Page 48 of Guarding Colton’s Witness

When the eggs were cooked to perfection, he removed the pan from the stove, transferring the contents to a large bowl. The sausage went into another bowl and the onions onto a saucer. He nuked the tortillas for a few seconds, then put them and everything else on the island, along with the cheddar cheese he’d grated.

“Dig in.” He sat on the barstool next to her.

“You didn’t have to do all this, you know.”

“I did it because I wanted to, not because I felt I had to.”

“So, how do I do this?”

He gasped. “You’ve never had a breakfast burrito?”

“Nope.”

“Girl, have you ever been missing out. Here, I’ll make your first one. Watch.”

Watch.

The word hung between them as their eyes locked. He hadn’t consciously used the word as a reminder of last night, but now that it was there, he knew she, too, was thinking of the intimacy they’d shared in the dark hours of the night. He groaned when her eyes darkened.

“Matti, I…” He paused at the sound of the front door opening. Afraid Sam’s mean men were breaking in, he dropped the tortilla as he moved to stand in front of her.

“Everyone in my family has a key,” she said. “It’s probably Mom bringing Sam home.”

“Matti! Doc! I’m home.”

At hearing Sam’s voice, Ryan relaxed, exceedingly happy that he wasn’t going to have to fight off any mean men. Mostly because he didn’t have a clue how to fight meanies, especially ones who probably carried guns.

“In the kitchen,” Matti called.

Little feet pounded on the hardwood floor as Sam raced to them. “Matti, Doc, guess what?”

Ryan smiled at the exuberant boy. “What’s that, buddy?”

“I got to ride in a police car, and Wyatt let me turn on the siren.”

“No kidding. That’s awesome cool.”

Wyatt walked into the kitchen. “Our boy here wants to be a police officer when he grows up. I told him he’d be a great one.” He put his hand on top of Sam’s head. “What else did I tell you?”

“That if I wanted to be a police officer, I had to go to school, make good grades, and not get arrested.”

Ryan shot Matti a grin when she snorted at that last one. “Solid advice there.” He lifted Sam and set him on the stool. “You have breakfast?”

“Nana made me French toast. It was sooo good.”

“Who’s Nana?” Matti asked.

“Your mommy. She told me to call her Nana ’cause she’s my grandmommy.”

“Oh, boy,” Matti muttered. “She’s claiming him.”

Was that a bad thing? Ryan didn’t think so. He got why Matti didn’t think she could keep Sam, but the boy was going to be crushed when he found out he wasn’t staying with her. Ryan wished there was a way he could, but he was never home. Maybe he could get her to change her mind if he promised to share responsibility for Sam. Between the two of them, they could make it work.

Chapter 21

Matti would like to have a few words with her mother, and they weren’t nice ones. She didn’t have the right to be putting ideas into Sam’s head. Emily knew Sam was going to have to go to a foster family.

Wyatt eyed the food spread out on the island. “Got any extra?”