Page 53 of Issued

“You’re something else, you know that?”

“It’s a hobby.” God, I must look so lame staring into my coffee as if it holds all the secrets to the universe.

“Hobbies don’t usually break your arm.”

“Granted, it’s not scrapbooking. But it also doesn’t pay, so it’s not a real job, either. Which means, technically, it’s a hobby. If you have a better word for it, I’m all ears.”

I’m ready for all the words I’ve heard before, for his mockery, his dismissal, and his laughter. I’m ready for almost anything except for what actually comes out of his mouth.

“Amazing.”

His eyes are bright with pride, his shoulders square with it. Dad gazed at me like that when he thought I wasn’t paying attention. After he died, I never expected to see it again. More importantly, I never thought I wanted to.

He slips his thumb beneath the bend of my knee and strokes the delicate skin there. “I wish you had told me.”

“I didn’t want to argue about it, in case... in case you felt differently. It made more sense to keep to myself.”

“Just for the record, you never had anything to be ashamed of. It’s brave as hell.”

I clear my throat but trying to control the tremor in my voice only makes the tears more imminent. “Thanks.”

“Just promise me something.”

“Anything.”

“Be careful.” His fingers begin to travel and excite unexplored nerves. Goose bumps decorate my skin in waves as my body memorizes the sensation of each callus. “I couldn’t stand if anything else happened to you.” He traces a scar stretching from my hip to my upper thigh.

“I was trying to pop a wheelie. It didn’t end well.”

His head jerks up and he lets loose an explosion of air through his nose. “I’m not asking you to stop, just be careful. You may be able to handle another broken bone, but I can’t.”

Warmth fills my insides like a bonfire, and Jim’s every word only stokes it to greater strength. I’m light-headed and a tad giddy, and while I’m not sure if I’m doing a great job hiding it, I still try. I take another sip of my coffee to hide my obvious pleasure. “I promise.”

He nods in approval, and I squeal when he grabs me beneath the knees and pulls me more fully into his lap. My coffee is stolen and unceremoniously set aside. “Thank you.”

I giggle. I’ve never been a giggler, but Jim brings it out in me. Being this close to him, staring up into his eyes and remembering the way his lips feel is enough to bring on more than a giggling fit. “You’re very welcome. By the way, did you ever find your missing flash drive?”

“No.” Jim leans in, gently nipping at the tendon where my neck meets my shoulder. “Probably should’ve written notes instead of recording them. Or gotten a bigger voice recorder.”

“The military has flash drives that record voices? Like some new sci-fi tech?” I tilt my head, giving his soft lips better access to the side of my neck.

Jim laughs, showering my skin with his hot breath. “I wish. They are just recording devices in the shape of USB drives. Martinez ordered a couple online. I won’t even tell you what he uses them for. He gave me one, and I figured I’d use it.”

“I’ll continue to keep an eye out for it.” I lean in and kiss him. His lips are too soft, like rose petals. I sink against his chest, careful not to put too much pressure on my arm. I can’t imagine a day without him in it.

I bite my lip. I know I need to tell him the truth about my past, at some point. Even though Bear’s responses to my questions about getting kicked out of the IPP weren’t especially reassuring. But Jim’s my husband. He deserves to know. No matter where the chips fall. Look at the way he’d reacted when I’d confessed what really happened with my arm. No freak-outs. Nothing but support. Maybe together we can figure out what to do in terms of the IPP program.

But, I still worry. Am I willing to put his life and his happiness on the line with Santoro still free, still a threat? And what happens when he gets deployed, when one day my real world might no longer include him in it? I press a hand against the side of his stubbled jaw and deepen our kiss. There is no easy answer, and I’m not ready for a hard one. At the very least, I’m going to wait to see what my dad kept hidden. If I’m lucky, maybe it’s a way to put Santoro behind bars for good. Then, that worry magically disappears.

I’d waited this long to tell him. I could wait a little longer.

And then, I quit thinking as I let him take control of our kiss.

Jim’s hands and mouth leave me drowning, all my thoughts and worries disappearing beneath the onslaught.

Chapter Twenty-One

Jim

---