burned through everyone else in LA. My boss didn’t give her an answer. She is mulling over whether she wants the hassle.”
“Would you be on the account?” I questioned. We had been keeping up with each other via text and phone calls. She was a busy woman. Her services were in high demand, which made me feel an odd sense of pride that I couldn’t quite explain.
She put her phone away. “I’m not sure. I don’t think I want to be. I don’t want to make weekly trips to LA and have to stay over.”
“Couldn’t you just make it a day trip?”
“Not with this woman. We got there on Friday and I’m sure we spent forty-eight of the sixty hours we were there listening to her demands.”
“Good,” I said with a grin. “I don’t like the idea of you being away all the time. I’m a little selfish.”
Her pretty smile hit me low in my gut. It had been too long since I had seen her.
“That’s sweet,” she said. “What about you? You keep talking about this big project you are working on. I’m a little worried you’re turning into one of those mad scientists.”
“I can get obsessive. I don’t think I’m getting there just yet.”
“You said it was something big?”
I quickly explained to her about the rudder and my plans to change up my current designs. “I am hoping, once I have all the details ironed out, it is going to be another big gamechanger.”
“I have no doubt in my mind that it will.”
I nodded. The excitement of being on the verge of a breakthrough was like drinking straight shots of espresso. “If it does, it will change the entire shipping industry. Not just for the United States. If my plan works, there will be fewer repairs. Ships will stay out on the water, transporting product and making everyone a little happier. Shorter shipping times and lower shipping costs are exactly what we need.”
She was nodding her head and smiling. “I agree. I can’t believe I’m sitting with the guy that is changing the world. You seem so normal.”
“I am normal,” I retorted.
“Not even close to normal. I’m normal. You are extraordinary.”
“Be careful. You’re going to give me a big head.”
She leaned forward, eyes sparkling. “I don’t need to do anything to make that happen. Your head is plenty big.”
I closed my eyes and willed the erection that was threatening to split my zipper to settle down. “You are killing me.”
She grinned. “I would never want to do that.”
“Do you have to go back to the office?” I asked, hoping she would say no and we could squeeze in a little afternoon delight.
She sighed. “I do.”
“Dammit.”
“I’m sorry. Really, I am so damn sorry. What did your brother say when you told him about your new project?”
“I didn’t tell him. I haven’t talked to him except for once since he left here.”
She frowned. “Why not?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s just how we are.”
“I thought you wanted to change that?”
“I do.”
“Then you have to do things differently than you have in the past. If you want to make a change, you have to change your ways.”
“You are right. I’ll text him. I’m not sure if he is still in the States or not.”
“Good plan,” she said with a satisfied smile. “I know he will be very proud of you. Just as proud as I am.”
“Too bad our fathers didn’t feel the same,” I muttered.
“It is too bad, but it is their loss. They are missing out on the chance to know someone really special. You will be in the history books and they will be part of the group that tried to hold you back. I’m going to be in the group that cheered you on.”
“I like having you in my cheer section.”
“What about your friend, Charlie?”
“What about him?”
“Is he cheering you on?”
I laughed. “He is now. He wasn’t quite so cheerful when I called him around three this morning.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh no! Did you really?”
“I had a new idea and I wanted to run it by him,” I explained, not really seeing anything wrong with the call. Charlie certainly had.
“Was he pissed?”
“He threatened to remove certain body parts.”
She burst into laughter. “I might have to ask him to find other ways to get back at you. I like all of your body parts right where they are, as they are.”
I grinned. “Me too.”
“Is he helping you?”
“Yes, for the most part. The guy is a genius when it comes