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safe was going to be easy."
    He shook his head even though he knew Jennings couldn't see him. "Thought I'd give you a heads-up."
    "Secure her as soon as possible, and keep me posted."
    Jake figured that was easier said than done. Judging by a superficial observation, the woman was skittish as a cat. Then again, having her home invaded would shake anyone's world. Especially a person who would have taken every precaution possible to prevent something like that from occurring in the first place. But if she were guilty of something, wouldn't she be running for the hills instead of sitting around a coffee shop? Maybe there was something at her house she needed that prevented her from leaving. Something she'd hoped the other guys hadn't found. He mulled the possibility.
    From what he'd read, she'd had a debriefing at Langley on Wednesday and was scheduled back in the office on Monday. So what had they learned between Wednesday and the time they contacted The Alliance for services? And why wasn't the person who signed the contract and paid the hefty fee more forthcoming with information if he were so suspicious?
    Not. His. Problem.
    He needed to do what he was contracted to do. His only job was to secure her and figure out what she was up to. Should be easy, but apparently not so much when guys were showing up with guns at her home.
    The only logical conclusion was that she had stashed something at her place. Somebody else was looking for it as well. Now it was a waiting game.
    Things didn't take as long as he'd anticipated to unfold. He spotted a car inching its way down the street. The way the driver took his time made him believe they were looking for somebody. It wasn't too far of a stretch for him to think it was Tessa Graham.
    Speak of the devil. She stood suddenly and stuffed her computer into her backpack. Talk about bad timing.
    It would take them seconds to make a beeline for the nearest coffee shop. Since he'd figured it out without too much trouble, he had to assume they would too.
    When she yanked open the door and rushed outside, he grabbed her arm. "Tessa, I did not expect to find you here." He pulled her close and whispered, "You're in danger."
    He felt the escalation of the pulse through her arm, even as she tried to pull away. "Let me go." She ground her teeth together and tugged. But he held tight.
    When she made a quick move toward her left pocket, he snaked his hand around her forearm. No doubt she was reaching for a weapon of some kind. That would be his first reaction as well.
    "My car is around the corner. If we hurry, they might—"
    "I do not know you. Why on earth would I get in a car with you?" She shuddered her revulsion and gave him the evil eye. "And you're not so stealth if your reconnaissance in the coffee shop was any indication. I had you pegged for trouble the moment you walked inside."
    He ignored her jab. "You do know the bad guys have just turned around and are headed our way. They'll spot you, despite your very clever hoodie disguise." Two could play at the I'm-a-better-spy-than-you-are game.
    She rolled her eyes. "I can get out of this on my own, like I always do." She pushed at his chest. "Back off, or I'll scream."
    Her face was inches from his. His first unprofessional thought was that she was hot. His second thought corrected the first in changing that descriptor to "breathtakingly beautiful." The photos of her didn't do her justice. They didn't display the sprinkling of freckles across the bridge of her nose. They didn't highlight the depth and intelligence hidden in those green eyes of hers. He pressed himself to remember where a beautiful face had led in the past. And reinforced the idea she might very well be up to no good. In the past he'd been sucker-punched by a pretty woman. This time he had been given a heads-up as part of his assignment— she might be going rogue . He would do well to remember that.
    "And then what? The bad guys show some kind of fake badge and say they're