction. Kade knew drugs were rife inside.
It had always baffled him how a woman like Lexie could’ve fallen for Jason’s shit.
They do say love is blind.
While Lexie was tough and didn’t take shit from anyone, she was also kind and fun-loving with a soft center. Or she had been before Jason had gotten involved with drugs and started sleeping around on her. It had pained Kade to watch her suffer because of his brother. However, outside of trying to talk sense into Jason and offering to be a sounding board for Lexie, Kade hadn’t gotten involved.
He wished to God he had. He should have run interference and pushed Jason into rehab. He’d held back because he had taboo feelings for his sister-in-law.
Despite his feelings for Lexie, he’d hoped for her sake that Jason would wise up and things worked out between them. Instead, Jason’s behavior had only gotten worse. He’d crushed Lexie when he’d sold their restored 1960s Formula One race car. Then to mortgage her cabin and run off with the money and some track bimbo…
It had been the final blow, and Lexie had immediately started divorce proceedings.
Walking toward the garage, Kade saw Lexie’s bay door was open and headed for it. A cacophony of revving motors and various air-compressed tools greeted his ears, filling Kade with excitement. Even though he’d never been a pro race car driver, he shared Jason’s passion for fast cars and speed. He’d done his share of street and amateur racing, but he’d never considered that as a career.
Instead, he’d gone into journalism, writing about the racing circuit which led to a successful career, and also severalNew York Timesbestselling suspense novels set around the professional racing circuit. He’d made millions, and now he lived a great life. Money, women, vacation homes, helicopters, fast cars. He had it all.
Yet lately, something was missing. He was lonely. He wanted what Tom had, love with the right woman, and all the things that came with a family life, especially kids.
But most of the women he met only saw his celebrity and wealth. He wanted something deeper, real, and everlasting.
Why couldn’t I have met Lexie first?
Approaching Lexie’s bay, Kade saw his car up on the lift. Lexie stood underneath it with Sully, conferring with him about something to do with the rear axle.
Kade paused for a moment as he watched them. Lexie hadn’t noticed him yet. Whatever Sully said had amused her, and her deep brown eyes shone as she laughed. The dimple in her right cheek appeared, and Kade had a sudden desire to kiss it—and every other inch of her. Even in her dirty navy-blue overalls, she was sexy as hell despite the fact they somewhat hid her delectable body.
It had always driven Kade crazy when she wore them—much more than the few times he’d seen her in a slinky dress or a bikini. Maybe it was because he knew what was under the overalls and he wanted to unwrap her like a candy bar.
Bringing his reaction to her under control, Kade entered the bay.
Lexie looked in his direction, and her smile faded when she recognized him. Kade tried to ignore his disappointment at the wary, irritated expression that settled on her beautiful features, but he wasn’t quite successful.
“Hi.” Kade gestured toward the car. “How’s it going here?”
Based on Lexie’s attitude the day he’d dropped off the Alfa, he thought talking about business first was the best course of action.
Sully said, “I’ll leave you to it, Lex. Good to see you, Kade.”
“Likewise,” Kade replied.
He watched Sully walk away, a little jealous of the easy, friendly rapport he and Lexie shared. Kade wanted that with her, and his determination to win her over intensified as he returned his attention to her.
* * *
Lexie clenched her teeth when she saw Kade, then willed her jaw to relax. Watching him walk toward her in jeans with a white t-shirt that stretched tight across his well-muscled chest, a thread of female appreciation wrapped around her. He had a different build than Jason. Jason was shorter, about her height, 5’8”—that’s how he’d fit in the racing cars. Kade was taller, about 6 feet, and all muscle.
It wasn’t every man who could rock the shaved hair look, but Kade did it with ease. His short, almost black beard emphasized his strong jaw and drew attention to his sensual mouth. As her gaze roamed over him, Lexie noticed the tattooed armband around each bicep, amused by the fun names. The right one was labeled “thunder” while the left had been dubbed “lightning.”
