Page 25 of Blue Collar Billionaire
Jack leaned down and pressed his forehead against hers. “I don’t want to go, if that makes you feel any better.”
Lexi couldn’t help but smile. “It does make me feel better. A lot better.” She raised her lips to his. Even now, when they’d kissed millions of times, he still managed to make it incredibly exciting. “I’ll see you on Saturday, right? Angie’s birthday at your house?”
“Yes. Absolutely. Remember your bathing suit. We’ll be in the pool. I like the one you wore on the island.”
“At your sister’s birthday party? I’m thinking I’ll go with something a little more conservative.” She kissed him again.
“Party pooper.”
“You’ll get to see the black bikini again. But it’ll be a time when it’s only the two of us.” Lexi realized that she and Jack were officially making plans—lots of them. Part of that thrilled her, but it also made fertile ground for the seed of doubt in her head, the one that worried things were going too fast.
“That sounds wonderful.”
Jack kissed her one last time and then Lexi climbed into her car, stopping to wave goodbye to him when she pulled out of her parking space. As she drove off, she realized that she felt like she was walking on air. She knew this feeling...she’d felt it with Roger once and with Brett twice. Infatuation. Preoccupation. The start of the feelings that sometimes led to love. But she couldn’t afford to be starry-eyed about it this time around.
Lexi strolled into the Alderidge Bank office by eight o’clock, arriving before most of the executive staff, including her dad. She loved being at work before everyone else. It gave her a sense of autonomy she rarely enjoyed when her father’s presence was impossible to ignore.
It was too early to call most people, but she fired off several emails—one to Lila with the Chamber of Commerce to see if Lexi could get the first jump on any upcoming events the town might be holding. Another message went to the real estate agent Bianca suggested. She even sent along some links to a few houses she was interested in—homes that were closer to her sister, but on the opposite end of town from Pine Valley. Her last message went to Mandee Meriweather from the local gossip TV showRoyal Tonight!It wasn’t like Lexi to encourage tabloid journalism, but she did want to talk about the bank’s involvement in Soiree on the Bay. She was serious about positioning the bank as hip and accessible, rather than the ultraexclusive image her father had cultivated.
What Lexi hadn’t counted on was getting a phone call from Mandee less than five minutes after she sent the email.
“Lexi Alderidge. I am so excited you contacted me. I’d love to do an interview with you.” There was something about Mandee’s tone that sent a shiver up Lexi’s spine. The reporter was known to be a bit of a shark, and from her tone she smelled blood in the water.
Still, Lexi felt as though she had to play along. “Oh, great. We can talk about the bank’s involvement in Soiree on the Bay. Maybe get one of the people from the festival advisory board to join me.”
“We can talk about that, but what Ireallywant to hear about is your relationship with Jack Bowden. There’s quite a buzz around town.”
“There is?” If that was the case, Lexi was oblivious to it, but she’d spent very little time running around town, and of course, she and Jack had just disappeared for nearly three whole days.
“Lexi, can I record this? Then I can add our conversation to tonight’s show.”
“I’d really prefer it if you didn’t. I’d rather talk about the festival.”
“Soiree on the Bay will be a hot topic of conversation when it happens, but until then, I think people want to hear your story, Lexi. It doesn’t have to be a negative thing. People want to hear about you moving on after your divorce, and that whole messy situation with Brett Harston leaving you at the altar.” Mandee cleared her throat. “And then there’s the latest story about your ex-husband getting engaged.”
Lexi’s stomach lurched. Had she opened Pandora’s box by contacting Mandee? It sure felt like it. She had to protect herself, but more than anything, she felt she needed to shield Jack from this, as well. “Jack and I are friends. That’s all I’m going to say about that. Thank you for the offer of an interview, but I’ll have to pass for now. Let me know when you want to talk about Soiree on the Bay.”
“That’s disappointing, Lexi.”
“Sorry. I don’t want to talk about my personal life right now.”
“Call me if you change your mind. And in the meantime, have fun with Jack. He’s a hottie. I know fifty women who wouldloveto be with him.”
Lexi knew she was lucky to have caught Jack’s eye. However, she didn’t enjoy the reminder. “Bye, Mandee.”
“See you around, Lexi.”
“I hope not,” Lexi muttered to herself after she’d ended the call. She looked out the window of her office, wondering what Jack was doing, if he was out on Appaloosa Island by now. Their weekend together still fresh in her mind, she couldn’t help but wish she was back there with him. Having that respite from everyday life had been amazing. And the call with Mandee was a reminder of how nice it was to get away.
A knock came at her office door, followed quickly by her father opening it and strolling inside. “Good morning, Alexis.”
Lexi got up from her desk to greet her father. “Good morning. Also, you should wait until someone says, ‘come in’ before you walk into their office.”
“I own the bank, Lexi. I own that door. And that desk. In fact, I own everything you see.”
Lexi fought her inclination to roll her eyes. “I realize that, Dad. But it’s still the polite thing to do.” She returned to her chair and took a seat. “Do you need something from me?”
“I was disappointed to see you were gone all weekend and didn’t think to tell us that you wouldn’t be home. Your mother and I were worried sick. We called Bianca. She told us where you went.”
