Page 75 of Four Cards Exposed

Susan shook her head. “They went back to the city,” she said, trying to keep her voice neutral.

Darryl nodded. “Well, it’s good to have you back. First round of drinks is on me,” he said. He took everybody’s order, then went to the bar where Afra, the bartender and owner of the bar, who was also Adrian’s cousin, was waiting.

“You look …” Jessy began cautiously. “Different.”

Susan’s phone pinged.

What are you doing, sweetheart?

Her heart soared.

Susan darkened the screen quickly, though not quickly enough.

“You met someone,” Jessy continued, smiling widely.

Susan started to deny it. James was her secret. What they had was too young, too new, to share. And then she realized she didn’t want to keep it a secret. After weeks of being someone else, she was back in Sharp’s Cove. She was herself again, with her friends, with people who loved her. People she trusted.

She wasn’t going to keep her happiness hidden out of fear that it might not work out.

She thought of her mother, who’d always believed love was worth risking everything for.

“I did,” she said. She paused for a second. “It’s James.”

“James?” Jessy turned the name in her mind for a moment, as if she didn’t know anybody with that name. “James Ramsay? Special Agent James Ramsay?”

“Shhh … lower your voice. Nobody knows yet.”

“Nobody knows what?” Natalie asked, coming up behind them.

“Natalie. How are you? Did Hunter stay home with the baby?”

“He’s dropping her off at the farm with his mother. He’ll join us in a bit. He wanted to be here to welcome you back as well.” Natalie’s hands went onto her hips. “So, what is it nobody knows?”

“I’ve met someone,” Susan said quickly.

Natalie sighed, relieved. “Thank goodness. For a moment, I worried Lorraine had convinced you to join the FBI. I thought I was going to lose you.”

Susan inhaled sharply. She hadn’t thought that far. And Natalie was her friend, but she was also her boss. “No. I love Sharp’s Cove. I’m not going anywhere. But you should probably know—“

Natalie smiled with her mouth and her eyes. “It’s alright, Susan. Even if you had decided to change jobs, we would all be happy for you, as long as it was the right thing for you. We’re friends, Susan. We’re family.”

Susan nodded, relaxing. “I think he’s good for me.”

“So, who is this person?”

“James Ramsay.”

Natalie’s mouth fell open. “Special Agent James Ramsay?”

Jessy laughed, showing her straight white teeth. “That’s exactly what I asked!”

“He’s … he’s different from what he seems.”

Natalie nodded. “You don’t have to explain. The heart wants what the heart wants.”

My heart wants James.

Natalie reached in to give her a hug. She and Jessy looked like they wanted to grill her further on how this had happened and what this meant—not a conversation Susan was looking forward to, since she had no idea what it meant.