In the Line of Duty (First Responders 2)

Bacon and eggs and toast. Heaven on a plate as far as Kendra was concerned. Was it worth spending an extra fifteen minutes in Jake’s company? It couldn’t be that bad, right? It was only breakfast. And he’d already started cooking it. She’d hate for that to go to waste.

Oh, who was she fooling? She was starving. And maybe it was time to bury the hatchet with Jake. After all, he was being genuinely nice.

“Over with the yolks hard,” she replied with a sigh. “And jam.”

“You got it.”

“You don’t have to make me breakfast,” she said, taking a seat at the bar. Perhaps the odor of alcohol still permeated the air, but the wood bar top was spic-and-span, without even the slightest stickiness from drinks or mix. She’d say one thing for Jake, he kept his place in top shape. She hated to think what ungodly hour he got to bed each night if this was what the bar looked like first thing in the morning.

She heard a metal spatula ring against the grill. “I’m not going back to sleep now anyway,” he called. “And I didn’t get much shut-eye. So I need to eat if I’m going to get through the day. It’s another long one. Cooking a little extra is nothing.”

He came around the corner with a mug in his hand. “Here. It’s decaf so it won’t keep you up later.”

She took the mug, unsure of what to say. Decaf was pretty thoughtful for a guy this time of the morning on a few hours’ sleep. A simple, “Thanks,” was all she could think of.

Jake nodded. “Cream and sugar?”

“Black’s fine.” She was used to drinking it that way, and most of the time it wasn’t as fresh and fragrant as what Jake had just brewed. She took a sip. It was delicious. He drank from his own mug as he watched the eggs on the griddle. “High test,” he said, lifting the cup. “With an extra shot.”

The sideways grin was back. Kendra swallowed and focused on her coffee. She took too big a drink, nearly scalded the back of her throat with the hot liquid and started coughing.

“Easy there, Officer.” His voice was warm and teasing beside her and she looked up, his figure blurred by her watering eyes. Why was it Jake could always make her feel like a first-class idiot just by looking at her? It’s not like she had a reason to feel awkward and foolish. She was a fully grown, fully capable RCMP officer.

“Hot,” she mumbled, giving a last cough.

“Your breakfast is ready, but maybe I should blow on it first?” he asked, putting down her plate.

“I’m not a toddler,” she defended, forcing a smile.

He brought out his own plate, put it on the bar and came around to sit beside her on a tall stool.

The breakfast looked as delicious as it smelled. Four crisp strips of bacon were lined up on one side of her plate and two eggs sat in the middle, the whites slightly shiny from being sinfully fried in the bacon grease. Two slices of toast were cut into triangles and spread with what looked like strawberry jam. She picked up a piece of bacon first and bit into it.

“I know it’s not the healthiest breakfast, but good God, I love bacon and eggs,” she confessed, cutting into an egg with the side of her fork. He’d salted and peppered it just right, and she ate another bite before trying the toast. “Didn’t know you could cook, Jake.”

“I’d like to say I picked it up in the army, but I’d be lying.” He put down his fork and reached for his coffee. “My mom, all the way. She made all of us learn how to cook. And then made us take turns with dinner. My dad included. We can all hold our own. My specialty is pulled pork.”

Kendra wasn’t sure what to say. She’d come in here half an hour ago not wanting to do anything but get the details and get the hell out. Now she was eating breakfast with Jake and he was talking about his family. She gave her head a shake. She really did need sleep, didn’t she? She was losing her edge.

“What about you? You cook?” he asked, as if this were any ordinary day and she hadn’t just responded to his B&E. Like they were friends. The idea made her frown. She didn’t do friends. And definitely not with men like Jake.

“Some. I can make bacon and eggs.” Her lips started to twitch as he chuckled. “Grilled cheese. Chocolate cake in a cup.”

“In a cup?”

She shrugged. “Why make an entire cake for myself? I’d eat it all and never stay in shape. So you mix everything in a coffee mug and put it in the microwave for three minutes and voila. Perfectly sized cake in a cup.”

“Sounds delicious.” Sarcasm dripped from the words.

“It does the trick.” Especially on a rare Friday night off, sitting at home watching rerun movies from the nineties on cable. That was about the extent of her social life these days, not that she cared to admit that to him.

She put down the last bread crust and sighed. “Thanks for breakfast, but I really do need to get back. I’m on again tonight and I need some sleep.”

“You’ll let me know about the investigation?”

“Someone from the detachment will.”

“Not you personally?”