unsuccessfully to scrape away some of the caked-on mud. âOkay, get Tamika to order the part. And better get a spare. Weâll hold up digging around this area until the replacement part is in.â
Leroy nodded. âAll right.â
Jordan turned and headed back to the trailer. As soon he sat down at his desk the phone rang. He pulled it out and, seeing the caller ID, answered. âHi, bro, whatâs up?â
âWow, you answered, Iâm surprised. Iâve been calling you all day. I assumed your phone was sitting at the bottom of a cement mixer,â his brother said in his usual sarcastic manner.
Jordan chuckled. âYeah, yeah, I know. I meant to call you back earlier. So whatâs up?â Jordan asked.
âNothing much, howâs everything there?â Darius said.
Jordan looked around the office thinking about Sheri. A slow easy smile tipped his full lips. Hepicked up and toyed with the business card her assistant had given him. âNot bad at all.â
âGood, listen, what are your plans this evening?â
âIâm just headed home, why?â
âGood, I need a favor.â
âSure, what kind of favor?â Jordan asked as he typed in a web address, pressed the enter key and waited a second as the Crescent Island Museum website came up.
âI need you to pick something up for me. Itâs on the way.â
âOkay, what and where?â Jordan said.
âItâs right there on Crescent Island.â
âHere?â
âYes, itâs at Gates Manor, Louise Gatesâs home. She called me earlier this afternoon. She has some paperwork for me.â
Jordan stopped pressing keys and just sat there. âYouâre kidding, right? Louise Gates has something for you.â
Darius started chuckling.
âYou know what sheâs like. Sheâs a self-professed matchmaker,â Jordan said. âShe was practically taking notes at Dillonâs fourth birthday party last year.â
âActually, she was taking notes,â Darius corrected him, still chuckling.
âThis isnât funny,â Jordan declared. âI thought Aunt Ellen was bad, sheâs nothing compared toMamma Lou. The people on this island adore her. You should hear them. They think sheâs magical with her matchmaking.â Darius continued laughing. âAnd itâs not funny.â
âCome on, man, since when are you afraid of an eighty-year-old woman? You can handle her.â
âThatâs not the point. Why put myself on her radar?â
âTruthfully, bro, you and I already are.â
âYeah, I know. So why tempt fate? I gotta steer clear.â
âCanât do that,â Darius said. âI need that paperwork tonight.â
âShe can email or fax it to you.â
âI need the originals.â
âFine, she can send it overnight express. Theyâll get to the office first thing in the morning. Better yet, Iâll pay for a door-to-door courier.â
âNope, I need them tonight.â
Jordan sighed deeply. âCome on man, youâre killing me.â
âI wouldnât ask if they werenât important.â
âAll right, Iâll do it. But you owe me big-time for this one.â
âI know. Iâll see you later.â
Jordan closed his cell phone and sat back in his chair. He shook his head. The thought of being anywhere near Louise Gates made him nervous. He had no idea how his brother Julian did it. Butnow he supposed Julian had nothing to fear, being married to Dena. It wasnât until after the wedding that they found out Louise Gates had played matchmaker all along. But to her credit sheâd certainly gotten it right. Heâd never seen his brother so happy. Still he had no intention of being her next target. Fine, heâd go and pick up the paperwork for his brother. But as far as getting caught up in Mamma Louâs matchmaking schemes, he would definitely
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