But Jared had absolutely no intention of leaving.

Melissa glanced back and forth between the two men. Her expression hadn’t changed, but the interest in her eyes was obvious.

“Since Melissa’s here-” Jared angled his body toward her “-maybe she has something to contribute. What do you think? Is Sierra Benito too dangerous for a humanitarian project?”

Anthony jumped in. “I am sure Melissa doesn’t want to discuss-”

“Do you mean right in Suri City?” she asked. “Or up in the mountains?”

Her answer surprised him. Most people had never heard of Sierra Benito, never mind its capital city.

“A little village called Tappee,” he told her.

Her head shook almost imperceptibly, but the small motion emphasized the bounce to her silky blond hair. “Horrible conditions up there. The villagers live in abject poverty.”

Anthony chuckled and swung an arm around her shoulders. “I welcome you to the debate, Senorita Melissa.”

Jared steeled himself against the urge to rip her out of Anthony’s arms. It was a ridiculous reaction. The half hug was a friendly gesture, nothing more.

“Do you have any idea what the gold miners do to the villagers?” Melissa asked. She didn’t react to Anthony’s hug-didn’t lean in, didn’t shrug him off, either.

“Do you have any idea what the rebels do to the gold miners?” Jared asked around the clamor of emotion inside his head.

What the hell was the matter with him?

What did he care if Anthony hugged Melissa?

She shook her head in disgust. “I can’t believe you’re going to exploit them.”

Jared jerked back at the accusation. “Exploit who?”

“The villagers.”

“I’m not going to exploit the villagers.” Jared’s gaze caught on Anthony’s hand and held.

Melissa was wearing a white cotton shirt. It was thin fabric, hardly a barrier between Anthony’s fingertips and her shoulder. Why didn’t she shrug him off?