Page 79 of Welker

Welker smirked and pointed at the dark-colored bacon.

“Yipes!” Moira scooted over and rescued the meat before it blackened, but damn, it was going to be hella crispy. Maybe she’d start a new batch…

Yup. Breakfast would take a little longer than she’d planned.

“Go sit on the deck,” Moira ordered Welker. “I’ll deliver when it’s ready.”

Welker nodded, but before he left, he grabbed the butter and syrup, as well as the plates, flatware, and napkins Moira already had out. One more quick kiss on her cheek, and he was gone.

Moira sighed happily.

The man was the best kind of menace.

An hour later, after eating and cleaning up, they were both reclining on the deck with Moira naming birds for Welker, when their phones sounded twin alerts.

“Shit. Call-out,” Welker barked, leaping to his feet.

Moira squinted up at him, where the sun silhouetted his body. “Hey. Don’t make it sound like you’re bummed. I know you live for these ops, just like I do. And as jealous as I am to be sidelined, you shouldn’t have to pretend on my account.”

“Thanks, Moira. You’re right. I am pumped. We haven’t had a job in weeks. But on the bright side, you’ll probably be back on the team before the next one comes in.” Welker swiftly disappeared through the door to get kitted-up, with Moira following at a sedate pace, not hesitating to dial Everlee. She hoped to get some details.

“Hey, Ever,” she said when the connection was made. “It’s Moira.”

Two months ago, she wouldn’t have dared, or even imagined that she’d be calling the boss’s wife for anything, but things had changed dramatically. With all the visits, and food, and laughs they’d had since her surgery, Everlee had insisted they were now besties.

“Moira,” Everlee greeted. “You probably want deets.”

“Only if you can, and have the time,” Moira assured her. She wasn’t going to keep Everlee from her job.

“It’s okay. I’ll be on the bus for this one. There’s a robbery in progress way the hell up in Millinocket. I’ll be able to keep you posted throughout, so keep your phone handy.”

“Thanks, Ever. I will. Now get moving.”

Everlee snorted. “You sound like Mase.”

They both hung up, and Welker came bounding down the stairs in his BDU’s and vest.

“Robbery in progress in Millinocket,” Moira told him, going up on tiptoes to land a kiss on his mouth. She hated that the call-out was well over an hour away, but that’s how it went in a state as vast as Maine.

“I figured you’d have it all sussed out by the time I was dressed.” He kissed her back, then picked up his bag.

“Stay safe,” Moira told him, biting her bottom lip. She hated not going along to have Welker’s six, but knew the rest of the team would cover for her absence.

“Always,” Welker replied. “I’ll see you soon. And don’t forget to reset the alarms once I’m gone.”

Moira wanted to snicker. Welk told her the same thing every day when he left for work. This wasn’t her first rodeo.

Fifteen minutes later, after following Welker’s orders, Moira was starting to binge a cooking show she’d never watched before, when her phone rang. Pausing the TV, she glanced at her display and saw that it was Margaret.

“Hey! How’s my favorite lady doing?” she answered chipperly.

There was a slight hesitation before…

“Moira?”

Margaret’s hushed voice had her instantly on alert.

“What is it?” Moira demanded. Was the woman having a heart attack?

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