is not a man to toy with.”
Before Sapphire could deny that she ever would toy with the arrogant man, Diamond cut her short with a sneer.
“Before you deny it, know that Malone has a reputation with women that rivals the most outrageous lothario you’ll ever hope to meet. Add to the fact that he is charming and the single most dangerous man I know, except perhaps for Ian Ross, you will do well to put aside any foolish thoughts that the man may be interested in you as any more than a partner.”
Sapphire gasped. Good God, had she given herself away? Somehow telegraphed to the insightful woman what had happened last night? Knowing that her cheeks were flaming she glared at Diamond and did her best to respond dismissively.
“I can assure you, Diamond, thinking that Col. Malone is interested in me as anything more than an agent is the last thing I would do. I have spent the last six years of my life working with men who were convinced that they were God’s gift to women. Agent Malone is simply one more tiresome, arrogant man strutting around the barnyard; behavior that I find humorous— not appealing.”
Diamond sniffed. “Well, just be sure that you understand the rules, Sapphire. When it comes to men like Jase Malone and Ian Ross, you cannot keep your defenses high enough. They simply assume that they are irresistible and it is only a matter of time until they add you to their long list of conquests.”
Startled at Diamond’s inclusion of Ian Ross in her male bashing diatribe, Sapphire glanced over at Ruby. Seeing the redhead’s widened eyes and arched brow, it was clear that Ruby was as surprised as she was by Diamond’s telling remark. Striving to capture control of the conversation Sapphire nodded.
“Trust me, Diamond. The only thing that I want from Jase Malone is a partner worthy of me. I know he is arrogant and accustomed to running the op. And, yes, I know I’m inclined to chafe under that kind of leadership. But, I assure you, I will not disappoint you. If Col. Malone is as good a commander as he thinks he is, it will be a pleasure to work with him. And to let him know that he isn’t the only agent on the team with a corner on danger. I’ve faced down men more compelling than Jase Malone. A lot of them didn’t live to tell about it.”
Diamond didn’t hide her contemptuous grunt but the twinkle in her eye that disappeared almost as quickly as it came, confirmed that she understood Gabriella’s saucy claim. For a moment Diamond almost seemed human, less a real life Gamora, the anti-heroine sprung from the Guardians of the Galaxy. Sapphire mused silently; maybe her boss actually was warning her in a good way, not merely to harass her.
Walking out to the parking lot, Ruby reached over and grabbed her arm. Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
“Now wasn’t that an interesting remark from the Ice Queen? Ever since I joined this crazy company everyone from the janitor to the limousine driver has been trying to get a take on the Ian-Riley connection. We all know that he fronted the money that allowed Diamond to start the company and he has a damn big say in who gets hired and who gets fired. I trust you know that if Ian hadn’t spoken up for you that you’d be history. But that tinge of bitterness in our boss’s voice when she warned you about Jase Malone made me think that maybe the stunningly handsome Ian Ross provoked the gem hard Diamond.”
Sapphire wasn’t the least bit interested in the Ian-Riley dynamic except as it affected her. She shivered uneasily. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate the handsome man’s endorsement but it hurt that Diamond only kept her on because Ian encouraged her to. An unwelcome thought crossed her mind and without thinking she blurted it out.
“Do you think the reason Mr. Ross supported me…is because I fit the physical description of the woman they needed for the op?”
Ruby shrugged. “Probably. And also likely because you might be the most beautiful
Before Sapphire could deny that she ever would toy with the arrogant man, Diamond cut her short with a sneer.
“Before you deny it, know that Malone has a reputation with women that rivals the most outrageous lothario you’ll ever hope to meet. Add to the fact that he is charming and the single most dangerous man I know, except perhaps for Ian Ross, you will do well to put aside any foolish thoughts that the man may be interested in you as any more than a partner.”
Sapphire gasped. Good God, had she given herself away? Somehow telegraphed to the insightful woman what had happened last night? Knowing that her cheeks were flaming she glared at Diamond and did her best to respond dismissively.
“I can assure you, Diamond, thinking that Col. Malone is interested in me as anything more than an agent is the last thing I would do. I have spent the last six years of my life working with men who were convinced that they were God’s gift to women. Agent Malone is simply one more tiresome, arrogant man strutting around the barnyard; behavior that I find humorous— not appealing.”
Diamond sniffed. “Well, just be sure that you understand the rules, Sapphire. When it comes to men like Jase Malone and Ian Ross, you cannot keep your defenses high enough. They simply assume that they are irresistible and it is only a matter of time until they add you to their long list of conquests.”
Startled at Diamond’s inclusion of Ian Ross in her male bashing diatribe, Sapphire glanced over at Ruby. Seeing the redhead’s widened eyes and arched brow, it was clear that Ruby was as surprised as she was by Diamond’s telling remark. Striving to capture control of the conversation Sapphire nodded.
“Trust me, Diamond. The only thing that I want from Jase Malone is a partner worthy of me. I know he is arrogant and accustomed to running the op. And, yes, I know I’m inclined to chafe under that kind of leadership. But, I assure you, I will not disappoint you. If Col. Malone is as good a commander as he thinks he is, it will be a pleasure to work with him. And to let him know that he isn’t the only agent on the team with a corner on danger. I’ve faced down men more compelling than Jase Malone. A lot of them didn’t live to tell about it.”
Diamond didn’t hide her contemptuous grunt but the twinkle in her eye that disappeared almost as quickly as it came, confirmed that she understood Gabriella’s saucy claim. For a moment Diamond almost seemed human, less a real life Gamora, the anti-heroine sprung from the Guardians of the Galaxy. Sapphire mused silently; maybe her boss actually was warning her in a good way, not merely to harass her.
Walking out to the parking lot, Ruby reached over and grabbed her arm. Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
“Now wasn’t that an interesting remark from the Ice Queen? Ever since I joined this crazy company everyone from the janitor to the limousine driver has been trying to get a take on the Ian-Riley connection. We all know that he fronted the money that allowed Diamond to start the company and he has a damn big say in who gets hired and who gets fired. I trust you know that if Ian hadn’t spoken up for you that you’d be history. But that tinge of bitterness in our boss’s voice when she warned you about Jase Malone made me think that maybe the stunningly handsome Ian Ross provoked the gem hard Diamond.”
Sapphire wasn’t the least bit interested in the Ian-Riley dynamic except as it affected her. She shivered uneasily. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate the handsome man’s endorsement but it hurt that Diamond only kept her on because Ian encouraged her to. An unwelcome thought crossed her mind and without thinking she blurted it out.
“Do you think the reason Mr. Ross supported me…is because I fit the physical description of the woman they needed for the op?”
Ruby shrugged. “Probably. And also likely because you might be the most beautiful
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