Purr For Me: Bad Boy Autos (Drive Me Wild Book 2)

by Bronwen Evans

  “When did this happen? I thought you acted strange at Kendra and Tom’s wedding. You grilled me as to whether I’d ever had a thing with Marcus.”

  Stella plonked down on the floor. “I’ve never been a woman who wanted marriage and kids. My father is on wife number five so the idea of what many see as a disposal piece of paper wasn’t important to me. I loved playing the field, and Marcus was one of my friends with benefits. Then Connor came along, and I saw Tom and Kendra with their son, and suddenly, as if a bomb went off, I knew I wanted that too. With Marcus. My clock is ticking.”

  The words “bad choice in men” kept echoing in Lexie’s head.

  “But you know Marcus. He doesn’t want to be tied down, and he’s shown no desire for kids.”

  “So what are you going to do?”

  Stella began repacking a box. “Nothing. What can I do? I tried pulling back, and I hoped he’d miss me, but I’m not sure he notices me unless I’m in his face.” She gave Lexie a sad smile. “Do you think you’ll ever get married again?”

  Lexie opened her mouth, but no words came out.

  “Don’t know, huh?” Stella said for her.

  “Don’t know what?” Kendra asked as she came through the door.

  “If I’d marry Kade.”

  Kendra did a little dance. “So he’s asked you already!”

  Lexie jumped to her feet. “Oh, no. No, he hasn’t… but I found the most gorgeous ring in his pocket.”

  “Do you want him to ask?” Stella asked, looking up from the floor.

  Lexie’s heart pounded in her chest and her mouth went dry. She didn’t know.

  Kendra walked forward and hugged her. “I guess not. You’d immediately know if you did. Give it time. You’ll know when it’s right.”

  She hugged Kendra back. “I’m so happy just to be moving in with him. I love Kade. And I know we can be happy. I don’t need a ring to tell me that.” She bent and taped up the box she’d just finished packing. “Come on. This is the last of it. The boys will be arriving soon to collect the furniture. I’m donating it to Pastor Sal’s mission.”

  Happiness suffused her heart, and even though she wasn’t ready to marry Kade, that didn’t mean she wouldn’t be ready in the future. But for now, she was thrilled about moving in with him. To be starting a new life and journey with a man who loved her.

  After one last look at the place where she’d licked her wounds, she shut the door, ending the worst period of her life, and jumped in her Jeep to drive back to the man she loved with every particle of her being, anxious to begin the next chapter of their lives together.

  Epilogue

  “Do you think she’ll ever marry him?” Lexie heard Zip ask Sully a few months after she’d moved in with Kade.

  The gang was enjoying Friday evening together at Sully’s place. Some of his other friends were there, and the two crowds mixed and mingled well since most of them were part of the racing scene.

  She and Kade sat at a long picnic table, a huge striped umbrella shading them. They were drying off after swimming and playing in the pool.

  “I don’t know, Zip. I wouldn’t rule it out,” Sully said.

  Lexie tried to hide a smile as she looked up at Kade. His eyes shone with restrained laughter, indicating he was eavesdropping, too.

  “I hope so. They’re a great couple. Lexie deserves happiness.”

  Kade leaned down and whispered, “I agree.”

  Lexie barely held in a laugh.

  “That may be, but I hope they don’t rush into it. Lex has been through enough hell. I think Kade’s a good guy, but if he breaks her heart, I’ll punch him in the head.”

  Lexie felt Kade tense at Marcus’ remark, and she put a hand on his thigh, holding him in place.

  “Since when did you become so protective of her?” Sully asked. “I thought you hated her?”

  “Yeah, well, we’ve talked over some stuff, and I think we’ve come to an understanding. Besides, we were both screwed over by Jason Colter,” Marcus replied. “It’s bonded us.”

  Lexie muffled a snort, and Kade chuckled quietly.

  “You guys are worse than a bunch of nosey old ladies at bingo,” Kendra remarked, drawing laughs from the men. “Don’t you have better things to do than speculate about other people’s business?”

  “Not really,” Marcus replied. “Then again, we could talk about how you’re knocked up again already. Yeah, that’s a great topic.”

  “Shut up, Marcus,” Stella said.

  Lexie hated seeing the pain in her friend’s eyes… but she would talk to Stella tomorrow. Marcus definitely hadn’t liked it when earlier, one of Sully’s friends took a shine to Stella and was openly flirting with her. Perhaps there was hope.

  “Don’t get me wrong; I love being an uncle, but you and Tom are giving bunnies a run for their money.”

  “You love spoiling my kids, and it doesn’t look like you’ll have any of your own soon, so stop complaining.”

  At Kendra’s taunt, Marcus yelled across the backyard, “Hey, Tom! How about you stay off your wife once in a while, huh? Maybe let her rest a little longer between kids?”

  Tom was in the pool playing volleyball with some people. He turned at Marcus’ yell and gave him a toothy grin. “For the record, you got that backwards, bro, but piss off anyway.”

  Everyone, including Kade and Lexie, cracked up.

  “I hate you guys,” Kendra said and came to sit with Kade and Lexie. “I like the company over here much better.”

  “Glad to have you,” Lexie said.

  She smiled at them with a speculative gleam in her eyes that matched her brother’s. Kendra had a softer personality than Marcus, but in truth, she was no less nosey.

  “So, any babies in your future, guys?”

  Kade held his hand over Lexie’s head and pointed down at her. “Ask this one. She’s in charge of that department.”

  Lexie gasped and punched his thigh. “We’ve both decided that right now isn’t a good time. You have a new book contract, and have written shit bugger all, and I’m swamped at work. Getting pregnant now isn’t a good idea. Besides, we’re not even married yet.”

  Kendra pounced. “Yet? Yet? Does that mean you’re engaged?” She turned to Kade. “Did you ask her again?” Back to Lexie. “Did you say yes?”

  Lexie heard a flurry of activity behind her and Kade, and Marcus and company swooped down on them, joining them at the table. All eyes turned on the couple, waiting for their answer.

  They looked at each other, and Lexie’s mouth turned down. “Sorry, guys.”

  Expressions of disappointment surrounded them, and even Sully looked a little disappointed. Kade and Lexie laughed at their prodding to “do the deed,” as Sully put it. Kendra admonished him, and the siblings started a mouth-battle that ended up in a challenge to a game of volleyball.

  Once the furor had died down, Kade put an arm around Lexie. “How do you feel about going home and putting steaks on the grill? Maybe drinking a little wine?”

  “I think that’s a fine idea.”

  They made the rounds, saying goodbye to their friends, and walked to the Alfa. Kade only drove it on the weekends or for special occasions.

  He threw the keys to Lexie. “Your turn.”

  Lexie caught them, unlocked the door, and slid behind the wheel. She turned the ignition and smiled at the growl of the engine before it turned into a soft purr. It reminded her of the throaty purr her man made in their bed. Seatbelts on, Lexie headed for home. She loved that word. The house she shared with Kade was a home. A place where they came together and shared their lives.

  Opening the glove compartment, Kade took out the blue box containing Lexie’s engagement ring and opened it.

  It was on a beautiful gold chain, because a mechanic couldn’t work with a rock that size on her finger. As he slipped the chain over her head, she asked, “When are we going to put them out of their misery?”

  A devilish smile curved Kade’s mouth. “When the
ir reaction stops being funny.” He sobered and arched an eyebrow. “Unless you’re saying that you’re ready to let everyone know?”

  Lexie watched him straighten the chain, making sure the ring hung straight. It was amusing and touching how fussy he was about it. Her eyes traveled up his chiseled torso, and over his wide shoulders before meeting his gaze. “Not tonight. Tomorrow is soon enough. Let’s go home and celebrate.”

  His grin never ceased to make her heart beat a little faster. “Again?”

  She leaned over and pressed a kiss to his mouth. “And again, and again,” she whispered against his lips.

  Kade tried to claim her lips, but she laughed and moved out of reach. “Safety first, I’m driving.”

  “Tease,” he accused.

  She winked at him. “Just a little preview of what comes after dinner.”

  Kade groaned. “After dinner? You’re killing me here, and you know it.”

  “Patience is a virtue, Kade.”

  “Screw patience.”

  They hit the freeway, and Lexie downshifted. “You’re right. Patience is overrated.” She pressed down on the accelerator, shifted and sent them flying along the road.

  Kade whooped, and she joined him as they sped toward the darkening horizon. The motor roared, and she thrilled to the sound, her heart hammering almost as hard as it did when she made love with Kade.

  Looking across the car at the man who seemed to have endless patience, Lexie’s heart flooded with emotion as he grinned back at her. Every day she woke up, she fell a little more in love with him. How could she keep refusing his daily proposals when he’d repeatedly proven himself to her?

  She’d accepted his proposal the weekend she’d taken him to the cabin and shared her memories of her mother with him. He’d gotten down on one knee at the lake front where she’d sprinkled her mother’s ashes, and promised they’d make memories at the cabin of their own, and they had.

  The ring around her neck clunked against the locket she held so dear. Her mother was always with her, and it was as if her mother was saying, “Well done, my girl. Be happy.” And she was.

  The happiness they now shared had been a long time coming, but their slow ride had been just what she’d needed. It amazed her how understanding Kade had been about it, how wonderfully he treated her.

  She turned back to the road and felt his hand slid under the back of her hair. He gave her neck a little squeeze, and that little gesture was so filled with love that it almost brought tears to her eyes.

  “Step on it, babe. I’m hungry.”

  Glancing at him, she knew by his expression that he wasn’t talking about food. Her appetite had suddenly taken the same direction, and she decided that steak would have to wait. “Tighten your seat belt, sexy.”

  With practiced ease, Lexie sent the car sailing and weaved between the cars ahead. Just like they were flying along now, she didn’t need a slow ride anymore. She was ready to leave all the heartache and sorrow behind and race into an incredible future, with the man she loved by her side.

  THE END

  Click here to read a snippet from Reckless Curves - Drive Me Wild book #1

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  A Snippet From LOVE ME - Coopers Creek book #1

  The first book in USA Today bestselling author, Bronwen Evans’s flirty new contemporary romance series… Love Me is an enemies to lovers, second chance romance story.

  Emily Stanford’s trip to New York, and her plan to bring her orphaned goddaughter home to Coopers Creek, backfires. Hayley’s coming home but to Emily’s horror she’s hired as Hayley’s nanny and moving in with her ex-lover, Hayley’s uncle, the handsome cowboy come banker, Tyler Jeffries. He still makes her heart pound-even though four years ago he walked away from their relationship without a backward glance.

  Tyler hates that he has no choice but to let Emily move in, but this is about Hayley and what she needs. He can’t believe the woman he blames for his sister’s death still fiercely fires his blood. Back in Coopers Creek, out of his comfort zone, coping with PTA meetings and white picket fences, he lets his heart’s defenses down, only to have Emily betray him again…

  Coopers Creek holds painful memories for Emily and Tyler. Can they forgive each other; can the town hold a beautiful new future for them both?

  Chapter One

  Tyler Jefferies had ridden rampaging bulls, with horns long enough to gore vital organs, and bucking stallions, whose kicks could’ve left him permanently singing soprano, but the little girl crying in front of him was more terrifying than any beast he’d ever faced. He found himself momentarily helpless in the face of her sorrow, with absolutely no clue how the hell to handle the situation.

  His seven-year-old niece, Hayley, looked up at him with misery shining in her big blue eyes. In that moment, she looked so much like her mother, Lizzie, that pain ripped through him. Tyler had thought the anguish of Lizzie’s death would lessen over time, but he still missed his little sister as much as ever. He’d lost a big part of himself the day she’d died.

  Then four weeks ago, his mother, Maggie Jeffries, had also passed away, leaving Tyler to raise this sad and frightened child on his own. And it scared him to death. He was supposed to have looked after Lizzie and had horribly failed her.

  Here he was, a wealthy, powerful investment broker who’d faced and ruthlessly conquered many formidable opponents, yet one tiny girl had the power to bring him to his knees.

  “I made a mess.”

  “I see that, sweetheart.”

  It came to him in a flash of insight—he needed a nanny. He knew nothing about raising kids. As he gazed at his seven-year-old niece, he told himself to man up. He needed to make sure that she was properly cared for. Life had dealt Hayley some very cruel hands.

  Right after she’d turned three, she’d lost Lizzie, and now Tyler’s mother was gone, the only mother that Hayley had ever really known. Too many people had been taken from her. The agony of such loss was written on her little face and Tyler would do anything to erase it.

  “I’m sorry, Uncle Ty.”

  He looked at the carton of milk lying on its side on the kitchen floor, from which milk dripped and spread across the very expensive limestone tile.

  Picking Hayley up, he grabbed a dishcloth, and wiped milk off her little pink sneakers before carrying her upstairs.

  “It’s okay, honey. It was just an accident. You know what they say, no use crying over spilt milk.”

  Hayley smiled faintly at his lame joke and Tyler felt proud that he’d made her feel a little better.

  “It’s been a long day. Why don’t you get ready for bed, and then I’ll come read you a story?”

  “Any story I want?”

  “Yeah. Any one you want,” he replied, hugging Hayley closer.

  Her tiny arms wound tighter around his neck. “You won’t leave me, will you? I’ll be all alone if you do.”

  Her words cleaved him in two. She’d been clingy ever since he’d brought her to New York City three weeks ago. It was so different from her home in the backwater town of Cooper’s Creek, near Denver, Colorado. Already struggling with her loss, Hayley was having a hard time making the transition from country life to big city living.

  Her world now revolved around Tyler, her only living relative. She panicked if he wasn’t around, if he got home late, or if he didn’t call her at least once a day. He couldn’t blame her. What kid in her situation wouldn’t be scared to death?

  “I’ll never leave you, Hayley. We’re a team now, and teams stick together.”

  Hayley was quiet for a moment before softly asking, “Can Aunt Emily come and visit me? I miss her…” She dissolved into tears against his shoulder.

  Tyler closed his eyes against the pain lancing through him. “She’s not really your aunt, sweetheart.”r />
  “She’s my godmother. Nana told me that she’s my back-up mommy. She was Mommy’s best friend. I miss her, Uncle Ty. I miss Cooper’s Creek and my friends. I wanna go home!” she cried as she clung to him.

  Tyler’s throat constricted and he couldn’t answer. Guilt ravaged him. He knew Hayley wasn’t happy in New York, but what could he do? This was where he lived and worked. He needed to find a solution—and soon. He hadn’t protected Lizzie when it had counted, but he’d damn well protect Hayley.

  She wanted Emily.

  Emily. He didn’t want to think about Emily. Until three weeks ago, when he’d had to face her over his mother’s coffin, he hadn’t seen Emily since his sister’s funeral four years prior. But she still filled his dreams and he hated his renewed weakness for her. He vowed to put her out of his head. He’d done it once before and he could do it again.

  Tyler lowered Hayley unto her bed. “I’ll be up soon. I just have to talk with Allison.”

  He watched with a breaking heart as Hayley slid off the bed and slowly walked with downcast eyes into her bathroom.

  Tyler sighed and went back downstairs to take care of the mess in the kitchen, but Allison, his elderly housekeeper and temporary nanny, had already beaten him to cleaning up the spilt milk.

  “I’m sorry about that, Allison.”

  “Hey, accidents happen.”

  He gave her a bland smile as he ran a hand through his black hair. “Thank you for agreeing to move in and watch Hayley until I find a replacement. I have no idea how long that will take. I’ve had trouble finding anyone suitable.”

  “Well, you’ve only got another week before I leave on my cruise.” She wrung out the cloth over the sink. “I fed her at six. There’s some food in the fridge. I wasn’t sure if you’d be hungry.”