their packs.
Ajax opened a bottle of water, removed the lid, and handed it to her. He opened them each a protein bar next and sat next to her, leaning his back against a large rock. After adjusting his weapon at his waist, he tipped his head back and sighed.
It was time to focus on the mission. Tonight they would sleep in a host’s home again. Tomorrow, he would leave Serena behind and make the last leg of the trip on his own.
She didn’t know that yet, but it was necessary. He wasn’t taking her one step closer to the danger zone. She was raised in this town. If anything happened to him, people would take care of her and get her out of the country safely.
He didn’t know for sure how far Charley intended for Serena to accompany him, but he was certain Charley understood there was no way Ajax would lead Serena into a battle situation. The danger level he was willing to expose her to had been exceeded when they stepped off the airplane.
Serena leaned her head on his shoulder. “You okay?”
He chuckled as he wrapped an arm around her. “That’s usually my line.”
“Yeah, but right now you’re the pensive one all up in your head.”
“Mmm. True. Just thinking. We’re getting closer. Shit’s gonna get real.”
“It must be stressful. I can’t imagine if six of my closest friends were being held hostage for three months in a third-world country. I think I’d lose my mind.”
“If I had made this trip alone, there’s a good chance I would have panicked by now, but you’ve kept me distracted. Thank you.”
She tipped her head back and smiled at him. “There. Perfect.”
He furrowed his brow. “What’s perfect?”
“I’ll just tell my mom that I had to get naked with you in order to save lives. It was an important job assignment.”
He chuckled and kissed her forehead. “You’ll do no such thing.”
She giggled. “Why not? I think it’s a good ice breaker. Yeah, so, Mom, I think I need to branch out and expand my options. The men I’ve met at the church aren’t cutting it for me. I’m gonna need a man with a bit more experience who can make me scream in bed.”
Ajax rolled his eyes skyward and gripped her tighter. “You’ll do no such thing,” he repeated. “No need to kiss and tell. You won’t even have to lie. Your mother is not going to ask you if you had sex with the former SEAL you were traveling with.” Right? God, he hoped he was right. But what did he know?
“True. Just in case…” she teased.
“It’s bothering you, isn’t it?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Not only did I lead you down a path of seduction and put you in tune with all the sins of the flesh, but I’ve caused you to start lying.” He couldn’t keep from grinning.
“You did not.” She swatted at his chest.
He caught her hand in his and kissed her knuckles. “It’s a slippery slope. All this lying. First, you lie to cover up your transgressions, then you lie about lying. What’s next? You probably won’t tell your mom you even came to Ethiopia.”
Her eyes widened adorably. “Hey, that’s not a bad idea. I just won’t tell her where I went at all. Omission.”
He chuckled. “Is that what they teach in Sunday school? Lying by omission as a way to avoid facing the truth?”
She giggled. “Maybe you could lie for me and then I wouldn’t be the one sinning.”
This banter was fun and helped keep his mind off the upcoming mission, but he wondered how much of it was a joke to her and how much of it was serious.
He was concerned about her. Big time. No matter what. Even if he pulled back and kept his hands to himself starting right now, he’d still made her feel things she hadn’t been aware of. Made her think. Made her question her beliefs and choices.
At the time, when he’d decided to show Serena what she was missing out on, he hadn’t fully realized how religious she was or how it might affect her emotionally. Now, he was worried that he’d done more harm than good.
Was there such a thing as too much information? Some situations required one to keep some things to themselves. Like dropping into a third-world country from a helicopter and handing out candy bars to the children who’d never had one before. Was that kind or cruel?
He felt that way about Serena. Even though he hated