“Yasmine, can I be frank?” The tone of his voice had changed slightly, becoming almost business-like.
“Absolutely.” She turned her head back and forth as she came to a stop at a stop sign, checking both ways before going across the intersection.
“I’m ready to settle down, and I’m looking for someone who wants that as well.” His tone remained so even and unemotional, Yasmine needed a moment to process what he was saying. “My mother heard from yours about your recent attempt at an arranged marriage, and she explained about the curse you believe you’re under, and after meeting you on Monday, I feel as though we could be what each other needs.”
“Why do you think an arranged marriage would work out with you when it didn’t with my ex-fiancé?” she asked, frowning when her phone beeped at her. Was she getting another call? But traffic was a little heavier at this spot on the road, so she didn’t want to pick it up to look.
Damn it. She really needed to get a new car cord for her phone. It hadn’t really been a priority because she hadn’t been in a situation where she’d actually needed it until right now.
“Well, to begin with, I’ve had the great love of my life. Unfortunately, she passed away a few years ago.” The suppressed emotion in his voice made Yasmine’s heart ache.
“Oh God, Payam, I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you.” He cleared his throat. “I promised Leila that I wouldn’t spend the rest of my life alone. I want children. I want companionship. She wanted those things for me. But dating has been difficult. I hadn’t considered an arrangement until my mother told me about you, but it seems like an ideal situation for someone like me. Possibly for you as well.”
Because he wouldn’t meet his happily-ever-after while he was with Yasmine. He’d already met her and lost her. Maybe that was how she broke the curse.
But just thinking about it made her heart feel heavy. Not just for Payam and the pain she could still hear in his voice, but for her as well. Companionship, children… yes, those were things she wanted, but if she was being completely honest with herself, she also wanted more.
Her phone beeped again.
“I… this is a lot to take in.”
“It is. I just wanted to be honest with you because I don’t want you to turn me away, thinking that your history will repeat itself with me. It won’t.” He said the last two words so firmly, she didn’t have any choice but to believe him.
Have the wedding she wanted, the children she wanted, the presentation of the life she wanted… with a man who sounded very much like he was going to be mourning another woman for the rest of his life. Yet, part of her still thought that sounded tempting. At least she’d have most of what she wanted.
“I’d like to get together this weekend with you to talk about it more. Or at least, get to know each other more.” Clearly, Payam wasn’t going to be put off.
Yasmine could respect that. He still wanted to live, even if it was without the woman he loved.
Her phone beeped again.
“I… can I think about it?”
“Of course.” He didn’t sound upset at her request, which was good. “I know it’s unusual, but I feel like we’re both in unusual situations.”
“Fair enough.” She turned the corner onto her street, feeling very overwhelmed all of the sudden. “I do appreciate you reaching out to me, and that…”
Pulling into the driveway, Yasmine stared at the front door.
The partially shattered, open front door. Her jaw dropped.
“Yasmine? Yasmine, is everything alright?”
“I have to go.” She grabbed the phone. “I’ll talk to you later.”
Without even waiting to hear his response, she swiped to end the call, and that was when she saw all the alerts from the security system. All the beeps she’d gotten during the drive while on the phone with Payam. And she didn’t want Payam right now. She wanted Zeus.
She wished he was here right now.
Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck.
Wait, should she be sitting here? No. What if the person was still inside? What if it was Pete James?
Yasmine dropped her phone and grabbed for the gear shift… then screamed bloody murder as a large shadow covered the driver’s side window, trapping her in her car.
Chapter 31
