Page 32 of Elusive Promise

"Anika ordered something," she said. "She must be having a lunch meeting. Although, it seems really off to me. Her sister is missing. Her family is shattered. How can she just sit in a restaurant and order lunch?"

"Doesn't make sense," Jared agreed. "But her SUV left, so they must think she's staying awhile. She still has a guard with her, though. It can't be that private of a meeting."

"I'm sure Anika's father doesn't want her to be left alone for even a minute." A moment of silence passed between them. Seeing the furrowed look on Jared's brow, she said, "What are you thinking?"

"That this feels like a setup," he replied.

"For what?"

"I don't know yet."

Her instincts were screaming the same warning. She caught her breath when Anika got up and headed toward the ladies' room. "Do you think there's a back door?"

"Betting there is," he murmured. "I'll go into the restaurant. No one will recognize me. You check the street for another exit from the café."

She nodded, moving out of the department store as Jared entered the restaurant. When she reached the street, she saw another door down the side of the building, about twenty-five yards away. She huddled behind a parked van, watching the door. A moment later, Anika walked outside. She put on her sunglasses, then strolled briskly in the opposite direction.

A second later, Jared came out the same door. She stepped out of her hiding place and tipped her head in his direction. He turned, saw Anika, and followed her down the street.

She stayed a good distance behind Jared, keeping at least a few pedestrians between them, and noticed he was doing the same between himself and Anika, although he didn't have to be nearly as careful. Anika would not recognize Jared, although she still might get suspicious if she thought anyone was following her. She'd gone to great lengths to pretend to be dining at the department store café, then ditching her bodyguard. Why?

Was Anika meeting the kidnappers? Would she dare to do that on her own? And if she were meeting someone, where was the cash? What would she trade for her sister?

Anika suddenly stopped in front of a small hotel, standing under an awning, by the doorman, as she pulled out her phone once more.

Jared popped into a nearby recessed doorway leading into an apartment building so that he wouldn't be in Anika's view. She decided to join him there. When she reached him, she moved in behind him, so that Anika wouldn't see her if she happened to look in their direction.

"She's waiting for someone," he murmured. "And I don't think it's her boss, unless she's having an affair with Haskins and this hotel is where they meet."

"I would think that right now the last thing on her mind would be sex." As she finished speaking, a car pulled up at the curb. A man got out, handing his key to the valet, then walked toward Anika. "Oh, my God," she murmured, moving around Jared so she could get a better look. "It's Westley."

She watched in amazement as Westley and Anika embraced in a way that felt far more intimate than one might expect. Westley pulled back and brushed a strand of hair away from Anika's cheek.

"Looks like sex isn't the last thing on her mind," Jared said.

"Maybe they're just comforting each other in this terrible time."

"That's the first thing you've said that makes me think you're not in law enforcement," he said dryly.

He was right. The truth was in front of her. She just had to see it.

Westley turned his head, and she jumped behind Jared. "Do you think they saw me? What are they doing?"

"They're coming in our direction."

"Dammit. They'll see us. Maybe we shouldn't care. Maybe we should confront them."

Jared turned to face her, pushing her back toward the door of the building. Unfortunately, it was locked, so they couldn't go inside.

"We should care, Parisa. They don't think anyone is on to them. We need that advantage."

And that advantage would be lost in about two seconds if she didn't do something. "You're right. There's only one thing to do." She wrapped her arms around Jared's neck and pulled him toward her.

He gave her a startled look, then settled his mouth over hers, as he backed her into the building, hiding her body behind his.

Jared's lips were hot in the cold afternoon air, and what should have been just a quick kiss turned into a longer, deeper exploration. It wasn't just the need to hide that kept her in Jared's arms; it was the fact that she hadn't had a kiss like this in a very long time, one that made her heart ache, and her toes curl, and her palms sweat—a kiss that made her think about more than just tasting his mouth. She wanted to touch him all over. She wanted to get through his layers and unravel his secrets, but he was letting her go, lifting his head, gazing down at her with a questioning, somewhat surprised, look.

It had been her idea to kiss him.Maybe one of her best ideas. Or maybe one of her worst.

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