Page 63 of Guarding Colton’s Witness

He followed her to the back of the room. Three of the barrel tables had been pushed together, and when they reached them, he bumped fists with Cal. “Long time no see.”

Cal laughed. “Yeah, like what? Ten hours?”

“About that.” He smiled at the woman who was watching him with a curious glint in her eyes. The first thing he noticed about her was that, unlike Matti’s untamed curls that tended to bounce around her head, she had highlighted brown hair that was long and straight. He liked Matti’s hair better, thought hers was sexier.

“Kelly, this is Ryan. Ryan, my sister, Kelly.”

“Great to meet you, Kelly,” he said. “Matti told me you’re her favorite sister.”

“You’re funny,” Kelly said. “I’m probably going to like you, but I’ll reserve judgment for now. You look like you went three rounds with Mike Tyson.”

“I know, but what’s important is that I won.” He caught her lip twitch and relaxed. It surprised him how much he wanted all of Matti’s siblings to like him. He had one to go, and he suspected that Dylan might be the toughest to win over.

“Where’s Sam?” Cal asked as Ryan took a seat next to Matti.

“With Mom,” Matti said. “I told her that Ryan and I wanted to go out to dinner and she was all over Sam spending the night with her. She even has him calling her Nana.”

Cal frowned. “Is it safe for them to be alone?”

“Wyatt’s got patrol sitting in her driveway until he gets there. He’s spending the night.”

“That’s good,” Cal said, relaxing back in his seat. “Speaking of, he’s here.”

Ryan glanced over to see Wyatt walking toward them.

“Where’s my beer?” Wyatt said as he slid onto a stool.

Cal snorted. “What? We look like waiters to you?”

“We told our waiter we’d give our orders when everyone’s here,” Kelly said.

“Okay, we’re all here, so let’s order.” Wyatt picked up a menu. “I need a beer and I’m hungry. Been a tough week.”

“Uh, maybe you haven’t noticed, but the twins aren’t here yet,” Matti said.

Wyatt peered at her over his menu. “They don’t count.”

Matti punched him. “Don’t be an ass.”

Wyatt lowered his menu and grinned at her. “It’s so much fun to rile you up, baby sister. And so easy to do.”

Matti stuck her tongue out at him, making Ryan laugh. Yes, this was what he wanted. A handful of kids riling each other up. He’d need a wife for that, and his gaze fell on Matti. He could almost see it, chasing a little girl with Matti’s wild curls around the house while Matti tried to wrangle their brood of trouble-loving kids.

Her eyes locked on his and when she smiled at him, his heart fluttered and whispered, “I think I’m in love.”

Chapter 27

Matti caught Ryan looking at her and she smiled. A strange expression appeared on his face, as if something had bemused him. What was going on in his mind? She sighed as her gaze traveled over him. He was so pretty. She choked on a giggle thinking he probably wouldn’t appreciate her thinking he was pretty. But he was. And just plain nice. And sexy. Yes, that last one for sure.

“You okay there?” Cal said.

She waved him away. “Just swallowed wrong.” While thinking about the very pretty and very sexy man sitting next to her, but she wasn’t about to share that with her brother. “I thought Jules would come with you tonight.” Jules was his new girlfriend, one he seemed to be pretty serious about.

“She wanted to, but she had a thing at the university tonight.”

“Maybe next time.” She liked Jules, and she was happy for her brother.

“And finally, I can have a beer,” Wyatt grumbled as he stared over her shoulder.