Page 66 of Saving Grace

A sound at the entrance drew their attention as the door opened and Colt and Mac stepped in. The newcomers paused, surveying the scene.

“Are we interrupting something?” Colt asked slyly

“No,” Grace squeaked and tried to pull away.

Matt wouldn’t let her. Instead, his hands slid to her ass and lifted her to his level to give her a quick kiss before scowling at Colt. “Your timing sucks.”

He introduced Grace to Colt’s ranch manager. Dugal “Mac” McKenzie was a former recon marine and Military Working Dog handler. All their ranch hands were former military who had undergone extensive background checks by the CIA. Matt would even hasten to say that this two-hundred-acre ranch was the safest place for Grace to hide out based on the personnel that could protect her. The only problem was the mixed-terrainwasn’t fully secured. There wasn’t ever a need because everyone who lived on the ranch was capable of protecting themselves.

“Babe, why don’t you head out with Mac and check out the stables? I’ve got some business to discuss with Colt.”

Grace shot him a suspicious look, but Mac skillfully maneuvered her to the door. “Come on, Ms. Levinson. After I show you our horses, you both should stay for lunch. I’ve got a pot of Southern goulash and skillet cornbread warming in the oven.”

Matt smirked as he watched his woman follow Mac without any arguments.

“That’s one way to keep a pregnant woman in line,” he murmured to Colt.

The other man chuckled. “Well, Mac had to do something seeing how unsubtle you were about discussing Grace behind her back.” Colt lifted his chin. “What do you need?”

“I need you to be my best man.”

If he’d said that there was a line of terrorists waiting to ambush the ranch, Colt couldn’t have looked more startled.

“Come again?” his friend asked. “Am I being led to believe that you, Matt Foster, are getting hitched?”

“Grace is pregnant.”

“Don’t feed me that line,” Colt scoffed. “You’re not that honorable.”

Surprisingly, Matt wasn’t offended.

“You’d offer financial support, and I could see you playing some role in your kid’s life,” the rancher continued, “but getting tied to a woman because you’ve knocked her up? No way. So, tell me the real reason.”

“I don’t know,” Matt admitted. “You’re right, Grace being pregnant isn’t the driving reason, but it’s a good excuse to tie her to me.”

“Why?”

“Jesus, you want me to talk about feelings?” Now Colt irritated him. “I told you I don’t fucking know. I’m just informing you I want you to be my best man, and I’m calling Kate to let her know I’m getting married. I thought I’d give you the heads-up just in case she shows up.”

For the second time in a span of a few minutes, Colt froze. Then he turned away from Matt and swore viciously.

“Is Mya out of the picture?” Matt asked quietly.

“She was never much in the picture,” Colt replied, still facing the wall with his head bowed, his shoulders rising and falling like he was catching his breath. Kate really did a number on the former SEAL and Matt helped her. Now that he was finding his own happy with Grace, he wanted the same for his twin, so he was going to come clean. Matt had been very wrong when he thought there was no future of a family for their kind. Cassie was fast becoming a living proof of that.

“Misty Grove is as much Kate’s home as it is any of ours,” his friend said, finally pivoting to level Matt with a hard gaze. “I’m not promising I won’t beat up that prick if she shows up withhim.”

“Tony Lucchetti is gay,” Matt announced abruptly.

“What?” Colt’s eyes widened, and Matt tried not to roll his eyes at the sudden hope that flared in his friend’s eyes.

“I saw her kiss him,” he said roughly. “I saw him undress her.”

“Were you some kind of stalker?” Matt asked incredulously and with much humor.

“First floor study with French windows in a goddamned mansion. Anyone with night-vision could look in.” The rancher defended his actions, his face drawing into pained lines at the memory. “Why would she do that?”

“Take a guess? Maybe someone wouldn’t leave her alone and kept following her around like a lost puppy.”

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