...Kenneth Hatch had disappeared in an area Jake's team was investigating for suspicious activity. Jake could have pretended that he'd accepted Allison's invitation because of that, but he didn't. Oddly, he found her company likable. She hadn't whined once, yet, had rolled with the punches. Not what he'd expected from a spoiled little rich girl. Figuring her out promised a few minutes of entertainment in an otherwise fairly routine day.

He liked it when he could combine business and pleasure.

"So who is this Kenneth guy you're looking for?"he asked as they were being seated.

"My fiancé. We got engaged just before he came here six months ago.”

He glanced at her bare ring finger while he ordered two spiced coffees, the traditional vehicle of a caffeine fix in the Middle East.

She caught the look and rubbed the spot where the ring should have been, a touch of defensiveness seeping into her voice as she said, "I haven't had a chance to go in for a resizing.”

A ring from the man she loved and she couldn't find time to have it resized in the past six months so she could have it on her finger. Interesting. But other people's castles of denial were none of his business, so he held back a comment. He simply smiled at her.

And, after a moment, she smiled back.

Wowza.

Okay, so the Kenneth guy was dead. Jake could think of nothing else that would keep a man from coming back to her. She looked stunning enough without the smile, but with the smile… Lethal.

While Kenneth's possible demise didn't particularly bother him, the thought of harm coming to Allison Myers did. He kind of felt responsible for her. He'd saved her life. Would have been a shame to let all that good effort go to waste.

He had no time to help her, but he could take a few minutes to convince her to go back home. As a public service or something.

"So did you hear about the hit on that village yesterday?"He paused while the waiter served them. "All over the news. Not ten miles from here.”

She drew her perfectly arched brows together into the most graceful frown he'd ever seen. "I haven't been watching the news."She gave an apologetic smile. "I don't speak the local language.”

"The warlord the army ran off a couple of years ago is back in the hills. He moved on one of the villages last night with his soldiers to collect tribute. Several men were killed and half-dozen women were raped before law enforcement got there and pushed him back.”

She turned a shade paler. "That can't happen here, right? Lahadeh isn't a tiny village. It's a town with a police station.”

"Depending on whether the police chief sympathizes with the warlord or not. Frankly, I don't think he could be in his post without the warlord's tacit approval. But even if he isn't loyal to the old boss, I doubt someone like him would stick his neck out for a couple of peasants.”

Her eyes widened as she got his message--the police would care even less about foreigners.

"I'm leaving tomorrow, for a week or so,"he said to make sure she knew he wouldn't be around on a daily basis to rescue her. "I could probably take you halfway to Kabul.”

Her chin came up. "Thank you, but I'm not leaving without Kenneth."Then dismay filled her eyes, as if she'd just thought of something. "Anyway, I'm supposed to see the police commissioner tomorrow. The police chief thinks I'm a spy, and/or here to steal their water."

She was too much of a lady to roll her eyes, but he caught a touch of sarcasm in her voice.

She didn't seem to realize how much trouble she was in. He'd seen too many innocent people walk into police stations like the one in Lahedeh and never come back.

"Go home. Your fiancé will find you when he's done with whatever he's doing."He would have liked to entertain her with a few more scary and cautionary tales of the various dangers that surrounded her here, but he happened to glance at the clock on the wall.

Time flew when you were saving damsels in distress.

He finished his cup. "Thank you for the coffee. Sorry I have to rush, but I'm expecting an important call. I better get back to my room."

He left enough local currency on the table to cover their bill despite her protest.

He turned back from the doorway. Every man in the room seemed to be looking at her. Not just the Western businessmen, but local travelers, too, who eyed her as if they were considering adding her to their harem.

"I'll see you later,"Jake called back to her, asserting his claim on her and implying protection.

He let the door of the restaurant swing closed behind him, as she gave an uncertain nod.

Better catch her at breakfast and do whatever it took to scare her straight. She was a danger to herself here and a distraction to him. The sooner he got her on a plane and out of the country the better.