Page 37 of Fatal Thrill

Colton agreed, slicing a couple more pieces and dribbling honey on one before shoving the whole thing in his mouth. “I love wheat bread. Shelby hatesit.”

Jon took a tea bag and tossed it into the mug. “Why am I notsurprised?”

A chuckle. “We are nothing alike, that’s for sure. Kind of like you andJaya.”

Back to that. “J and I have more in common than you mightthink.”

Done mincing words, Colton came right out with it. “You okay with the baby,then?”

“Ofcourse.”

“Come on, man.” Colton dug through a cabinet and pulled out some plates. “You’re not a little freaked out? I wouldbe.”

He added a little honey to the cup. His mother had often given honey to certain dogs suffering with digestion problems. “I’m completely freaked out. Doesn’t change anything. Jaya’s pregnant, I’m the father, and, no offense, but I really need to be having this conversation with her, since I just found outmyself.”

“You haven’t talked to heryet?”

“I was a little busy finding us a new place to land.” The kettle whistled and Jon poured steaming water into the mug. “On my way to do thatnow.”

Colton put several slices of bread on a plate and handed it to him. “Don’t worry about security. I’ve been through the weapons cache, which is pretty sad, but it’ll do. I reviewed the security system, and I’ve got you covered. Go talk to Jaya, and if you need to get rid of Shelby, tell her I need herhelp.”

“You’re not going to harass me about screwing up? About Jaya ingeneral?”

“You hitched your horse to that wagon, and while it pains me to see a good man go down under the heels of The Wicked Witch of Good Hope, all I can do now is pick up the pieces when the tornado is over.” He slapped Jon on the back. “Goodluck.”

There was that word again.Luck. Jon added a handful of crackers to the plate of bread. “Thanks for the supportive speech. I feel so muchbetter.”

Colton picked up his gun and stood in front of the door to the hallway. “What can I say? It’s a gift. I’m burdened with gloriouspurpose.”

“Okay, Loki.” Jon balanced the tea in one hand and the plate of bread and crackers in the other. “Burden your purpose out of myway.”