Free Sapphire by Taylor Lee Page A

and nearly brought her to her knees, he’d nonchalantly tossed a hundred dollar bill on the bar. Grasping her elbow in one strong hand he ushered her through the crowd at the bar and out into the parking lot. Without asking, he led her over to her car that was parked in front of a streetlight. It was the one precaution she always took. She hoped the bright lights would scare off any would-be thief. It was the least she could do to protect her snazzy, Jag coup. Jase waited until she got in the car, then reached across her and fastened her seatbelt. She could still remember the sensation off his strong arm across her chest, his heated breath beside her ear.
    He’d leaned against the open window and nodded. “See you at your house. Drive safe.”
    When she pulled up into the driveway of her upscale condominium she was startled to see his car already in the driveway. She shouldn’t have been surprised that he was already waiting for her at the door to her condo. Apparently her souped-up Jaguar was no match for his Ferrari. What was more surprising, and more than a little unsettling, was that he’d known which was her car and also where she lived. Reminding herself that he was an agent extraordinaire didn’t quiet her raging nerves.
    She glared at him when he took the key from her and unlocked the door. Shoving her behind him he entered and snapped on the lights. Without asking he punched in the code on her security system then allowed her to enter. Determined to take control of the bizarre situation, Sapphire pushed past him and strode into the living room ignoring his cautionary murmur.
    “Please Col. Malone, I’ll check my own home if you don’t mind. Apparently you’ve already been inside, so I won’t offer to show you around.”
    Glancing toward the kitchen she asked sarcastically, “Should I expect that you made yourself at home? Perhaps helped yourself to a bottle of my Maker’s Mark or at least a bottle of my Ruthless beer?
    Jase chuckled.
    “No, I thought about it but decided that would be too invasive, although I couldn’t resist one of those amazing chocolate chip cookies you must have just baked. How did you know I love salty pecans?”
    At first all Sapphire could do was stare at him. Even for a special agent, his invasion of her privacy was stunning. He knew what car she drove and where she lived which, given his profession, wasn’t all that surprising. Of course he’d checked her background. Probably knew her favorite food, what kind of wine she drank and how much. Likely knew where she bought groceries, where she worked out and how often, etc. etc. All of those things, and probably a lot more, were in the files he’d researched. But, for God’s sake, to enter her house? And…eat her damn cookies?
    Shoving at her mix of dismay and rising anger, Sapphire drew herself up to her full height and tipped up her chin.
    “Really, Col. Malone, this is inexcusable. You had no right to—”
    Jase held up his hand to stop her, a slight frown tightening his brow.
    “No right to do what, Agent Shaw? Investigate the background of the woman I am about to bring onto a dangerous mission? To know where she lives, what she drives, her habits? Her past missions, her relationships?”
    Sapphire stepped further back, now almost up against the living room wall. She knew he would know all those things about her. She flushed, admitting to herself that she’d done her own research on him. She’d even checked out his marital history. He’d never been married, which for a thirty-seven year old man was unusual, unless he had the player rep that Jase did. Sapphire admitted that from her research she knew more about him than she did about many members of her extended family. It wasn’t that he’d researched her that was upsetting. It was that he had invaded her personal space, breached her defenses—so completely.
    His eyebrow quirked as though he knew what she was thinking. And no doubt he did. Unwilling to concede her