Page 34 of Blue Collar Billionaire
“I’ve done it a few times, sir, but it’s not really my forte. I enjoy other sports, though. I play a lot of one-on-one basketball with my best friend. Laps in the pool. Things like that.”
“I see. Well, if you ever decide to try your hand at it, let me know. I’ll gladly take you out.”
Jack appreciated the offer, but he was skeptical of what was going on here. “Can I ask why the change of heart, sir? That moment we met at the TCC, you looked like you were ready to skin me alive, and all I’d done was dance with your daughter. I know for a fact that I wasn’t the first man to do that, so I couldn’t help but think that I was thewrongone.”
Winston leaned back against the edge of his sizable mahogany desk and folded his arms over his chest. Jack couldn’t help but notice that through the windows directly behind Lexi’s, there was a perfect view of her cottage, especially the front door, where Jack had kissed her after their first date. That couldn’t have helped his case that night at the TCC. “I like you, Jack.”
“You’d better be sure about that, because if it’s the truth, I’m going to hold you to it.”
Winston quirked an eyebrow and nodded. “See? Right there. That’s what I like. You’re direct. You don’t beat around the bush.”
“I don’t see the point.”
“Neither do I.” He cleared his throat then went on to say, “I wanted you to know that I went back and looked at the loan application you submitted all those years ago. The source of the rift between us.”
“And?”
“In my defense, you hadn’t been in business in Royal for very long.”
“Seven plus years had been more than enough time to get myself established,” Jack informed him. “I was turning down work at that time, which is why I needed the capital to expand.”
“I understand. But there’s something about Royal. It’s a wonderful place to live, but it takes time to get in deep and gain people’s trust. And this is where I get to the part where I admit to my mistake, which was that I didn’t know you or your company at that point, and so I assumed you were a fly-by-night operation. I hadn’t given the numbers a close enough look. Your projections were solid and I should have granted the loan. I apologize.”
“If I can be frank, it was more than the rejection, sir. It was your tone. It sent a pretty clear message that I was not only not part of the inner circles of Royal, but that I might never be.” Jack realized his retort had been bottled up for a long time.
Winston nodded. “I know. And I’m sorry for that, as well. Lexi and I have had many conversations about exactly that since she’s come to work at the bank. You know, when you’re the boss, and you’ve been doing your job for a long time, you don’t always stop to think about the ways you present yourself.” He hesitated for a moment, then confided, “Business is going great and you assume that everyone loves you and wants to work with you. But I’ve been learning from Lexi that I might catch a few more flies with honey than with vinegar.”
Funny, but Angie had accused Jack of being grumpy in the office just the other day. “I understand. I’m glad Lexi has shown you a different way to do business.”
“I was reluctant to step into the future because the history of our bank is one of our biggest selling points. People want a financial institution that’s been around for a long time. But they also want one that’s pleasant to work with. I need to remember that.”
Jack felt the need to bring up the elephant in the room—Lexi. “I care about your daughter deeply.” His voice cracked at the end of his sentence, emotion welling up inside him.
“I understand that. And I believe she cares about you, too.”
“Does that mean things are square between us?” Jack asked.
“More or less. I mean, I am still her father, and I will fight you to the death if you dare to hurt her.”
“Good to know.”
The older man looked him square in the eye. “Tread lightly, Jack. The girl has been through the wringer.”
So he’d been told. “I will, sir. I promise.” Jack reached over to shake Winston’s hand one more time. “I’d better go. I’m sure Lexi is wondering what we’re talking about.”
“Oh, I guarantee she’s dying to know.”
Lexi was supposed to be going through the boxes she’d brought in from the garage, but she kept pulling back her living room curtains, trying to deduce what was going on in her dad’s study. He and Jack were definitely in there. What were they talking about? Were they having another argument? Lexi really hoped not because she didn’t want to have to do damage control. She’d said her piece to her dad. He needed to get with the program.
Maybe it’s for the best, she thought to herself, although just as fast, she banished it from her brain. She didn’t want to walk away from Jack. The problem was that she felt like circumstances were pushing them in that direction of serious—the weekend away, the pool party, the phone sex... Jack had opened up her whole world, and she wasn’t ready for that to end. But every shared experience they had brought them closer to what Lexi was rightfully scared of—commitment.
Lexi took another peek outside, and Jack was headed up the sidewalk in front of her house. She let go of the curtain and allowed it to fall back into place, then rushed to the door. “What happened?”
Jack came to a dead stop and his killer smile crossed his lips. Every time he did that, her fears evaporated, even if it was only for a few seconds. She adored him. She wanted him. And against all odds, wanted things to work between them. “Were you worried?”
“Of course I was. Have youmetme?” She stood back to let him in, then closed the door behind him. “How could I not worry? I know my dad and I know you, and never the twain shall meet.”
“Actually, we had a good conversation. He apologized.”
