Page 117 of Elusive Promise

"Yes, and there were phone calls between Isaac and Fatima, as well as cash deposits made in her bank account."

"I sense there's abutcoming."

"But she's dead. She overdosed last night. She left a suicide note apologizing for betraying her country and the bureau. She said her friends in Bezikstan were being threatened."

"So, it's all tied up with a neat bow."

She nodded, seeing the skepticism in Jared's gaze. "It seems so."

"Well, I guess that's good."

"I feel confident that I'm not in danger—at least, not at the moment. Vincent told me he had gotten involved in trying to figure out who was after me because he cares about me and Jamie's other friends. He wants us to be safe. He was very convincing. Maybe he's innocent."

"Or maybe you should keep an open mind."

"Damon and I just agreed that we should continue to do that. By the way, Damon wants us to come over for dinner one night, so you can meet Sophie, and he can get better acquainted with you."

"I'm fine with that. I like the guy."

"Me, too." She drew in a breath of chilly air and looked around at the bustling streets, teeming with people going about their days. "It's just a normal day today."

"Which is the best kind of day." Jared put his arm around her shoulders as they started to walk through the park.

"No. The best kind of day is one where you and I are together."

He smiled down at her. "Then we're going to have a lot of good days."

"I'm counting on that," she said, giving him a quick kiss, and then they headed down the street.

Epilogue

Four weeks later…

The party reminded Jared of when he'd first met Parisa. In fact, there were many of the same people present at the wedding of Jasmine Kumar and Westley Larimer. This event was much smaller than the engagement party—only family and a few friends, less than fifty people. But there was still a large buffet, plenty of champagne, and a classical pianist adding a beautiful score to the reception at the Larimer estate in South Hampton.

Jasmine and Westley had said theirI do'sin the backyard, and now the guests were being treated to a magnificent dinner on the covered patio. It was a cold February evening, so heat lamps and candles bathed the area in a warm glow.

As he glanced around the patio, his gaze caught on Parisa. She wore a stunning dark-red silk dress with a few beads that caught the light, her legs bare, her black heels high, her hair falling down around her shoulders in luxurious, silky waves. His pulse jumped, and he felt a rush of awareness, connection, and love for the beautiful woman who had stolen his heart at first glance.

Over the past month, they'd gotten even closer, sharing all the details of their lives, learning each other's bad habits, laughing together while watching sitcoms from the seventies, competing with each other at cards and other games, spending long nights just talking about anything and everything.

Parisa wasn't just his lover; she was his best friend.How on earth had he gotten so lucky?He probably didn’t deserve her, but he was going to spend the rest of his life trying to make her as happy as she made him.

He smiled to himself as he watched her talking to Jasmine and Anika—the friends of her youth, but also two women she'd become even closer to in the last few months. He was glad to see them smiling, laughing. It could have all ended so differently.

Parisa turned her head and caught him staring—just like she had the night of Jasmine's engagement party. She raised her champagne glass and gave him a nod, an intimate look burning up the space between them.

A moment later, she broke away from the women and walked over to join him.

"I've been neglecting you," she said, taking his hand in hers.

"Not at all. I want you to have fun."

"I have fun when I'm with you."

"You can have fun when you're not with me, too. As long as it's notourkind of fun," he teased.

She smiled. "You don't have to worry."

---