Page 90 of Shadow Burn

“You left?”

“Yes.”

“For good?”

“For good.”

His hand slid from her cheek to her shoulder. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I needed to make the decision when I wasn’t looking at you.” Her voice stayed steady, but he could hear the emotion beneath it. “I needed to know I was choosing this because it was right for me, not because I missed you so much I could barely breathe.”

He closed his eyes for a second. When he opened them, she was still there.

“I did miss you,” she said. “In case that part needed clarification.”

“It did.”

“I missed you terribly.”

“Good, because I’ve been miserable without you.”

Her smile warmed. “I have more.”

“Proceed. I’m all ears.”

“I took a position with the University of Montana.”

His brain stalled again. “In Missoula?”

She nodded. “They need someone to head archival processing for a major research collection. It’s not federal intelligence—no covert killers hidden in the footnotes.” She huffed a laugh. “At least, none advertised in the job description.”

He stared at her. “That’s what you want?”

Her face brightened even more. “I start in a week, and yes, I can’t wait. Research universities have amazing archives and records. I’ll have to travel back to Virginia if Porter needs follow-up testimony, and the investigation isn’t completely over, but my part in exposing the Cinder operation is mostly done.”

“You’re moving to Montana.”

“I’m moving to Montana.”

“Near here.”

“Close enough that Priss may continue her chicken-based relationship with you.”

He smiled. “You should have led with that.”

She laughed, and the sound went through him like sunlight after a long winter. Then she reached for her leather bag sitting beside the couch. “I also brought something.”

“If it’s another classified document, I’m going to need a minute.”

“It’s not classified.” She pulled out a folded sheet of paper and handed it to him. “I’ve taken the liberty of creating a new contract for us.”

He looked at the page, then at her. “Another NDA?”

“No.”

“For what?”

“Ongoing operational oversight.”