Malakai (Stone Society #13) - Faith Gibson Page 0,95
Remy tell him none of you survived to gauge his reaction.”
“Then let Remy jump for joy when you’ve realized we miraculously survived.” Tessa had stopped pacing and was now pouring herself a drink. “Whiskey?” she asked, holding the bottle out.
“Yes, and make it a triple,” Trevor said. He and Jasper had returned in the middle of the conversation.
“Day drinking, Nerd Boy?”
“Pot, kettle.”
“Yes, but I’m not going to get sloshed over one drink.”
“You are sliding down my favorites list, Red. I deserve to get sloshed.”
Tessa poured a hefty glass of liquor and handed it over. “Don’t be that way, Boy Wonder. You know I love you.”
Trevor downed the contents and hissed. “Damn, that’s good. And I love you too.”
Tessa handed out drinks to those who wanted one. When she was finished playing bartender, she leaned against the bar, one arm around her waist, the other waving her glass to the room at large. “It was just a suggestion.”
Sinclair finally spoke up. “And a good one. Since I was the one who sent Lachlan to the East Coast, I should be on the decoy plane.”
Ah, now his reticence made sense. Kai would probably feel responsible too. But you never truly knew someone’s motives unless you were mates and could hear their thoughts broadcasted, the way he could hear Josie’s. He had been eavesdropping on her thoughts as they sat there, and one of those had nothing to do with what was being discussed. His Sunshine wasn’t worried about their home or Lachlan. Josie was thinking about her mother. He hugged her a little tighter, but he didn’t let her know why. He should teach her how to block her thoughts, then again, he liked knowing what she was thinking.
“Brother—” Frey started, but Sin held up his hand.
“No. Deep down I know he would have found a way to get to us, but I still feel like he used me to do so. Let me do this. I’ll go with Bryce, if he’s willing to put himself into the same situation as before.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Pono said. “Sorry if I’m overstepping, but Bryce has already been involved in one crash. If he’s involved in another, won’t that put too much scrutiny on the male from the humans?”
“That’s a good point. But we need a pilot. I can fly any helicopter out there, but I’ve never flown a jet,” Frey said.
Pono tapped his chest. “Then let me do it. Bryce can take the mates on to Manono, and I’ll fly the decoy.”
Kai was never prouder to be a Palamo than in that moment. The Stone Society was Kai’s Clan, and because of that, his brother was willing to step in and help.
“Are you sure?” Frey asked.
“Of course. Kai and Josie belong to both our Clans. Besides, I haven’t had an adventure in a couple centuries.” Pono grinned, and Ariki shook his head.
“You and your adventures. You might as well say yes, Frey. Once this one gets something in his head, there’s no changing his mind.”
Pono clapped his hands together. “Excellent. Let’s talk logistics.”
Frey helped Abbi to her feet, then stood and went to the door. He opened it and called Bryce into the room. While Frey and the two pilots came up with their game plan, Isabelle suggested letting the kids go swimming to get them out of the bedroom. Kai was all for it so he could admire Josie in her bathing suit. He’d just have to call on all his strength not to pop a boner.
As he and Josie settled on loungers close to the pool’s edge, he asked, “Did all of you pack bathing suits?”
“No. Tessa ordered them online from a local store and had them delivered.”
“I’m glad. You look sexy, Sunshine.” Josie was wearing a one piece that hugged her curves in all the right ways.
Josie blushed, but she didn’t tell him he was wrong. Instead, she recalled silently a conversation she and Katherine had.
“Wow. You look great, Josie.”
“Thanks, but I’m nothing like the rest of you.” Abbi and Sophia looked stunning in their maternity suits, while Tessa, Willow, and Katherine rocked bikinis.
“Are you kidding? I’d give anything to have your gorgeous curves. At least you look like a woman and not a boy.”
Josie didn’t see Katherine as a boy, but it made her realize being thin might be as daunting to someone who didn’t have Josie’s build.
“Well, I think you look amazing.”
Kai wished he had a swimsuit so he could get in the water with