positive feedback, aren’t you?”
I shrugged and cast another glance at Kat, who was still preoccupied with something.
“Being positive and holding their hands is your job. I just tell you what I see. What you do with that info, baby bro, is up to you. As always.”
“In other news,” Maisie began with wide, excited blue eyes, “Kat spent the afternoon with Travis Stone.”
“The tech billionaire?” My question came out on an outraged growl that had Emmett smirking and Kat frowning.
“Yep,” Maisie answered easily, not at all bothered by my tone. “I was sure Kat wasn’t his type, but he had nothing but good things to say about you. All day.”
Kat groaned and rolled her eyes as I tried to tamp down the angry jealousy that tore through me. I had no right to feel jealous or anything else where Kat was concerned. Stone was exactly the type of guy she ought to be with, rich and smart and worldly.
“It wasn’t like that, as I already told you. I’m interested in his work and what man doesn’t like to talk about himself?” Her words were right but her tone was off, just slightly. I knew Kat well, knew her every expression, and she was lying. She could play it off to everyone else, but I knew she was lying and it only made me want to know why.
“Whatever you say,” she teased. “But Travis isn’t easy to impress, and he was more than impressed by you.”
Kat shrugged. “Well he’s a very smart man, and clearly he has excellent taste.” Her smile was teasing as it always was, but there was mischief in her eyes. “Are we going to have an Ashby wedding soon? Or is that just a way for you two to put off having babies?”
Virgil and Maisie sent a collective groan into the air, while Cal and Jasper laughed. “Thanks for that Kitty Kat.”
She flipped Virgil off for using her hated childhood nickname, drawing laughter from the entire table. “It was just a question,” she said innocently.
“A damn good question,” Sadie said as Thomas came in to clear the plates and serve dessert. “A wedding will be a nice distraction. Whenever it happens,” she said with a pointed look at Virgil and then Maisie.
“All right, Ma. Got it.”
Maisie turned a look towards Kat. “I guess I’ll take that list of wedding planners now,” she said, shoulders relaxed in resignation. “Maybe Travis will be your plus one.”
“Maybe I’ll even bring him to the baby shower,” Kat shot back and stuck her tongue out. They were already like sisters, wedding or not.
Maisie stood and dropped her napkin. “Dinner was fantastic, Sadie, but I need to call my baby brother before it gets too late. See how things are in Texas.” She cast a regretful smile around the table. “I’ll keep you updated on wedding festivities,” she added as an afterthought.
Sadie nodded, brows arched when Virgil stood and put a hand to his fiancée’s waist. “I’ll be back,” he said with finality before he and Maisie disappeared.
Jasper snorted. “Yeah, he’ll be back. In an hour. Make sure you shower first,” he called after Virgil with a satisfied grin.
Bonnie let out a yawn and Thomas was at her side in an instant, helping her to her feet before he escorted her from the dining room. “Good night everyone.”
“Sleep well Bonnie and baby,” Kat called after her with a genuine but worry-filled smile that had me wondering what that was all about.
Kat, it seemed, was full of secrets lately. I didn’t like it, she was such an open book most days, wore her every thought and feeling on her face.
“What up with her?” She directed the question at a distracted Cal who shrugged.
“She’s pregnant Kat, what do you expect?”
“For you not to bite my head off for asking a simple question.” With a shake of her head, she turned away from Cal, dismissing whatever he’d been about to say in response.
She flashed a sincere smile and said, “Thanks for encouraging the fighters to do promo Em, it’s had the desired effect.” And then some lever deep inside tripped and she went into corporate drone mode, talking about social media numbers, Q score increases, and sales numbers. She finished up with, “We’re all gonna make a lot of money.”
Emmett flashed an embarrassed smile as he stood. “I’m happy to help Kat. Thanks for dinner, Sadie, the roast beef was magnificent, but I have to get back to the gym. Rachel needs some help,” he said with