“There have been some…developments since then. You can probably disregard it.”
“Of course there are.” A curious disappointment sounded in his voice.
I spoke quickly to beat his outcries. “It’s all squared away now. Siron’s still raging mad, but she let me back on the mission. Turns out I know what I’m doing after all.”
“She took you off the mission? Tell me you didn’t go undercover on a mission without any backup, without any support…” His voice was a soft growl.
“How do you know I went undercover?” I demanded.
He sighed. “Well, I know you, don’t I? You always do what you have to do no matter what anyone says.”
I smiled. He did know me. That felt good. What felt bad was that there would be no more kisses between us. The conversation we’d had about our relationship still felt sour on my tongue after all this time. We’d agreed that his job and my job were more important. He was my handler and there couldn’t be romantic feelings between a handler and his agent. But intense feelings swirled around us anyway. We had to fight them and not give in no matter how hard it was. “I have a lot of things to tell you, both terrible and great. Don’t let Siron make them all seem terrible. You’ll never believe who my shadow is.”
“Lay it on me.”
“Summer.”
“Summer Barnes from Washington, D.C.? Summer Barnes who hates your guts?”
“That’s the one.”
He whistled. “I’m here now, so that won’t last long.”
His words felt like a balm to my soul, but I couldn’t have him challenge Siron. Not now. “I’m hanging by a thread with Siron as it is. I would love for you to get rid of Summer, but I don’t think it’s the right move right now. Siron brought her in as a condition of my return.”
“She really expelled you?”
“Not for long. Are you at Division now?” I had to change the subject. I didn’t want our first conversation to be an angry one.
“Not yet.”
“What took you so long to get here?”
“You know I would have been there had I been able. The mission I was on was one held one minefield after the other. I sure am glad we have the team we do here.”
I wanted to gush and tell him how glad I was that he was back, but I couldn’t. He was my handler. I hoped that he would hear in my voice how I felt about him since I couldn’t say it. I had to be a bit sarcastic to hide my disappointment. “Sure you are. All I am for you is trouble, right?”
“Far from it. Is that a fountain I hear?”
“Yep. I do believe you have a picture of said fountain.” I’d sent him pictures of various things despite knowing he wouldn’t see them until he came back. It was so amazing to hear Jeremy’s voice again, and yet so painful not to be able to touch him.
“I did get those pictures as well as the fifteen other texts as soon as I turned on my phone today.”
“The kids in the pictures are all pickpockets.”
He groaned. “Of course you wouldn’t send me random photos of you having fun in Paris. You were working the mission. I should have been here a week ago.”
“You said it, not me.”
“I’ve got to go. I’ll see you later.”
I frowned. “What?” I didn’t want to say goodbye. “See you soon.”
A strong smell of moss and water wafted throught the air. Watching the water flow over the fountain soothed me. I felt his presence before he actually sat next to me. Then I smelled the musky scent that belonged solely to him. I kept my eyes forward and instead of giving in to my desire to grab him into a hug, I took an involuntary breath in as relief washed over me. All the massive worry and fear I’d been carrying around and not allowing myself to think about burst at knowing he was right next to me. An ache settled in the back of my throat.
I let my peripheral vision sweep over him. He had on long black dreads—it had to be a wig—a rainbow crocheted hat, and very baggy clothes. Even though he didn’t look anything like himself, I knew this was Jeremy. The corners of my mouth turned up, and I bit into my diminishing crepe. My insides felt like smooth melted chocolate with him next to me. I looked forward, not wanting him to know that I knew he was there. When I couldn’t hold it in anymore, I said, my lips barely moving, “You know it’s risky having you here.”
“No such ting, man,” he whispered in a thick Jamaican accent. “No’ here. No risk. Just enjoying da afta-noon rays. We don’ know each udda.”
My insides vibrated like a tuning fork. He was the most beautiful sight in Paris, even in disguise. I wanted to look at him straight on. I wanted to touch him.
I leaned back so I could see more of him. It was just the two of us. I could talk to him. How I loved his fake accent. “We don’t have to pretend. No one’s here.” I’d know it if they were. My spidey senses never let me down when it came to people tailing me. I’d lost Summer when I left the Louvre.
“We never know who’s there.”
I finished my crepe, wishing the whole time that I could share it with him.
“I should have known when you sent me those pictures that you were already working on this. What were you thinking?” He’d dropped the accent. Too bad, it had been kind of cute. Did he want to hold me as badly as I did him?
“I already told you, time was of the essence. And it’s all worked out.”
“You drive me so crazy how you put
