Page 26 of Protected By West (San Antonio S.W.A.T. #1)

"Someone came in and handed her a note. The teller had her glasses off because the pads were hurting her nose.

She was rubbing on her nose to ease the pain when the man set the note down on the counter.

She looked at it and saw that it had the logo for another credit union on the top of the paper, so she handed it back to the man and said, 'Sorry, you're just going to have to take this to them.

We don't have them as part of our shared branch network. '"

Tracy, Jaime, and Pepper stared at her.

"Wait, what?" Pepper frowned as she leaned against the wall. "Did she read the paper?"

Becca looked down at the screen of her phone.

"No, but the guy showed up to the other credit union and handed it over to the teller there. This time the teller had 20/20 vision and read the note. Gave him the cash and dropped the... you-know-what into the bag and let him walk out the door. The police got him a couple of blocks away."

Tracy chuckled. "Thank goodness for the first teller. I wonder what she felt like after she found out she'd accidentally foiled a robbery."

"You should call over and ask the manager, I'd love to hear the story." Jaime sighed. "Then again maybe not. She's probably either mortified or shaking knowing that she'd gone face to face with a robber and sent him packing."

"I'd guess the second. We all think about what it's going to be like to deal with something like that, but luckily," she knocked on the top of the wooden counter, "we haven't dealt with that yet."

Everyone shared a look. Someone lifted their hand with crossed fingers. Another put her hands together in prayer. And one more crossed herself. They trained for robberies. They had a number of plans set in place to deal with it when it happened.

And it was going to happen someday.

It was just better to plan ahead so when they were caught unawares, it was that muscle memory that would serve them well.

Or so they hoped and prayed.

The chime connected to the doormat sounded and everyone turned to see the doors opening up.

Tracy turned and saw three people walk in. The first was Weston and she had to drag her eyes off of him to see who else walked in. She smiled when she saw Dally and Jack walk in after him.

Pepper huffed a little. "The girl was holding the door?"

Tracy reached out a hand and touched Pepper's arm. "That's Jack. Don't let her hear you call her a girl. She's all boss."

"Jack?" Becca leaned in to get a better look.

Tracy took a few steps closer, and Weston reached out his hand for her. "Hey, babe."

"Weston." She smiled at him. “Or should I call you West? Is this business?"

Weston moved his hand up her arm and around her back, stepping in to hold her to his side. He kissed her cheek away from view and then nipped her earlobe just hard enough to make her whole body tingle. "Business is the excuse but any time I get to see you, it's a pleasure.

"Well, then..."

She cleared her throat and turned around to see Dally watching them with a smile on his face and Jack checking out the IRA pamphlet on the countertop.

"I should do the introductions."

Becca laughed out loud. "You missed it while your man was making you blush. Mister Smiley here," she gestured to Dally who shrugged, "introduced himself and Wonder Woman to the group and we introduced ourselves."

Tracy opened her mouth to apologize to everyone but the ladies she worked with weren't having it. They were all smiles, and Pepper gave her a thumbs up behind Becca's back.

"Good. Thanks, Dally."

He shrugged again. "No problem, Mom."

Mom?

The ladies turned to stare at her, and she stared back, knowing that her face had to be beet red.

"Uh..." "What?" "Tracy? Is there something you want to tell us?"

Tracy turned to look at Dally who was chuckling at her predicament and saw that Jack was now watching with a curious smile on her face.

"Y'all are thinking way too hard about this. I was there when West had the team over for a barbecue and I was there with him and the 'kids' at least that's what Fox was calling them."

"Fox?" Becca raised a brow at the name. "Are we talking sly or silver?"

Jack answered with a bit of a smirk on her face. "Silver."

The two women gave each other knowing nods.

Weston lifted his free hand and covered his mouth as he coughed drawing the attention of the group. "We actually came by to check in and see if you've had any safety issues. Questions you might have."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Is there something we should worry about that's happening in the area?"

He looked surprised for a moment and then he smiled. "No. We're just visiting a few banks-"

She cringed on instinct and Jaime rolled her eyes.

"I mean... financial institutions."

Jack snorted a laugh. "Now it sounds like they're crazy."

Pepper laughed. "An apt description on some days."

Weston continued on. "We've got our certification on Friday and needed a break from running drills so we're out checking on things."

Tracy nodded. "So, we're busy work then."

West leaned in and kissed her temple. "Best looking busy work I've ever seen."

Dally groaned. "Mom? Dad? Are you gonna kiss? I'll have to cover my innocent eyes!"

Jack reached out her arm and cuffed him on the shoulder. "We could always kick you out of the family. Obnoxious."

Tracy sighed and turned her head to look at Weston. "Why don't you come with me and the kids can ask questions of the ladies."

He nodded and she loved the way he kept his arm around her as they started to walk to the other side of the lobby.

She heard Dally chatting with Jaime behind her while Jack asked someone else. "So... how does someone become a member here?"

Tracy smiled.

Things were looking up.