Page 2 of Blue Collar Billionaire
The helicopter dropped down onto a large patch of dirt, close to the bustling building site. Nearly every worker turned to watch the landing, shielding their eyes from the midday Texas sun. Lexi hadn’t really bargained on how much of a commotion she was going to make by arriving like this. She knew for a fact that her dad hadn’t thought about that, either.
Lexi grabbed her purse and sunglasses and climbed out of the helicopter in as ladylike a fashion as she could. As the rotors stopped spinning and kicking up dust, she heard the sound of swinging hammers and men shouting at each other. This was an impressive operation already, with heavy machinery pushing dirt and cranes moving steel girders. In all honesty, Lexi was a bit out of her element here. She knew absolutely nothing about construction, and it suddenly occurred to her that she hadn’t asked her father whom she should speak with now that she was on-site.
She considered calling her dad, but her phone had zero bars. Guess she was going to have to wing it. She straightened her skirt and decided to forge ahead, which meant approaching the man straight ahead, probably fifty or so yards away. As she got closer, her shoes teetered on the uneven and rocky surface, but no matter how unsteady she felt, she couldn’t help but appreciate the view. This guy was big like a lumberjack, leaning over what looked to be a set of plans. His white T-shirt pulled tight across the defined muscles of his biceps and shoulders. Upon further examination, she noted that his taut forearms were bronzed from the sun, and his slim-fitting jeans hinted at the contours of his long legs.
Could she be so lucky that he was in charge? The person she needed to speak with? Even though she was done with men, that would still feel like a pleasant turn of events. There was no harm in looking, right?
“Excuse me,” Lexi said when she was a few feet away. “Are you the site supervisor?” Was that the right term? She honestly had no idea. “Or I guess the foreman?” She hated being so far out of her depth, but she reminded herself that this was part of jumping into a new job and learning the ropes.
The man turned and straightened, nearly blocking out the sun. The full view of him knocked the breath right out of her. He was magnificent and deliciously imposing. The man stood at least a foot taller than her five-foot-two-inch frame. His face had strong lines, and he had close-cropped brown hair that made him almost look like a drill sergeant.
She was intimidated. And intrigued.
“Who wants to know?” he asked, his expression stern.
For a moment, Lexi wondered if she’d made a horrible gaffe. “Lexi Alderidge. From Alderidge Bank. We’re one of the presenting sponsors of the Soiree on the Bay festival.”
“Checking up on us, huh?” He stared right at her, but he was wearing aviator sunglasses, so all she saw was her own reflection.
She hadn’t expected such a gruff reception. After all, she had a legitimate reason to be here. “Yes, that’s right. I’m making sure we’re getting the most out of our investment. It’s my father’s bank and he expects a report.”
The man’s stern expression cracked into a brilliant white smile that first caught Lexi by surprise, then made her knees go weak. “I’m sorry. I’m just giving you a hard time. It’s been a tough day on-site, and we can always use a bit of levity.” He swiped off his sunglasses and laughed. His whole face lit up, the most enchanting features of which were his warm brown eyes and mesmerizing dimples.
Lexi nervously tried to match his laughter, but it came out as a pathetic titter. She’d never spent much time around men like him, so deliciously rough around the edges. “Oh. Okay.” She took a deep breath, doing her best to keep her cool. “So, your boss? Is he available? Or she? I suppose a woman can work construction, too, can’t she?”
“Absolutely.” He surveyed her up and down, his gaze lingering for a few nervous heartbeats. “Are you looking for a job?”
“No.” She felt ridiculous the minute she’d answered. He wasn’t taking her seriously and she didn’t appreciate it. “I’m not. I’m looking for your boss.”
“Lexi!” Another man’s voice sounded behind her.
She turned, just as Ross Edmond, son of Royal billionaire businessman Rusty Edmond, approached. He was quite literally one of the last people she wanted to see right now, but she wasn’t surprised he was there. As a member of the festival advisory board, it was understandable that he’d be on site at least some of the time. Lexi had met hundreds of guys like Ross in her life—effortlessly handsome, born with a silver spoon in his mouth and accustomed to getting exactly what he wanted. His family owned this island, and their fathers were old acquaintances.
Despite their families’ familiarity, chatting with Ross was not going to be fun. Ross’s mom, Sarabeth, had recently returned to Royal, fallen head over heels in love and gotten engaged. The man who put a big fat diamond on Sarabeth’s finger and professed his undying devotion? Brett Harston, Lexi’s first love, and the man who six short weeks ago, had left her at the altar.
Jack Bowden didn’t quite know what to make of Lexi Alderidge. Sure, he knew what he’d thought on first sight, that this redhead with the bright green eyes and killer curves was one of the sexiest women to stroll into view in quite some time. She might be petite in stature, but everything about her attitude said she was a spitfire. He had a real weakness for a spirited woman.
Oh, how he loved a challenge...
Still, he was feeling a bit guilty for toying with her and not owning up to the fact that he was not only the boss on this construction site, he was the owner of Bowden Construction. He’d have to get around to sharing that once Lexi was done talking to Ross Edmond.
“How are you holding up? I’m so sorry about everything.” Ross’s voice dripped with pity as he spoke to Lexi. That made Jack’s ears perk up, even when he was trying to focus his attention on the festival site plans. What could a woman like Lexi Alderidge possibly have in her life that would make anyone feel sorry for her?
“I’m fine. Totally fine.” Her spine stiffened and she proudly stuck out her chin, but Jack saw right through it. Lexi was definitelynotokay. She was deflecting.
“I’m sure it’s hard.” Ross reached out and gently patted her shoulder. “I just wish everyone back in Royal would finally let it go for your sake. But you know how it goes. Royal loves a juicy story, and you don’t get much juicier than a bride and a runaway groom.”
Runaway groom. Oh, crap.Jack realized then that he’d heard about Lexi; he simply hadn’t made the connection between her and the bank with her family’s name on it. She was the woman from Royal who’d been left at the altar.Ouch.He had been dumped before, and the timing had been very similar, but it had happened long ago and not in such a publicly humiliating way.
“Well, you know what it’s like when everyone talks about you, right? All I’ve been hearing about is your fight with your dad. Please tell me that he hasn’t actually disowned you.” Lexi’s tone was sweet, but there was no mistaking the bite behind it. It was all “bless your heart” without actually meaning the words she was saying.
Jack loved hearing her stick up for herself, but he couldn’t ignore his protective urges, the way he wanted badly to intervene and put a stop to this. He had three younger sisters, after all, and he didn’t know another way to react to a woman in trouble.
“My dad doesn’t matter. I wouldn’t trade my life with Charlotte for anything. I’m with my soul mate,” Ross said, trying to play it off. “I hope the same for you, Lexi. That you can find happiness like I have. Plenty of fish in the sea, and you have a lot to offer. I’m sure you’ll meet someone.”
She’d been left at the altar, and Ross was reminding her that she was apparently unattached at the moment? That last part was a slice of good news for Jack, served with a side of bad for Lexi. Jack couldn’t witness any more of this. He cleared his throat and hoped to hell Lexi wasn’t going to react to what he was about to say by elbowing him in the groin. “Now hold on a minute.”
She turned toward him, her eyes wide with bewilderment.
