Lexie looked up from studying the drawing she’d been working on and almost choked on the sip she’d just taken.
Sully smiled and sat down across from her at a table in the break room. “I think you should go.”
Lexie slapped her pencil down on her sketch pad and folded her arms over her chest. “I will kill that little nark. Apparently, Zip can’t keep his lips zipped.”
Sully’s grin irritated Lexie even more. “Actually, it wasn’t Zip—this time. I overheard it myself. It wasn’t like Kade was being secretive about it. Anyone walking by would’ve heard it, which a few of us were.”
Lexie rolled her eyes and groaned. “Does the whole garage know?”
“Yep.”
“Oh, joy. Color me thrilled.” Sarcasm laced Lexie’s statement.
“We also know you turned him down.”
Lexie fixed him with a glare. “You know what amazes me? That a group of supposedly big, tough he-men are just as interested in gossip and meddling in people’s business as women. This is why I’m not friends with many women. I hate drama. Looks like I’m working in the wrong place to avoid that. Doesn’t seem like there’s much testosterone around here.”
Sully barely raised an eyebrow over her insult. “Why d'you turn him down? You need to have some fun.”
“I have plenty of fun,” Lexie said, knowing she was going to hell for lying. “Besides, I’m going out with Pace for dinner on Thursday night.” She was. And for once, she was looking forward to some male company.
Sully let out a short bark of laughter. “Really? That’s great.”
Lexie swore. “Now that will be all around the mechanic’s bay too.”
Sully winked at her. “No, it won’t. Cross my heart… Did Kade have any further news on Jason’s whereabouts?”
“He’s not in Michigan.” She shook her head. “I just want this over with. I feel like my life is on hold. A divorce is painful, but it’s also closure.”
“Yeah, I get it,” Sully replied. “After my divorce, I just wanted to move on and forget all the crap that happened. Thing is, unless you have the mentality of a frozen shark, you can’t do that. I tried, but it doesn’t work. I learned that to get through terrible times, you must deal with the pain until it doesn’t hurt as much.”
Lexie folded her arms over her stomach. “I’ve been hurting for so long, Sully. I just want to find Jason, get my finances sorted, and get on with my life. Kade is simply a means to an end. Both of us want the same thing—to find Jason. If not for Jason, we’d have nothing in common.”
“You could be right. But he can find Jason without you, you can finish his car without his help, so why is he hanging around?”
Lexie chewed her bottom lip and realized she’d been thinking the same thing. “I think he’s worried I’ll report Jason to the police.”
“Police? What for?”
Sully was all fatherly concern, and she loved him for it. “Don’t worry. It’s just he… Never mind.”
“I’m beginning to hate this guy.”
She hugged Sully. “Don’t. You of all people know what addiction can do to a person.”
“You really know how to bring a guy down to earth,” Sully responded. “But, yeah. Doesn’t mean I have to be a fan of Jason’s.”
Lexie said, “I’m not exactly a fan either, but I’m still his wife until he signs those bloody papers, and I want to help him if I can.”
Rising, Sully sighed. “Someone needs to, but remember, you can’t help him if he doesn’t want help. Don’t waste your life on a lost cause. Be there if he needs you, but move on if he doesn’t.”
Lexie’s mind whirled as Sully left the break room. She hadn’t thought past getting the money back from Jason. What would she do when she found him? Did she have it in her to help Jason again, like Nick, her mother’s last boyfriend, had helped her mother? She’d tried so hard, but Jason had kicked her around like an old football you took out of the closet now and then to play with.
She returned her attention to her drawing, but a small voice inside kept whispering it was time to let Jason go. No matter what happened, she was done. Let Kade look out for his brother.
She resumed working and had just started to get lost in it when her phone rang. Pulling it out of her pocket, she looked at the number on the caller ID, but didn’t recognize it.
She hit the answer button. “Hello?”
“Lexie?”
Lexie pulled in a startled breath. “Jason?”
“Yeah. Look, I’m sorry about the car, but it was mine, you know? I mean, it was in my name, so I had the right to sell it.”
Lexie knew that flying off the handle was useless, so she swallowed her rage and her need to say, “but not my cabin—you had no right to mortgage the cabin.”
“Jason, where are you? Are you in LA?”
“No. Chicago.”
Shit! “When are you coming to LA? We need to sign the divorce papers.”
“Divorce papers? Don’t leave me now—”
“Me leave you? Get real. You left me months ago.” Lexie’s grip tightened on her cellphone and she had to force herself to loosen it, so she didn’t crush it. “Our marriage is over.”
“I said I was sorry. It was the drugs.”
She tried to find her Zen. “You have a problem, Jason. You need to get help before it kills you.”
“I’m trying.” Jason’s voice had taken on the tone that had once melted her heart, but it left her glacier-cold now.
“Kade’s worried about you, too. He’s desperate for you to come home to LA.”
“Kade? Have you been seeing Kade?” Anger filled his tone. “You keep away from my brother!” And with that, he hung up.
Damn. She dialed Kevin. “I just got a phone call. He says he’s in Chicago.”
“I’ll see if I can trace the call. I have a few friends in the force who owe me. I’ll be in touch.”
Looking at the art supplies strewn over the table, Lexie knew the call had broken her concentration too much to do any more quality work that night. With a groan of frustration, she put her art stuff in her big backpack and slung it over her shoulder. As she walked through the office, she saw Marcus at the computer on the service counter.
He flicked a glance her way. “Night, Lex.”
“Night, Marcus.”
Perhaps Marcus was warming to her. He’d actually said goodnight to her.
Pulling onto South Figueroa Street, Lexie gave a sigh of relaxation as she picked up speed and then turned onto CA-110, heading for Echo Park. Driving was another way she coped with stress. She’d put a lot of miles on the Jeep over the past few months, just cruising around LA on nights she couldn’t sleep. Tonight, she’d stop at her favorite bar and listen to some music.
Ten minutes later, Lexie found a parking spot and got out. Even though she could barely hear the throbbing pulse of base, she knew the music would be almost deafening inside. Joe Brady, the owner, had virtually soundproofed the place to cut down on the cops harassing him about noise violations.
Opening the door, she encountered the bouncer assigned to card people as they came in. Lexie knew Tony, and they exchanged hellos before she entered the main bar area. A long, chrome-gilded bar stretched out before her, in the middle of which eight racing car tires were affixed in a row. Fifteen chrome-plated stools were upholstered in red leather. All the metal gleamed in the bright lighting from the numerous headlights situated all around the room.
Diedre Knight, one of the bartenders, waved to Lexie from behind the bar. Lexie smiled and headed over, taking one of the last three empty stools. “Hey, Diedre.”
Diedre’s blue eyes shone with humor as she motioned toward the crowded barroom. “It’s a big crowd tonight, so busy. What can I get you?”
“It’s been one of those days, so a beer is in order. Whatever’s on tap is okay.”
“All right.”
While she waited for her beer, Lexie glanced around the bar, nodding to some people she knew an
d noticing a few men glancing her way. Even though she wasn’t interested, she enjoyed knowing she was still attractive to the opposite sex. Diedre sat her beer in front of her. Lexie thanked her and took a sip.
“Didn’t think I’d see you here tonight.”
Any semblance of a smile fled from Lexie’s expression as she turned to meet Marcus’ eyes. “I’m allowed out now, I’m over twenty-one.”
He downed a shot. “I didn’t know you were coming here. You know, that’s no way to talk to your boss.”
“I don’t see my boss. He’s at home with his wife and kids.”
A tiny thrill of satisfaction ran through Lexie at Marcus’ scowl.
“Lexie, the only reason you still have a job is because Tom and I have an agreement.” His silver-gray eyes cooled a couple of shades. “He let you in the door because you’re friends, but the only thing keeping you employed is the quality of your work. But if that starts to go downhill…”
Marcus’ meaning was clear to Lexie. Her cheeks burned with indignation, but she restrained the emotion. Keeping her job was more important than antagonizing him. Suddenly, she heard her grandmother’s voice in her head. You catch more flies with honey, dear. She’d spent her summers at her grandmother’s farm in Idaho, and Charlotte Emery had been full of sage, old-fashioned advice. Lexie applied that particular adage to the current situation.
She swallowed a little pride as she raised her chin a fraction. “Marcus, I owe you an apology.”
The way his dark eyebrows shot up almost made Lexie laugh. “For what?”
Lexie took a moment to gather her thoughts, so she didn’t sound like an idiot. She hadn’t been planning on having this conversation with Marcus tonight, but something nudged her to continue. “I shouldn’t have acted like a bitch to you in the past, but I’d like to explain why I did.”
A suspicious frown settled on Marcus’ face. “Is this a joke?”
Lexie shook her head. “No, I promise. You know what Jason is like and everything he’s been putting me through, right? I know what he put you through and I can see why you’d want to blame me too. We all know he shouldn’t have been racing that day, and even though clipping your car was an accident, if he was drugged up… It was his fault. Not mine. I’ve never touched drugs. You’re tarring me with the same brush, just like I was with Kade. I thought you were happy owning Bad Boy Autos, but I see the resentment in your eyes every time you look at me. You really want to be driving on the circuit, don’t you? I must be a constant reminder of all you’ve lost.”
“I try not to think about Jason Colter, but…”
Meeting his gaze, Lexie replied, “You’re a lot like Jason—reckless, wild, irresponsible, and you sleep with anything in tight jeans or a miniskirt.” Lexie held up a hand when he would’ve responded. “Just don’t end up like the man you despise. Don’t drink yourself into alcoholism. Don’t let Jason beat you.”
Marcus leaned back in his chair as a surprised laugh escaped him. “Wow. Genuine concern for me.”
Lexie grinned, enjoying catching him off-guard. “Honestly, I’m kind of surprising myself.”
He arched an eyebrow as he looked down at the drink he held in his hand. “I guess you’re making sense.” He looked at her as his smile faded. “I don’t want Jason to win anything. And I’ll never end up like him.”
“Probably not, because you have a family that loves you. They won’t let you self-destruct. Just watch the booze.”
Marcus’ jaw tightened. “Don’t start. I get enough of that from Kendra. She keeps saying I should grow up. We were pretty wild in racing circuit days, weren’t we?”
“I know, and that’s what stuck in my mind all this time instead of seeing that you’ve changed,” Lexie said. “I mean, you’ve settled down some, opened a successful business, and become more involved with your family.”
He let out a derisive snort. “That only happened because I got hurt. Because of Jason. If I hadn’t, I’d still be out on the racing circuit, doing what I love the most.”
“True, but you turned what happened around and made something positive out of it. Unlike Jason, who dealt with it by turning to drugs.”
Marcus shifted on his stool, the movement conveying his discomfort in talking about the situation. “Okay, I think this Hallmark moment is over.”
Lexie cracked up, which drew a laugh from Marcus. Sobering, she said, “Look, the bottom line is that constantly fighting isn’t good for us, and it’s not good for business.” She stuck a hand out to Marcus. “Truce?”
His measuring stare made Lexie a little afraid that she’d overstepped, but after a few moments, Marcus shook her hand. “Truce—so long as you’re not coming onto me.”
Another woman would’ve been offended, but Lexie found Marcus’ leery attitude hysterical. “I’m not. Trust me,” she assured him in a humor-laced voice.
He smiled and released her hand. “Good. And on that note, I’m going to the head. See you in the morning.”
“Okay.” Lexie watched Marcus saunter away from the bar. She didn’t have any delusions that she and Marcus would ever be bosom buddies, but she hoped that they wouldn’t fight as much. And she hoped his drinking never became a problem.
When she finished her beer, she ordered a double bourbon to nurse while the band played, and then headed for a small table along the far wall that had just been vacated. From that vantage point, she could see the stage where the band was doing a sound check. Renegade Blues was a great cover band, but they also played some original songs. Lexie sipped her drink and looked forward to their performance.
She jumped when someone said her name and tapped her shoulder. A jolt of surprise ran through her as Kade moved to the other side of the table.
“Hi. Fancy meeting you here.” His smile made his eyes gleam.
“Oh. Hi.”
Kade indicated the empty chair across from her. “Mind if I join you?”
Lexie sighed inwardly. She didn’t want him to, but she couldn’t find a polite way to refuse. “Um, sure. That would be nice.”
Kade chuckled as he dragged the chair over to her side. “You’re lying, but I appreciate the hospitality.”
Lexie had thought she’d pulled off the fib, but Kade had seen right through her. Of course, he was a journalist and had great powers of perception.
An unexpected prickle of awareness spread through her as Kade sat down. She was further disconcerted when her nipples tightened in response to his nearness. I really need to have sex.
“Are you here to see the band?” she asked, glad that she was wearing a padded bra that hid her reaction.
Kade leaned forward and rested his forearms on the table. He wore an old pair of black jeans and a black leather vest over a red t-shirt. He looked relaxed, casual, and hot, she admitted to herself. She liked the minty scent of his aftershave and the way he’d trimmed his beard. It made him look manly and tough. His edgy style made him resemble a race car driver or a pit crew member instead of a well-known writer.
Motioning toward the stage, he replied, “Troy Devlin, the drummer, is a friend of mine, and he bitched me out because I hadn’t come to see the band play in a while.”
Lexie said, “I didn’t know you knew anyone in the band. They’re great.”
“Yeah, they are. So, who are you here with?”
It annoyed Lexie when she suddenly felt embarrassed that she was stag, but she wasn’t going to let Kade see that it bothered her. “I needed some alone time, so I just came to listen to the band and veg out a little.”
Kade grinned as he leaned closer. “And here I am ruining that plan—which I think sucks, by the way.”
“It does, huh?” Lexie took a sip of her drink and straightened in her chair to put a little distance between them. “Do you have a better idea?”
“Yeah. You need to have some fun. I don’t think you’ve had enough lately.”
Fun wasn’t her top priority, and she wished that he hadn’t shown up. She was trying to chill and
forget her troubles for a while, and Kade just brought it all back.
“Look, don’t tell me what I need or don’t need,” she said. “I’m a big girl and I can take care of myself.” She pushed her unfinished drink away and stood up. “Have a good night, Kade. I’ll call you when I’ve made more progress on your car.”
Frustration burned through Kade as he watched Lexie rise. He hadn’t meant to offend her with his teasing, and he couldn’t let her leave without clearing the air. He took her wrist in a light grasp. “Wait a sec, Lexie. I’m sorry. I was just kidding. I wasn’t trying to tell you what to do. Honest.”
Her stormy eyes met his for several long moments before her posture relaxed. “I believe you. I’m the one who’s sorry. Jason used to tell me how I should feel, or that I was wrong to feel a certain way.”
Kade rose to his feet. “I wasn’t doing that.”
Her pretty lips curved into a wry smile, and Kade resisted the strong urge to kiss her. “I know. I have to quit judging people based on his actions. It’s not fair.”
Kade realized that he was still holding her wrist and let it go. “I understand, but I would never insult your intelligence that way. You’re a mature woman and you know your own mind.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.”
“No problem. How about a game of pool before you leave? The band should be on soon. Stay for one song, at least. I can even introduce you to my friend.”
He wished he could take those words back as they came flowing out. He didn’t want his friend catching sight of Lexie. And that thought scared him silly.
A smug look settled on her face. “Are you sure you want to play against me? I’m sort of a pool shark.”
He nodded. “That’s why I asked you. I like a challenge.”
“All right. Ten bucks says I beat you.”
Her assertion brought a grin to Kade’s face. “You’re on. After you,” he said, making a sweeping gesture toward the pool tables.
He was sure the sly look she sent him wasn’t meant to be flirtatious, but it touched off his desire for her nonetheless. Try as he might, he couldn’t keep his gaze from straying to her shapely ass as he followed her.
A pool table opened up as they neared, and Kade quickly claimed it. He put quarters in and the balls rolled into the open slot. “Do you want to rack them?” he asked Lexie.
Purr For Me: Bad Boy Autos (Drive Me Wild Book 2) Page 5