Page 17 of Guarding Colton’s Witness

Both men nodded.

Although he should be looking for ways not to spend time with the woman he was liking too much, it was an assignment he didn’t mind. “I work some long hours at the hospital, but I’m free every night, along with my two days off, so I can stick around her when I’m off as much as she’ll let me.”

“Use Sam as your excuse,” Wyatt said. “When I was over last night, it seemed the boy’s taken a liking to you.”

“He has.” He should pick up another toy or two for Sam.

Wyatt gave a satisfied nod. “There you go, the perfect reason for being around her.”

“Until we can convince her to turn the boy over to foster parents,” Cal said as he stretched out his legs and crossed his ankles. He studied Ryan for a moment, then said, “What are your intentions toward our sister?”

Wyatt snorted. “Matti hears you asked him that, she’ll put a hurt on you.”

“You gonna tell her?”

“Not me,” Wyatt said.

Cal turned to Ryan and raised his brows.

Ryan held up both hands. “The last thing I want to do is get on the bad side of either of you.”

“Smart man. Now answer my question.”

“My answer is none of your business. Whatever my intentions are is between me and Matti.”

Wyatt slapped him on the back. “I like you.”

“I’m still making up my mind,” Cal said.

“Let me know when you decide…not that I’m waiting with bated breath.” On that note, he walked away, smiling to himself when he heard her brothers laugh.

The Colton family was an interesting one, and he was finding he liked the ones he’d met so far, even Cal. He especially liked Matti.

Chapter 9

“My father’s on the way here,” Matti told Sam. She thought it best to prepare him for the visit.

“Is your father nice?”

“He sure is.”

“Will he like me?”

“Of course he will.” Sam was so unsure of himself, and giving him confidence was something she wanted to work on with him. It wasn’t surprising, though. He’d basically had no contact with people outside whatever motel room his parents kept him in. It was encouraging that he did want people to like him, and that in spite of his lack of experience with the outside world and the terrible things he’d seen, he seemed to be a happy boy.

“My dad’s name is Dr. Colton, and he—”

“He’s a doctor like Doc?”

“Yes, and he wants to meet you.”

“Why?”

She smiled. Children and their whys. “Because you’re an interesting boy. He’ll probably ask you some questions.”

“What if I don’t know the answers?”

Before she could think how to respond to that, her dad knocked, then, as was his way, entered without waiting for her to open the door for him.