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I just never thought Thomas Moore would be the one listening.
‘I, uh, had an idea for that, but was concerned it would be too expensive.’
‘Speaking of, I didn’t see a budget listed.’
‘Is it okay if I…’ I point at his computer.
He leans back to give me space. ‘Please.’
Reaching over, I rest my phone on the tray and toggle over to the email Bell had forwarded him with my design board. I click open the last attachment that itemizes the display by cost.
He angles his chin up, as if trying to move further back, before reaching into his jacket pocket. His arm brushes against my hand resting on the armrest between us as he pulls out a pair of reading glasses. When he slides them in place, peering at the screen, it’s hard to breathe. ‘Is that right?’
‘Hmm?’
When his eyes, now larger behind his reading glasses fix on mine, I break out of my trance, focusing on the total calculation he’s tapping on the screen.
‘Uh, yes.’ I roll my shoulders back, surreptitiously wiping the back of my hand across my mouth in search of drool.
I’ve always said that you learn something new every day. Case in point – reading glasses are sexy.
‘That’s only a third of the budget.’
‘Well, no—’ I focus on my hands, telling myself to stop acting like an idiot ‘—but I thought if I was prudent at the start of the year, it would leave for a larger budget later.’ I have an idea for next Christmas that involved a snow machine that will cost quite a bit to run twenty-four/seven.
‘The budget is proportionate to the expected revenue at any given season and holiday.’
I jerk my gaze to his. ‘It is?’ No one told me that.
‘Yes.’
The idea I had at the start of spring design planning re-forms in my mind. Not only would it complement the design Thomas seems to like but it would fill in the dead space he’s concerned with. However… it requires quite a bit of money.
His lenses reflect a glare from the window behind me, obstructing my view of his eyes. I angle my head to the side, blocking the window. ‘Are you sure?’
There’s an infinitesimal tilt to his glasses as he raises his eyebrow. ‘Seeing as I made the budget, yes, I am sure.’
Heat crawls up my neck. ‘Of course.’ I’d almost forgotten who he is. And if I was anywhere else, this would be the point where I’d make up an excuse to leave.
But as that’s impossible on an airplane, I settle for straightening in my seat, letting the sunlight reflect off his glasses once more.
No longer able to see his intense stare, I expel a long breath, fighting back a yawn that comes out of nowhere. ‘I did have an idea that could solve the space issue.’
He answers by raising his eyebrow again.
Trying to keep my back straight, I reach out and grab my phone off his table, opening up my saved pictures and finding the ones I need. ‘I’m not sure if we have the personnel required for labor and installation.’
He leans forward, staring at me over the rim of his glasses. ‘Show me.’
* * *
Thomas
‘… as we begin our descent into the Las Vegas…’
Alice, fast asleep beside me, stirs as the pilot continues his overhead announcement.
Five minutes into her pitch for the ‘expensive’ additional design element, Alice’s eyelids began a slow downward trajectory.
