Free In the Still of the Night:Sexy Romantic Suspense (Book 2 The Blonde Barracuda's Sizzling Suspense Series) by Taylor Lee Page A

His eyes twinkled as he murmured in her ear.
    “Damn, Darlin’. You are the best thing that I’ve seen since I left you four hours ago. Come, Lexie, let me introduce you to our friends.”
    Lexie pulled at his arm.
    “Jake, I’m… I’m not dressed appropriately. I told you I was in jeans. I feel—”
    “Darlin’, don’t be silly. You look beautiful. Ignore these people, honey. They are all little office mice relegated to cubicles in sterile high rise buildings. Be glad you have a job where you can wear what you want and be who you are.” He leaned down and nuzzled her neck. “Which in case you haven’t noticed is a woman who has me rolling on the ground like an eager puppy begging to have his tummy scratched.”
    Lexie would have laughed at his crazy Southernism except that she caught the eye of the gorgeous woman who minutes before had been attaching herself to Jake’s leg. The look was so full of venom it shocked Lexie. And damn, she wasn’t easily shocked. But, if the witch had intended to frighten her she chose the wrong tactic. While she’d been schooled by Master Wan never to look for a fight, Lexie never avoided one either. And seeing the way this woman was looking at her and at Jake—a fight was inevitable.
    Jake led her over to the table. Brady and the other man leapt to their feet. The chair between the two men was open as was the one beside the woman. Lexie accepted Brady’s kiss on her cheek and prepared to sit beside him. Jake frowned as though just noticing the awkward arrangement of the chairs. Lexie leaned into Brady and sat down in the chair next to him. Seeing Jake’s frown, she gave him an almost imperceptible shake of her head and murmured, “It’s okay, Jake, this way I can keep an eye on you.”
    Jake chuckled, his relief at her response apparent. “That’s not necessary, Darlin’, but I do like having clear shot at Brady if he oversteps his boundaries.”
    Nodding to the others, he started to introduce them. “Lexie, this is Paul Prentiss and Dalila Minyawi. Paul and Dalila are both agents in the Office of Immigration Enforcement. They’re the folks I told you about. As long as their boss can afford to pay Brady’s and my outrageous fees, we will be working with them on a couple of projects.”
    Paul stood staring at Lexie, clearly dumbstruck. When she smiled up at him he flushed to the roots of his reddish blond hair. He seemed to realize that he was still standing when Jake motioned to his chair. In his hurry to sit, he stumbled against the edge of the table tipping his water glass precariously. Without Lexie’s quick catch, he would have dumped it in her lap.
    Jake chuckled and nuzzled her ear.
    “Good save, Darlin’. Sit down, Paul before you drench this beautiful woman.”
    Paul visibly swallowed and muttered his apologies.
    Jake laughed as he pushed in Lexie’s chair and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
    “No need to apologize, Paul. Lexie has that effect on men.” He looked from Paul to the women at the other side of the table then continued with his introductions.
    “Paul, Dalila, I’d like you to meet Alexis Beloi. With her permission you may call her Lexie as we do. Lexie is—”
    Before he could continue, Dalila interrupted.
    “You must be Anthony’s sister. I was sorry to hear about his death. You look just like him.” She gave Lexie an appraising once over. “I knew Anthony had a younger sister, but I had no idea you were as young as you are. Anthony was your age, wasn’t he, Jake?”
    Jake’s hands clamped on Lexie’s shoulders and Brady’s hand grabbed her knee. Lexie pushed them both away and focused on the green-eyed witch across the table.
    If Dalila noticed the stormy looks Jake and Brady were throwing her way, she ignored them—instead taking a delicate sip of water.
    Lexie sucked in a deep breath of air. If she had been standing, her fighting stance would have been apparent. As it was, Brady noticed and winked at her. She motioned to