Free Prelude to a Rumor, Part One by Melissa Schroeder

CHAPTER ONE
    A s Sean watched Lassiter drone on about the mission, he barely paid attention. Sure, the target was one of the richest men in the world, who just happened to be paranoid as fuck. It didn’t matter. He was completely and absolutely entranced by his new partner Jaime Alexander.
    He couldn’t remember when he had been so damned preoccupied by a woman. Her light brown skin and curvy body would tempt any man, but the intelligent hazel gaze drew Sean more than that. He liked a smart woman. Stupid women tended to get on his nerves, and there was no doubt, this woman would not.
    Of course, at the moment, she was reading over the report and ignoring him. That intrigued him even more.
    “Kaheaku, you paying attention?”
    He looked up at Lassiter. The man was giving Sean a knowing look. Damn. Busted.
    “Yes. I understand the job. It isn’t like I haven’t done it a million times before now.”
    Lassiter rolled his eyes. “Listen, this is my last job, and I want it to go without a hitch. Do you understand?” He included Jaime in the question. She glanced up and nodded, then looked back to the report.
    Lassiter gave Sean his full attention. Sean held his hands out and smiled. “Of course. Just as long as your fellow countrywoman can keep it together.”
    Jaime glanced over at him. “God save me from men who feel the need to have measuring contests.”
    Instead of getting mad, he chuckled, then looked at Lassiter. “Okay, we won’t have any problems.”
    Lassiter nodded.
    “Anything else?” he asked.
    “No. The event is formal tonight, so make sure to wear a tux.”
    He acknowledged that with a nod, and turned to Jaime. “I’ll pick you up at eight, is that good?”
    She nodded but said nothing, as her attention was back on the report. He left and started down the hall. He didn’t always fool around on the job. Truth was, before now, he hadn’t been all that interested in his partners—both men and women; Sean had a taste for both. He’d only been a civilian for eighteen months, and he had been in ten operations. He knew that people tended to have intense relationships for very short periods of time. There was always a chance this was the last UC. One mistake and you could end up dead. Still, there was that chance you could die that made a person take romantic chances. And he definitely wanted to take a chance with Ms. Jaime Alexander.
    Just thinking her name and he felt slightly light-headed. Jesus, it was like he was fourteen and in love again for the first time. His palms were sweaty just thinking about being with her tonight. She had a saucy British accent, one from the other side of the tracks. Add in her husky voice, which slipped beneath his skin and whispered across his soul, and he was a goner.
    He shook his head and drew in a deep breath. He had to keep his brain on the game or they would be in trouble. With new purpose, he walked down the hallway to his room. He had worked a lot of jobs, but this one had more danger than usual. Since they were new partners, Sean knew there would be a few bumps tonight. Hopefully, everything would turn out fine in the end. Bug the office, get out alive, and then, he might just get a taste of the very luscious Jaime Alexander.

    “ H e’s as arrogant as I had heard,” Jaime said when they were alone.
    Lassiter smiled at her. He was an attractive man, always had been, and Jaime had always had a thing for older men. He wasn’t that much older, maybe ten years, but he had a way about him. From his tailor made suits, to the touch of gray at his temples, Royce Lassiter was a man who drew a lot of attention. For some reason, though, she had never been attracted to him that way. He was more like an older brother to her.
    “He has good reason to be. He’s the best recruit we’ve had in years.”
    “Walter Hayes trained him.”
    He nodded and looked out the window. “And Hayes said he was his best student.”
    Inwardly, she sighed. It wasn’t Kaheaku’s fault