AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What’s your solution?” Neil asked acidly.
“I’d change the scope of work. And I’d take it a piece at a time. What’s their rate to find water? Maybe find more than one source.” He leaned back. “I mean water that is the least costly and longest sustaining. Once they do that, then move forward. And I’d ask for some guarantees. You have to trust them that this water will last. If it dries up within a certain amount of time, make them find you another source at no cost.”
“No one is going to do that.” Neil threw his hands up.
Kane narrowed his gaze. “Have you asked them?”
“You don’t know the first thing about what we do.”
“What’s your instinct, Barn?” Kane deferred to me.
“I want to do this, but I’m afraid it might be an endless amount of money that won’t get us the results we want.”
Just like with the whales, Kane gave me a different perspective. His thoughts supported my own hesitation. But he wasn’t telling me I couldn’t do this. Just that there might be a more practical way.
I pushed the folder across the coffee table to Neil. “Go back to them. Find out how much targeted exploration is. And what kind of guarantee they’ll provide on the sources they locate. If they find good options, we’ll discuss moving forward with them.”
Neil snatched the folder off the table. “Those people need that water, Jo.”
“We’ll get it for them.”
He left without another word.
“Jo?” Kane lifted a brow.
“I hate it but don’t have the heart to tell him.”
His smile was sinister. “Want me to?”
“No.”
He slung an arm around me. “You can do that project.”
I jerked my head toward him. “Do you really believe that?”
“I believe in you.” He pointed toward the door. “Old Neil there let his emotions get in the way. I’m practical because I want you to succeed.”
I leaned my head against his. “Sometimes we need a voice of reason. It’s hard not to get attached and personally invested.”
He took my hand. “That’s where I come in. You can get attached. I can be reasonable.”
I released a long, cleansing breath. Once upon a time, I’d been offended by what I’d viewed as Kane’s criticisms. Now that I had a different perspective, I saw that he wanted to help . . . but he wasn’t going to coddle me in the process.
I respected that.
It made him more trustworthy.
And he believed in me.
“I know you said you’re going to help Penelope with Earth Warriors work, but I think you’ve just become my potential project consultant.” I snuggled closer.
“Does the position have any benefits?”
My lips tugged up. “I can think of a few.”
“Count me in.”
We were quiet a minute. I enjoyed the solace of being close to him. Sometime when I wasn’t looking, I’d grown to depend on Kane. I was glad he was here.
