One of the things that Alice liked best about Bailey was her sense of humor. Aunt Bernice greeted them, and Alice looked around. It smelled really good in here, as usual. The place was also very busy today. Bernice led them to a table in the back, a few feet before the archway that formed the entrance to the bookstore.
“I think I’ll head over there for a quick moment, after we eat.” Alice nodded toward the connecting business as she took her seat. Her view was of her sister-in-law and the book stacks. Perfect view.
Bailey looked over her shoulder. “Good idea. I have a lot of books on my e-reader, but I do love to browse through the used books that Nancy and Jacqui get in. I’ve found some real treasures there.”
“I know exactly what you mean,” Alice said. “Sometimes an old familiar friend, no longer in circulation, is hiding in those stacks. There are also days that just call for a cup of cocoa, a blanket, and a solid, physical book to hold on to and fall into.”
Bailey grinned. “I totally identify with that entire picture you just painted with your words. I, too, come from the land of winter snowstorms and I also love to read. Sadly, unless there’s a temperature inversion here, the blankets will likely remain stored until winter.”
“Pfft.” Alice shook her head. “If you want something bad enough, there’s always a way to get it. If my craving for the cocoa, blanket, and book soothe-me-some is strong enough, I’ll simply close my bedroom door and lower the temperature on the a/c unit in my room.”
“Now that, right there, cousin, that is exactly what we’ve been talking about!”
Alice didn’t recognize the voice. Neither had she noticed that Aunt Bernice had directed two more diners to the table next to them. She looked up and to her left and, for one moment, forgot how to breathe. She also forgot her name, and where she was and what planet she inhabited. They have to be Kendalls. There was something about the Kendall male that drew her—a certain je ne sais quoi. It was more than their being handsome, more than their possessing elegance. Those were nice, but only surface qualities. The two men standing beside her embodied a devil-may-care insouciance that put her in mind of pirates—the ones that starred in the bodice rippers she used to read.
Used to? I’m in the middle of one of those on my e-reader right now!
“You’re drooling, sister-in-law.”
Bailey’s words, just above a whisper, teased heat into Alice’s cheeks. She diverted her gaze away from sinful temptation only to encounter Aunt Bernice’s twinkling gaze.
“Allow me to do the honors,” the older woman said. “Bailey, Alice, may I present Ian and Ken Kendall. They’re first cousins to Sean and Noah, totally single, and have just arrived for a very long stay with us here in Lusty. Gentlemen, this is Bailey Benedict, married to my nephews Chance and Logan—and Alice Benedict, who’s their unattached, unmarried sister. Tea, ladies?”
“Yes please,” Bailey said.
“We’ll have a couple of Cokes, please, Aunt Bernice,” Ken said.
Alice noticed the sly look between Bailey and Aunt Bernice, but before she could say a word, Ian reached out as if to shake her hand… and she, of course, being the polite sort, gave it to him.
The hum of something both felt and heard began the very moment Alice’s hand was in Ian’s. I’ve never noticed static electricity in here before. That must be what it was, and it was a weird kind of static, because it completely short-circuited her brain.
“Yours is the kind of thinking we have been searching for. Isn’t it, cousin?”
“Far and wide, cousin. Far and wide and never found. Until now.”
“Ahh. Thank you?”
“No, no, it is we who must thank you. I have a great idea.” Ian looked at Bailey. “Would it be all right if we joined you?”
Alice began to relax because Ian had just released her hand. Ah, that’s better. Now, of course, Bailey is going to say no, and then we can get on with having our lunch.
Two things happened at once. First, Ken Kendall picked up her hand, and brought it to his lips, and kissed it!
And then Bailey said, “That is a great idea! Very efficient of you. We can eat while the three of you begin to get acquainted.”
Alice turned what she knew was her you-did-not-just-say-that face on her formerly sweet, formerly very protective sister-in-law.
“I never saw the aliens do it, but apparently, they whisked the real Bailey James Benedict away and left this poseur in her place. How will I ever break this news to my brothers?”
Bailey had the nerve to laugh in her face! And then she made things even worse. “As soon as Ken releases your hand, scoot over one chair, Alice, and that way you can have one Kendall on one side of you and one on the other.”
“Perfect,” Ken said. “You can be the daisy between two thorns.”
“Daisies don’t have thorns,” Alice said.
“I know, but they’re my favorite flower. Roses, if you ask me, belong in gardens where they can live a full, long life. They do not belong in bouquets.”
“Now that is truly amazing,” Bailey said. It didn’t matter, apparently, that Alice was shaking her head no. Of course, why would it matter?
I just did as I was told and scooted over to the middle chair on this side of the table. Bailey must think I’m all for this, well, whatever this is that’s happening.
“Amazing?” Ian asked.
“Indeed. We’ve just finished weeding and tending to my rose garden. Alice, by the way, has an astounding green thumb. And would you believe it? She just said the exact same thing about roses!”
Alice felt her body temperature rise, because, at that exact moment, the men sat and she was surrounded by yummy, luscious Kendalls.
No, no, no. Not yummy. Not luscious. She’d come here to this restaurant for lunch and to Lusty
