Page 44 of Guarding Colton’s Witness

He did, then opened his eyes. “I love that one.” He picked the book up and then his fire truck. “I’m ready.”

She glanced at her watch. “You have two hours before Wyatt gets here to pick you up. Let’s get you a bag packed.”

Once he was packed up and ready to go, he disappeared into the kitchen. Curious—and thinking she was about to confirm what she suspected—she eased to the kitchen door and peered in. Sam had his back to her with the pantry open, and he picked up the half-full bag of Oreos.

“What are we doing?” Ryan whispered from behind her.

Startled, she jumped back. “Shh.” She took his hand and pulled him back to the living room. By the time Sam appeared, she and Ryan were sitting on the couch.

“He’s got something under his shirt,” Ryan said after Sam disappeared down the hallway.

“Yep. He’s hoarding food.”

“Making sure he’ll not go hungry again. That breaks my heart.”

“Yeah, mine, too,” she said.

By the time Wyatt arrived to pick him up, Sam was bouncing off the walls in anticipation of seeing her mother and Wyatt and having spaghetti. Both Matti and Ryan were more than ready to send him off for the night.

“Why don’t you get him loaded in the car,” she said to Ryan. “I want to see if Wyatt has any updates, and I don’t want to ask him in front of Sam.”

“Are you guys any closer to finding the men who tried to take Sam?” she asked once Sam was outside.

“I wish.” Wyatt scrubbed a hand over his face. “They’ve gone underground. We’ll find them, Matti, it’s just taking longer than I’d hoped. This case is widespread, and we’re working around the clock with every available officer we’ve got. Sheriff’s department, too. Someone’s pulling the strings, and right now, we haven’t a clue who that is. That’s not to be repeated, not even to your boyfriend.”

“Ryan’s not my boyfriend.”

Wyatt chuckled. “You sure about that?”

No, she wasn’t, but she wasn’t ready to put a name to what he was to her.

“I’ve got a spaghetti dinner waiting for me, and this is my first night off since this case landed in my lap. Enjoy your evening with your not-boyfriend.” He gave her a noogie.

She slapped his hand away. “Would you stop that, Wyatt the Pirate.”

“I will when you stop calling me silly nicknames.”

“Never going to happen.”

He noogied her again. “Then this isn’t either.” He walked out laughing.

“You’re a dork,” she called to his back.

He lifted a hand and waved.

A few minutes later, Ryan came back in the house. “Alone at last.”

“Do you have wicked plans in mind, Dr. Palmer?”

His lips curved upward. “So very wicked, Miss Colton.” He stepped to her, put his finger under her chin, and lifted her face, brushed his lips over hers, then dropped his hand. “Let’s start with an adult beverage, sit, and decompress while having an adult conversation. Sam’s always been our focus, and I’d like us to get to know each other a little more while we have a chance.”

“I’d like that. Beer, wine, or something else?” She also liked that he wasn’t immediately hauling her off to bed, that he was letting the anticipation of what might happen build between them.

“You have any tequila?”

“I do, but I don’t have any margarita mix.”

“Wasn’t thinking margaritas. You up for a shot and a beer?”