Page 50 of Guarding Colton’s Witness

Dylan: Why am I still in this group?

*Dylan Colton has left chat group*

*Aiden Colton has added Dylan Colton to chat group*

*Dylan Colton has left chat group*

*Aiden Colton has added Dylan Colton to chat group*

Matti laughed. Dylan left the group every time they had a chat, and Aiden added him back every time. Aiden did it to annoy his twin, which Dylan knew. It was a game they played and had fun with. She was pretty sure they did, anyway.

She wasn’t surprised to see Dylan not commenting. He usually didn’t since he always seemed to be working undercover. As a defense attorney, her sister worked long hours and, other than Dylan, she was the sibling Matti saw the least of. They loved each other and got along, but due to the seven-year difference in their ages, they’d never been tight.

“Hey,” she said, answering when her sister called. She waved goodbye to Wyatt. Ryan started on cleaning up the kitchen, and she held the phone away from her mouth. “I’ll help you when I finish.”

He shook his head. “Take your call. I got this.”

“Who’s Sam?” Kelly said. “And who are you talking to?”

“Hello to you, too. I’m just fine, thank you for asking.” She slid onto the barstool.

Kelly sighed. “Sorry. I only have a few minutes before I have to be in court, so talk. Who’s Sam?”

Because her sister was short on time—when wasn’t she?—Matti gave her a condensed version of the events of the past few days.

“Wow, okay. Are you sure you’re safe?”

“As safe as I can be. Ryan’s staying with me, and Wyatt and Cal are keeping a close eye on us.”

“Your voice goes soft when you say Ryan’s name. You have the hots for him.”

Matti laughed. Trust Kelly to pick up on that. “I guess I do.” She glanced at the man stacking plates in the dishwasher. He had his back to her, and what a fine view it was she thought as her gaze roamed over him.

“Take a picture and send it to me.”

“Jeez, Kelly, I’m not going to do that.” Wouldn’t that be kind of creepy?

“Yes, you are. Gotta go. Talk later. Send that picture.”

“Bye,” she said to dead air.

“Not going to do what?” Ryan said, turning to face her and leaning back against the counter.

“Take a picture of you and send it to my sister.” She waited for him to roll his eyes or say, “No way.” But he didn’t. Instead of doing what she thought he would, he smiled… No, that was a smirk on his handsome face.

“Go ahead.” He spread his arms wide. “How do you want me?”

How did she want him? Pfft. In so many ways. “That’s a loaded question.” She picked up her phone, bringing the camera up. “Say cheese.”

“Cheeseburger.”

She chuckled. “Just have to be different, don’t you?” She snapped several photos, only one in which he was smiling. In the others, he made faces. She pulled up one where his eyes were crossed and his tongue was sticking out the side of his mouth. “This is what I’m sending to her.” She turned the phone’s screen for him to see.

“Now, that’s a handsome devil if there ever was one.” He winked, then gave her his back and resumed loading the dishwasher.

The man was seriously likable. He made her smile, made her laugh. A man who could make a woman laugh was a keeper… Hadn’t she heard that somewhere? Too bad he was a doctor. She’d had a front-row seat to witness how her father’s occupation had ruined his marriage, how he’d never had time for his wife and family.

Not that she and Ryan had anything serious going on between them. She liked having him for a friend, and she liked even more messing around with him. So while he was available for that fun messing around, she’d enjoy herself and not expect anything serious to happen between them.