Page 111 of Four Cards Exposed

“I will,” James said, his expression completely serious. “And I’ll expect you to kick my ass if I don’t, Walsh.”

“So, what are you going to do now?” Natalie asked James. Hunter gripped her hand gently. “Nat, is this really—“

Susan’s heart fell.

They hadn’t talked about this.

She hadn’t even dared think about this.

Her job was here. His was three hours away. They both loved their jobs.

How does one make a long-distance relationship work?

James laced the fingers of his left hand into her right hand. He lifted their hands and kissed the back of her hand gently.

“I’ve already spoken to Lorraine and to our supervisor. I’m moving to Sharp’s Cove. I’ll work from home Tuesday to Thursday. I’ll still have to travel, but—“

Susan’s heart soared—that he’d known, without her having to say it, how important her job was to her, and that he’d looked for a way for them to be together.

“We will make it work,” Susan said.

And she meant it.

They stood around for another half an hour, chatting. Everybody wanted to speak with them.

“You have a lot of friends,” James whispered in her ear. Susan turned to him, and realized how pale he was. The line of his jaw told her he was still in pain, and if she knew him at all he wouldn’t be taking any painkillers.

“Wait till you meet my family,” she replied quietly. “My parents are getting back in a couple of weeks. What do you say we get out of here?”

“Are you sure? I don’t mind waiting. I can sit there—“

She shook her head. “Come. I’ve wanted to have you in my bed for a long time, and it looks like this is my chance.”

* * *

James

The door had barely closed behind them when Susan pressed him against the wall, her body vibrating with need.

James pushed his face down into her hair and breathed, smothering a groan at the perfection of a smell that was just her.

Susan mistook the ragged noise and pulled back, an expression of alarm on her face.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. Her hand came up to graze the side of his face gently. Nobody had ever been so gentle with him before. He’d never needed it, and yet he couldn’t imagine living without it now.

“You didn’t hurt me,” he said. It was true. He was nowhere near back to a hundred percent, but she hadn’t hurt him.

He looked around her apartment—and faltered. Last time he’d been here, the whole sheriff’s department had been here. They’d been investigating Susan’s disappearance, and he’d wondered if he’d ever get her back.

“James? You alright? Come back to me,” Susan said.

James pushed the thought away. Susan was back, she was okay, and they were going to make the most of this chance they’d been given.

“Come.” He let her pull him towards the couch, smiled as she pushed him to a sitting position.

“Are you going to join me?” he asked.

“In a bit. It’s rather warm here, isn’t it?” she asked. Her hand grazed the length of her body. She gyrated her hips, and slowly began undoing the buttons of her blouse.