Page 110 of Four Cards Exposed

James paused for a second, then kept going. “I don’t know how it happened, Susan. I didn’t think I was built for love. I still don’t think I deserve your love … but I know I love you more than I can say.”

Something that felt a lot like anger replaced the warm, fuzzy feeling inside of her.

“Deserve? Deserve?” Susan flicked her hair back. “I never want to hear you say that again. You’re the strongest, most loyal man I’ve ever met. I’ve loved you since the moment I saw you helping that boy feed a flea-ridden kitten. And I’m never going to stop loving you.”

James held her hands gently in front of them.

“You love me, then.”

What an infuriating man.

“Of course I love—“

The end of her sentence was swallowed by his kiss. His lips were warm and strong, and he tasted vaguely minty—like he’d taken the time to brush his teeth in the plane, right before landing. It was a kiss that could go on forever, except there was something—

James must have tuned on to the laughing and whooping an instant before she did, because he let her go, and stood next to her, his left arm around her shoulder, facing their friends.

“I can see why you now call him James,” Rob hollered. His fiancée elbowed him roughly in the mid-section.

“Hey, partner. I’m glad you finally got your head out of your ass,” Lorraine quipped. She took a long pull from her beer. “It’s good to see you again, Susan.”

“Thanks for looking out for him out there,” Susan said.

Lorraine nodded, smiling gently.

“I got a call from the American Veterinary Medical Association.”

James perked up. “Really?”

“They tried reaching you but apparently your phone’s still off. They’ve managed to arrange the pilot after-school program.”

“After-school program? What’s that about?” Susan asked.

Lorraine looked at James, who shrugged uncomfortably. “I didn’t like the thought of leaving the boy on his own like that.”

Lorraine finished the story for him.

“The FBI and the American Veterinary Medical Association work together on a program connecting kids from disadvantaged areas with animals. It’s been tried in several cities already and has proved successful at keeping kids off the streets. James convinced our boss to provide additional funding to kick off a pilot here, in Redham.”

“Starting with Dom’s school,” Susan said, nodding in understanding. She was glad somebody was going to be there for the boy. “What about his father?”

“He’s in prison for possession. He’s not getting out anytime soon. The mom knows, she just hasn’t told the kids, even though it would probably make Dom, at least, feel better.”

“That’s good. What about Pia and her little girl?”

“They’re still in the witness relocation program.”

“Will Pia be required to testify?”

“Depends how the trial goes. We’ll know more over the next few months. But this is their chance at a better life.”

A large shadow appeared beside them, standing a couple inches taller than James.

“Adrian,” Susan said, surprised by his scowling expression.

“I’ve known Susan for a long time,” he said. “You’d better take care of her, Ramsay,” he continued, his face breaking up into a huge grin. “And make her happy!”

Susan’s cheeks went red with embarrassment.