No Simple Sacrifice (Secrets of Stone Book 5) by Angel Payne, Victoria Blue Page B

that’s not sitting well with me.”
    “Explain.”
    I pushed out a harder breath. Kil scowled, recognizing when I dug in my figurative heels—knowing me well enough to also see that his ire didn’t mean a rat’s ass. I didn’t need more “perspective” on this matter. I was already confused enough.
    But Fletcher was also in the room.
    Fletcher, the professional shrinks’ couch surfer, who felt like anytime was a good time to share.
    Shit.
    “Her name’s Melissa,” he filled in for Kil. “Apparently, she’s good friends with someone named Taylor, from your San Diego sales division. This Taylor is also tight with Talia.”
    “And my sister and wife, as well.”
    Fletch and I gaped at him. Then at each other.
    Killian continued, “Before you ask, I am damn certain. Margaux’s relayed tales of a few escapades Taylor and she ‘enjoyed’ before Michael settled her ass down. Claire was pulled into the bunch by osmosis, though she and Taylor have forged closer ties since the pregnancy started. Taylor’s a decent woman; heart of gold. She comes to the house all the time, to bring Claire cookies. And pickles.”
    Shuddering felt too dangerous. Laughing, even more so. I went still once more, letting Fletcher vocalize for us both. “Cookies and pickles ?”
    “My breathtaking wife is having just as breathtaking an identity crisis. Cookie monster one day; pickle stork the next.” As he relayed it, a soft smile grabbed at the man’s mouth—though even without that, a person would have to be dead to miss how Killian Stone’s entire demeanor changed when speaking about his wife. He was ass-over-end in love with that woman. It was sickening. And distracting.
    And amazing.
    Because for the first time in my life, I could completely relate. I wanted to walk around with that same dorky grin on my face. To look at it on Fletcher’s too. To know a forever with the woman who’d put them on us. I wanted it so badly, I could taste it—yeah, even to the essence of cookies and pickles.
    Killian stowed the daddy-to-be shit again, and parked his ass against the desk. Arms still folded, he urged, “Go on.”
    Fletcher recounted our “discussion” with Melissa of the golden hair and fast-flying business card. Killian said nothing, though the gears in his head were clearly running at high speed. I dreaded the unsolicited advice to follow—and it seemed the knock on the door might save us from the fate—but Kil just tilted his head over and barked, “One minute, Britta.”
    “Certainly, sir. I’ll let them know.”
    As her footsteps receded, I steeled my posture and muttered, “Because this is the part where he shoots out all the fun advice.”
    Kil shook his head. “Past time for that. You dipshits know what you need to do already; you just need a push in the right direction.” He pushed off the desk and strode back to the door. “To that end, I’m having Britta call over to Midway. As soon as this meeting is over, the jet will be fueled up and ready to go. I need to get home to my baby mama, and you two need to go set a sexy little Russian straight.” He swung a glance at us both. “Plan?”
    “Plan,” Fletcher and I agreed in unison.
    Kil paused as his hand hovered over the keypad to release us. I was already set to follow him out but froze as he did, obeying the instinct to growl, “What now?”
    His angled face betrayed another second of vacillation. “You probably don’t need to hear this from me,” he said at last, “but I’m going to say it anyway. Sometimes, the best things in life are the ones you have to work the hardest to get. I’ve only met Talia a handful of times, but she must be one hell of a girl to have you two so upside down. I’ve never seen you like this. Ever.”
    Fletch and I exchanged knowing grins. That was all it took to prompt Fletcher’s response to our friend. “Because we’ve never felt like this before, man.”
    Killian didn’t return the smile. “Just go carefully.