Page 11 of Purr For Me

Unlike hers, Kade’s smile was genuine. “I sense there’s a story there. One day, perhaps you’ll share it.”

Again, she said nothing.

He sighed. “Okay, so show me these designs.”

Relieved that he’d changed the subject back to the matter at hand, Lexie flipped through her huge sketch pad until she found the first design. It was a picture of a beautiful Italian garden spread over the hood as if it was sprouting out of the engine and ready to climb the windscreen.

It took almost an hour for her and Kade to agree on the exact details, but he loved the garden idea. They tweaked it, and soon, it became a combination of both their ideas. It surprised her to learn that he had an artistic streak. His attempts at drawing were crude and often made her laugh, but his vision for his car was sound.

She’d gotten so caught up that Lexie was a little disappointed when they’d finished. Detailing cars and drawing were her passions, and it was nothing for her to spend hours talking about both.

As she closed her sketch pad and stowed it under the workbench, Kade asked, “So when do you think you’ll finish it?”

“Well, giving you an exact time frame will be hard because finding original parts, or at least ones that are close, might take some time. I started looking for parts, but I didn’t get too involved in case you didn’t want to continue once you saw how expensive it would be,” Lexie replied.

Kade pulled his keys out of a pocket. “I can understand that. Smart thinking.” He turned, thoughtful as he looked at his car. “But Iwillsee this through until it’s done. I don’t care how long it takes. It may help take my mind off my brother.”

“I hope we can find Jason before I finish this car, for his sake as much as mine.”

He nodded. “Between your P.I. and my guys, I feel that it won’t be long until we find where he is.”

“All right. I’ll keep you updated on how things are going,” she said. “I guarantee that you’ll be blown away, though.”

“I’m counting on it,” Kade said. “Well, I’ve taken up enough of your time. I’ll see you soon.”

“See ya.” Lexie watched him walk through the bay door, out into the sunlight. Regret gnawed at her because she’d always assumed that Kade was a womanizer like Jason. Though, he was laying on the charm a bit too much. Surely, since he now understood that she’d never have Jason arrested, there was no need to flirt with her?

Perhaps he didn’t believe her?

It didn’t matter, though. He was just a client.

Looking up at the car on the lift, Lexie smiled as she walked over to it. She patted the tire the way people petted a dog. “All right, my diamond in the rough. Time to get started on making you shine.”

Shoving Kade from her mind, Lexie was soon lost in her new labor of love.