“Aw, shucks.” Alice gave him a soft smile, and he felt invincible. “You’re just being sweet to me because of yesterday’s excursion.”
“What was yesterday’s excursion?” Cam asked.
Ken felt his cheeks warm slightly. “We took Alice on a Balloon excursion,” he said.
“Now, I told you I only hate heights when I don’t feel secure.” Alice reached over and stroked his hand. “You both make me feel secure, just being with me. It really was fun, and the views were fabulous—and it was right here in Waco.”
“I had a slight problem with the height,” Ian said. “And baby girl, after what you told us about being in a helicopter that one time, we really should not have even thought about taking you up there.”
“This is business, darling. If I’m going to be a part of it, then I’m going to be a part of it. I can say no—and I didn’t.”
“You’re amazing.” Ken brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “You’re the best thing that has ever happened to us, period.”
“Amen,” Ian agreed.
“From what I’ve seen of the world? Women and men are very different.” Cam lifted his coffee mug and toasted Alice. “And if you’re in a business where you want female clients as well as male clients, it only makes sense to have a female as a part of the team.”
“That’s what we think, too. So, we’re going to sample several of the cave excursions, together. Today, we’re headed to this one.” Ken tapped the map that he’d shown Cam. “It’s only about an-hour-and-a-half drive from here, almost a midway point between Austin and San Antonio.”
“Davidson’s Digs,” Cam recited. “I know I’ve never heard of that one.”
“It’s not as well advertised as some of the more already very popular sites,” Ken said. “That’s a plus, in a way, as they may welcome a promotional connection more easily than a larger, more established, and commercially successful venue would.”
“I see your point. It’s sometimes a wise idea to choose the hungriest of your possible partners.”
“We’re going to tour as many as we can,” Alice said. “One of the things I’m going to be on guard for is an ‘ick’ factor.”
Cam grinned back at Alice. Ken knew the man was happily married. He also learned something about himself right then and there that he never really suspected. He was an illogically jealous bastard. A quick glance at Ian told him, without doubt, that his cousin was, too.
“Are we talking spiders or perhaps dark narrow passageways?”
Alice appeared to think about the question. “Both, I think. For the most part, the definitive test of ickiness will be if I get a sense of creepiness while we’re exploring.” She frowned for a moment and seemed to take a surreptitious look around. Ken’s brow furrowed, and he repeated her gesture, wondering what had caused that look of caution on her face. He didn’t see anything. In the next moment her expression cleared. Ken put his focus mostly back on the conversation. A part of him, though, stayed on alert.
“In other words, you’ll know it if you feel it.” Cam said.
Alice, too, seemed to have returned her full focus on the conversation. That should have relieved Ken, but he knew she was as good and as natural when it came to being able to compartmentalize as he was.
“Yes, sir, that about sums it up. I know there’s nothing scientific or definitive in that explanation, and that does grate some. But I also know that, sometimes, it’s preferable to have a mix between the intellectually and the emotionally appealing.”
Ken kissed Alice’s hand again, and then he used his thumb to rub his kiss in. Her smile at him told him all was well. But it bothered him that she’d been bothered about something. Looking at her now, as she met his gaze, he felt confident that, whatever it was, it truly wasn’t anything to worry about.
“That’s why you’re so perfect for both of us,” he said to her. “We’re each of us, Ian and I, more one than the other. And you, sweetheart, are a perfect fit for us both.”
He loved the way that Alice blushed. Ken noticed Cam looking away for just a second. Then the mood shifted when the waitress came around with a fresh pot of coffee.
Some of their fellow diners had left, including, Ken noted, the guy with the out-of-place hat. He became aware that the morning was done with its introductory hours and headed toward ten.
“We should get moving,” Ian said. “We want to get to Davidson’s Digs with time to spare.”
They’d called ahead, and although the attraction was open only on the weekends this early in the season, Mr. Davidson had agreed to give a private tour to the three of them. They’d chosen an approach they’d found had worked before for them.
I didn’t really lie when I spoke with the man on the phone. Ian and I are visiting from Colorado—and Alice’s driver’s license does show her a resident of New York State.
“I have to get moving, too. A couple of my crew are going to meet me in”—Cam checked his watch—“about thirty-five minutes. We’re going to walk the interior of the building and pull the electrical equipment. I want those circuit breakers out, along with anything else that might pose a threat for when the full crew gets started.” He huffed out a breath. “We want to make the site as safe as possible before we start demolition. As well, if we can salvage anything, we will. I’ve a friend at Habitat for Humanity.”
“That sounds good. They’re a good non-profit. We believe in recycling where we can,” Ken said.
“We really do. Get us their mailing address, and we’ll see to it they get a cash donation as well,” Ian said.
Ken was in full agreement. They believed in giving back to the community where they worked. It was how Kendalls did things.
They shook hands and then left the diner together. Cam waved as he headed to his truck. Ken ran
