Page 32 of Blue Collar Billionaire
“Sure thing.” Jack decided then and there that if Winston was on the family compound tomorrow, he would talk to him. It wouldn’t be a showdown, but rather he would try to patch things up.
“What else do you have going on tomorrow?”
“It’s my only day off, so I’m definitely sleeping in. It’ll be my last chance to catch up on some z’s before I head back to Appaloosa.”
Lexi smiled at him wistfully. “I can’t wait until I can go back there.”
“I’d suggest next weekend, but since we’re supposed to finish up this week, I think I’m going to want a break from the island for a while.”
“Perfectly understandable.”
Jack lifted her hand to his lips. “But I promise we’ll go back for another sexy escape.”
Lexi climbed off her chair and stepped over to him. The sun was setting behind her, casting her beautiful body in a soft glow. “I think we can have our own sexy escape right here. It’s early. I can stay for at least a few hours.”
“That is music to my ears.”
Ten
Jack was on his way to Lexi’s late Sunday afternoon when his phone rang. It was Angie. He pressed the button on his in-dash display to answer the call.
“Hey. What’s up?” he asked.
“I’m catching up on bookkeeping. The last check we got from the Soiree on the Bay festival bounced.”
Jack was confounded. That had never happened before. “Seriously?”
“Yes. And it was presented at the bank twice.”
“What was the amount?”
“Two-fifty.”
Jack knew that his sister meant hundreds of thousands. A quarter of a million bucks. Still, he wasn’t worried. Rusty Edmond would make it right. “Okay. I’ll give Rusty a call.”
“You on your way to Lexi’s?”
Jack pulled up to the Pine Valley security gate and slowed down, but the guard waved him right through. Apparently, he’d been here quite a lot. “I am. Why are you asking with that tone?”
“No reason. Just thinking about how taking things slow means not seeing someone all the time.”
A grumble left his throat. “It’s our last chance to see each other before I have to finish up on Appaloosa. And I’m helping her get rid of some boxes. It’s not exactly a romantic visit.”
“Something tells me you’ll make it romantic.”
“I’m not having this discussion with you.” Jack really hated how much his sister was capable of making sense and driving him crazy at the same time. “I need to call Rusty, okay?”
“Sure thing. I love you, Jack. That’s the only reason I’m saying any of this. I like Lexi and I’d like to keep it that way. If she breaks your heart, or vice versa, it’ll be bad for everyone.”
“I’ll keep all of that in mind. Goodbye, Angie.” Jack ended the call and dialed Rusty’s number. He was almost to Lexi’s house and wasn’t sure how long this call would take, so he pulled up to the curb in front of the Alderidge estate.
“Jack. This is a surprise,” Rusty said when he answered.
“I know. I’m sorry if this is out of the blue and I’m sorry if it’s an odd time to call.”
“What can I do for you?” he asked, cutting right to the chase.
“I’m calling because the last check we got from the festival board didn’t clear the bank.”
