Page 74 of Elusive Promise

It was two o'clock on Sunday afternoon, past the lunch hour, but there were still plenty of people buying food. After ordering an assortment of tacos, they sat down at a picnic table with their food and two cold beers. The sun was still bright, the air warming to the mid-fifties.

He faced the parking lot, giving Parisa the view of Manhattan on the other side of the river. He wanted to make sure he was ready in case someone found them again. He felt confident that they hadn't had a tail on their way out of the city, but he didn't want to underestimate whoever was after Parisa.

The tacos were just as good as he remembered. They'd opted for fish, chicken, and beef, and he couldn't help smiling as Parisa worked her way quickly through two of them. She ate almost as fast as he did, something else they had in common.

She gave him a pointed look. "You're staring at me."

"Appreciating your enthusiasm," he said, thinking that wasn't all he was appreciating. The pink in her sweater brought out her eyes and her smile made him feel warm all over.

"I'm always enthusiastic about food," she said with a more relaxed expression than she'd had earlier. The tacos were clearly doing the trick at easing her tension.

"Me, too," he admitted.

She finished her last bite and took a long swig of beer. "I don't love beer, but today it tastes exactly right. This was the perfect choice, Jared."

"I'm glad it didn't disappoint."

"Have you been here before?"

"Many times, especially when I was in high school."

"It's been around that long?"

"I'm not that old."

She laughed. "You're at least on the other side of thirty."

"By a few years. You?"

"A little less than a few. But the fact that you might be a tad older does not make you wiser."

"You think you're smarter than me?" he challenged, resting his forearms on the table.

"I'd say I'm as smart."

"Is that really what you want to say?" he teased.

She laughed. "No, but I'm sticking with it. And you're getting to know me a little too well."

"Playing cards with you made some facts inescapable." He paused, wanting to know even more about her. "When did you decide to join the FBI?"

"When they asked me. It wasn't even on my radar. I'd always planned to work for the state department as my stepfather did, and I was working as a translator in DC when the FBI recruited me. I was intrigued by their offer. I was a little bored just translating and transcribing. I wanted to make a difference in a bigger way. And, as we've just discussed, I have a competitive drive and a thirst for achievement. I like pressure and big moments. I like putting it all on the line for the greater good. And the FBI gave me a chance to do that, so I signed on." She paused, giving him a knowing glance. "You like that, too."

"Adrenaline can be addicting," he agreed. "How long have you been an agent?"

"A little over four years."

"Has the bloom worn off the rose?"

"That happened awhile ago, but I've enjoyed my different assignments."

"What were you doing in San Francisco?"

"Classified."

He tipped his head. "Got it. What about your family? Do they know you're an agent?"

"No. My stepfather would handle it well, but my mom would just worry about me, and I don't see the point of putting her through that. They are thrilled that I get to travel as a translator and don't ask too many questions. Sometimes I think Harry knows, but he hasn't said anything."

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