Page 52 of Guarding Colton’s Witness

Aiden set Sam down. “I have a few errands I need to run this morning, so after lunch works.”

While Ryan played with Sam, Matti took her phone to her bedroom and checked in with her foster families, the ones she could reach. She spent an hour doing that, then jumped in the shower. Today wasn’t a date, not exactly, but she decided on a pretty sundress and strappy sandals instead of her usual T-shirt, shorts, and tennis shoes.

She took extra time with her hair and makeup, and when she was all done, she smiled at herself in the mirror. “Looking good, chickie.” She’d forgotten that it was fun dressing up for a man she liked. Now to go see if said man appreciated her efforts.

Chapter 22

Ryan changed clothes and got Sam dressed to go out while Matti was closed up in her room, and they were back in the living room when she appeared. Used to seeing her in T-shirts and shorts or jeans, he wasn’t expecting the vision standing in front of him. He walked to her, almost feeling as if he were in a trance.

He glanced behind him to make sure Sam was playing with his toys and not paying attention to them, then said, “Wow! You always look good enough to eat, but tonight, you’re going to be the tastiest dessert on the menu.” She’d done something to give her eyes a smoky look, and for once, her hair wasn’t all messy but was sleek and shiny. As much as he liked that the sleek-and-shiny hairstyle was sexy, he loved her messy-just-got-out-of-bed look.

“Thank you, I think?” She beamed a smile. “I’ve never been the tastiest dessert on a man’s menu.”

“I’d say that’s their loss.” The only color on the white sundress was a red belt that matched her red sandals. Thin straps held the dress up but left her shoulders and upper chest bare, and he wanted to trail his mouth over all that creamy skin that smelled like vanilla.

“Matti,” Sam yelled at seeing her. “Did you know we’re going to see dinosaurs? Doc said they’re not alive anymore. I wish they were.”

“If they were, they’d eat us.” He stepped back before the temptation to lick her was too much to resist.

When Aiden returned, they decided he should drive, so Ryan moved Sam’s car seat and Matti chose to sit in back with Sam. “Ready to go see some dinosaurs?” he said as Aiden backed out of her driveway.

Sam clapped his hands. “Yes!”

Usually, when he was off for a day, he couldn’t wait to get back to work at the hospital. A day off was spent doing necessary chores. They were not enjoyable days, and he was always glad when he could get back to being a doctor and doing what he loved. He’d been off for two days now, and he hadn’t once missed the hospital. A surprise, that.

He had today and tomorrow off, then it was back to work. That gave Wyatt and his police department two days to find those men, and Ryan hoped they did. He didn’t like the thought of Matti and Sam unprotected if the men were still on the loose.

* * *

“I think we’re being followed,” Aiden said as they drove back to Matti’s.

Ryan twisted in the seat to stare out the back window. “That white car?” They’d stopped for pizza at The Pie Works after the museum. He glanced at Sam to see that he was asleep. It had been a long day for him, and he’d conked out within minutes of leaving the restaurant.

“No, the dark blue one behind it. It might be my imagination, but I don’t think so,” Aiden said. “Matti, call Wyatt.”

They’d had a fun afternoon at the museum, and Sam had been all big-eyed and open-mouthed at seeing the dinosaur bones and the models of all the different kinds. They’d all enjoyed the day, and Ryan resented someone ruining the end of it. If there really was a car following them.

“Wyatt said to turn at the next street,” Matti said. “Right or left, doesn’t matter. See if the car turns, too.”

Aiden took a left. “The car turned, too. Tell him we’re going to head for the police station.” Aiden turned left again at the next cross street. “They didn’t follow us. Tell him it’s a false alarm.”

“Sorry, Wyatt, false alarm.” She listened a moment. “Well, that doesn’t make me feel better.” She listened some more. “Okay, thanks. Talk later.”

“What’d he say?” Aiden asked.

“That it could have been them, but you made them nervous with all your turns. That they realized you knew they were following us.”

Yup. Didn’t make Ryan feel better either.

“He said there’s a patrol car coming up behind us and the officer’s going to follow us home.”

That did make Ryan feel better because although it might well have been a false alarm, he wasn’t so sure.

“You coming in?” he asked Aiden when they reached Matti’s.

“No, I’m meeting up with some friends later. Had fun, though, so thanks for letting me tag along.”

“Anytime, man.” He liked Aiden. The guy was a big kid at heart. The patrol car parked on the street and stayed until they were safely locked inside Matti’s house.