Page 535 of The Sinner: James

“Mm-hmm.”

His eyes glint with amusement.

“Are you seriously considering it?” I ask, staring at her, baffled.

She looks at me, somewhat embarrassed, not so much by the idea but by the fact that James has been instrumental in making it happen.

“Are you?” I ask again.

“I might,” she says, taking me by surprise.

I look at James, who tips his head to the side and arches an eyebrow at me as in, ‘I told you so.’”

Yeah, he did tell me, but I never thought she’d go for it.

“If you’re serious about it, James can give you the details,” I say, rolling my eyes at both of them.

She laughs.

“I am serious about it. It’s on my bucket list.”

“If that’s the case, go for it,” I say, smiling.

Minutes later, we finish our conversation and accompany her to the main entrance.

Soon after, she climbs into the limo waiting for her in front of our house and waves at us before the driver closes the back door and steers the car away moments later.

Once the noise fades, a chorus of crickets echoes around us.

I love that sound.

James loops an arm around my shoulders while I snake mine around his waist.

He slides his hand into his pocket, his lips coming to my hair, planting a tender kiss.

“Thank you for the birthday party,” he says mellowly.

I push my gaze to him.

A faint smile clings to his lips.

“Did you like it?”

“It was perfect...” he says, locking my eyes briefly before looking in the distance. “It’s good to be back home,” he adds, sunk in thought.

18

RAIN

Propped against the bathroom door,I watch him shaving.

His hair is still wet from the shower, and his low-sitting lounge pants hug his hips.

His muscles shift as he flexes his arms and trails his jawline with his fingers.

His face is smooth, his eyes filled with the morning light.

“How was it?” I ask, giving him a quick once over.

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