“Hmm,” Megan said noncommittally, grabbing a piece of corn from the platter.
“Lucas Straight hired us to install a system that will actually keep you out.”
He paused, and then everyone started to laugh.
“The commission’s yours, Megan,” he said with a smile. “You more than earned it.”
Her mouth dropped open.
“Oh… um, wow.”
“I’d like to add it to the Alpha Mountain Security menu, if you’re willing,” he said. “Straight didn’t blink at the quote for the install and for your retest. You up for scaling his chimney again?”
Megan blinked. “Really?”
“About the job and about breaking into his house? Yes.”
It was actually a smart addition to the business model, and I had no doubt Straight would tell all his rich and fancy friends. That meant more business than ever.
“It could be full-time or a side job if you don’t want to leave the Sheriff’s Department.”
She nodded thoughtfully, picking up her knife to butter her corn. “Side job sounds fun. I’d like that, Ford. Thanks.”
“Mrs. L, this looks amazing,” I gushed, trying to make up for not eating last night. “And I am starving.” I dropped four slices of homemade bread on my plate and two on Megan’s. “Is that enough?”
“It’s plenty.” She reached past me to grab the platter of meat. The gestures were so simple–putting food on each other’s plates–but what they symbolized to me was everything. We were acting like a couple. We were a couple. With family.
Megan had given herself to me. I no longer needed to chase her, to prove my faithfulness to her. She trusted. She believed in us. We were together now. Over corn and leftovers.
When we’d all assembled our sandwiches and stacked our plates, I lifted my beer. “Here’s to another successful mission.”
“Hooyah,” Kennedy said, lifting his.
“Yeah, I want to say thank you to all of you. You really stuck your necks out for me, and I’m not really sure what I ever did to deserve that.” Megan’s voice broke a little.
“Oh phooey, you’ve done plenty to deserve it,” Mrs. L scolded. “You’re a good person, Megan Hager. It doesn’t matter who your dad is or how you were raised. I know character.”
“It’s true,” I murmured, leaning in to kiss her temple. “Mrs. L is the one who never believed you were in on the deal with your dad. She made me think it through.”
Megan blinked past a sheen of tears in her eyes.
“To our new teammate.” Taft, who sat on her other side, clinked his beer bottle against Megan’s.
“I’ll drink to that.” Quincy lifted her beer. “Glad to have another woman on the team.” She took a sip. “Although you have Hayes attached to your hip, so we can’t go out trolling for men together.”
“Oh, I’ll still be your wingwoman,” Megan told her. “I didn’t know that was something you needed.”
Quincy shrugged and picked up her sandwich. “Well, yeah. I’m new to town. I need to get out there and circulate.”
Kennedy frowned. “There’s nowhere to circulate in Sparks,” he snapped.
Was it me, or had he said it too quickly, like the idea of Quincy trolling for men pissed him off?
“Well, let’s go out,” Megan offered brightly, missing Kennedy’s piss-off. “We can have a ladies’ night. What’s your type? Cowboy? Businessman? Law enforcement?”
Quincy blushed a little. “I was thinking more, uh, hot mechanic.” She flushed some more.
Indi choked on her beer, and Megan laughed. “Lee Landers? Yeah, he’s hot,” Megan agreed.
“Who’s Lee Landers?” Kennedy demanded. “He sounds like a porn star.”
“Yeah, who are we talking about here?” Taft asked.
“Porn star?” Indi said with a laugh. “He’s no one, never mind.” She winked at Quincy. “Girls’ night. We’ll talk later.”
“Yep, later.” Megan smiled.
Mrs. L chuckled. “I guess I’m a little old for girls’ night, aren’t I?”
“Nah, you can come, too.” Quincy beckoned.
“You helped with me and Megan. I’m sure you can help with Quincy,” I told her.
Megan frowned, and Mrs. L gave me a wink.
“Hey, when is this girls’ night?” Why was I already jealous of my woman’s time? We’d only been an official couple for approximately twelve hours.
Megan picked up on it and reached for my hand. “Not tonight. I’m with you tonight, sailor.”
“Ahh,” Quincy said.
“Well, thanks for dinner, Mrs. L.” I popped up from the table. Sounded like Megan needed my services, and I was happy to oblige, as always.
“Young man, sit down and eat your food. Then you may take Megan off to canoodle.”
I blushed at Mrs. L’s order. Neither of us had eaten a bite, and it was the second night I wanted Megan over pot roast.
Everyone laughed as the two of us started eating. The conversation quieted as we all dug in.
I ate twice as fast as Megan, and once she was done, I grabbed her plate, took both our plates to the dishwasher and took her hand. We left the kitchen with a wake of laughter.