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I smiled at the sarcastic tone he used. I knew he was teasing me, but it did help me feel a little bit better with what was going on.
“I was already nervous about meeting with this Jason Weir guy, but when he walked me through the lobby of his hotel – one of the lobbies, I should add, as this is the first of his chains that’s going to offer multiple lobbies to the public – and how he wants each and every one of them to be different,” I explained. “Now, I think it goes without saying if you know anything about Jason Weir and his hotels, he’s not the kind of guy to go small with anything.”
“I always assumed that meant it would be a lot more fun,” Greyson said. “I had briefly had some interest in interior design before I settled on being a pilot, and I have to tell you, it was the challenge of being able to give people what they wanted on the budget they had that really held me back. For as little as I did get involved with it anyway.”
“Right,” I said with a nod. “And that’s what a lot of people don’t understand. I mean, it’s not like Jason Weir is bound to a small budget by any means, but when he was talking to me about how he wants to have a fountain in the center of a lobby, but somehow maintain a frozen centerpiece within the fountain, I’m not sure he gets that I’m not some sort of mad scientist, you know?”
I took another drink of the vodka cranberry he’d brought over for me, and Greyson’s eyes widened at the description I’d given him.
“Wait, you mean he wants you to come up with a fountain that is both frozen yet able to flow at the same time?” He shook his head. “The concept is cool, and I bet you anything the technology is there, but I don’t know if we’re ready to take it on yet.”
“I don’t know if the technology is there or not. All I know is that it’s not what you’re going to find when you walk into the standard or even the high-end design stores. That’s the sort of thing you’re going to want to recruit someone who has the skills to build the project to bring in, which I can give him some resources of the people to call, but that’s not something I’m going to be able to pull off on my own. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, no pun intended.”
He laughed despite the fact I told him I wasn’t joking, and I had to admit, there was something contagious about his laugh. But, what felt best about talking with him was the fact that I felt he really did understand where I was coming from.
“It sounds to me like the people who come to me and ask if we can fly to London in the little jet that I’ve got. I would be happy to charter a course to London if that’s what they would like to do, but when it comes down to it, no plane the size of mine is going to make that flight. The fuel tanks just aren’t big enough.”
“I would have a heart attack if I was in the middle of the ocean in any plane, let alone one that big, and had to deal with turbulence,” I said with a shake of my head. “I mean, that’s no offense against the pilot or anything, but there’s no way you’re going to get me into something that small and expect me to be a happy flier when we’re going over places like that.”
“No, I don’t blame you,” Greyson said. “I really wouldn’t want to be that person either. And I’m the pilot.”
I laughed, and it felt good that he joined in with me. There was a connection I felt with Greyson I certainly wasn’t expecting, and I had to admit, it was nice. If the two of us were going to be stuck together for the next few months, I liked knowing that we were getting along.
I hadn’t expected him to be willing to hang out with me outside of the flights, but I didn’t at all mind the drinks we were sharing together now.
“You want another round?” Greyson asked me when I had finished with my first vodka cranberry.
“Only if you let me be the one to get it,” I said.
“You know you don’t have to. I’m being well compensated for this entire trip, and it only feels right to me that I make sure you get all you want out of this. Like, I don’t know how to tell you just how different this is from my normal business trips, and I want to really make sure you have a good time here.”
“Well, the fact that this is a business trip and not a vacation is enough to tell you that I’m not going to have the time of my life,” I told him. “And besides, I’m also getting a nice paycheck out of this, but I know my boss isn’t going to cover what I drink while here. It’s like the one thing they can’t ethically include in the work budget, but I don’t mind.”
“I guess that would make sense. You must get money for food though, right?”
“I do, but not for drinks. So when I say that the next round is on me, it’s really not any big deal for you to accept, you know?” I said.
“Alright, alright, but it’s not in my nature to just let a woman be the one to do the buying. I know that sounds sexist and all the other things we have to be careful of being these days, but I still don’t see why it’s any big deal for the man to be the one to buy the drinks if I’m enjoying the company I’m having,” he replied.
“Still. Maybe with the two of us basically being coworkers on this little adventure it’s not too big of a sin for you to sit back and let me be the one to treat you to a drink during the evening. Or, if you’re going to insist on being the one to purchase the drinks tonight, then you’ll have to let me be the one to buy them next time.”
“I like the sound of that,” Greyson replied. “Mostly because of the fact that you said there’s going to be a next time.”
I blushed despite myself. I knew there would be another time for the two of us to get together like this for the simple fact that he and I were together on this project for the next few months. But, with the way he made it sound like this was an option for the two of us because we enjoyed the time together, that made me feel special.
And that felt good.
I let my guard down a little more. I had a feeling that this was going to be a safe place for me to just be myself, and he wasn’t going to be pushing me for anything. He didn’t strike me as the kind of man who was going to ask for anything when we were on the clock, and since the two of us were now down here because of my boss, that put us on the clock.
At least, that’s what I told myself as we continued to share drinks with each other through the evening. I would cut myself off after three, I promised myself that, and I sat with a glass of water while he had a fourth. Of course, it didn’t matter to me how much he drank since I wasn’t going anywhere the next day and he wouldn’t have to fly, but I did blush once more when he offered to help me out with my design job.
“I wouldn’t mind tagging along with you if you want the company,” he said. “It’s not like I have a lot to do with myself here in Florida anyway.”
“I’ll think about it,” I said. “I don’t want to bore you with the little details no one expects with my job. But maybe if you have nothing to do tomorrow and we’re both ready to go at the same time, then I might take you up on your offer. I don’t want you to feel obligated to get up early though.”
“You mean you’re an early riser?” He raised his eyebrows. “I don’t know how early is early in your world.”
“I’m hitting the ground running tomorrow,” I told him with a smirk. “But you don’t have to worry about that. If you want to keep up with me, you can. But again, if not, don’t worry about trying to. I know it’s my job to do here, and I don’t need to have a second opinion.”
