Sapphire Read Online Free Page A

redoubled her efforts to harden her shell and met his insouciant gaze head on. Struggling to be as nonchalant as he was, she dug her fingernails into her palms and pressed her curled fists into her lap. Taking a deep breath, she managed to control her voice.
    “I’m pleased to meet you, Col. Malone.”
    When he merely nodded, Gabriella was infuriated that she had inadvertently addressed him formally when he had chosen to call her by her first nam e . Intentionally, she was sure. She chided herself. Good God Almighty, in one sentence she had ceded control of the situation to him. Determined to retrieve the ground she’d granted to him, she added with an indifferent shrug, “But since we apparently are on a first-name basis, let me add that I, too feel as though I know you, Jase. That I’ve met you many times before.”
    To her horror, he actually laughed at her intended slight. As did Ian. The only thing that kept Gabriella from being thoroughly mortified that they saw through her bravado, was the annoyance that crossed Diamond’s face.
    Before Diamond could break in or Gabriella could come up with an appropriate rejoinder, Jase undercut her intended rebuke.
    “Touché, Gabriella. And, yes, given that we are likely to be working together, first names are in order.” His eyes danced with humor, but she didn’t miss the edge in his next words.
    “As for knowing me, Gabriella, I trust you agree that first impressions can be misleading. They don’t begin to reveal the totality of the man—or in your case, the woman. May I suggest that we allow one another time before we write each other off? I believe it could be to our mutual benefit.”
    Gabriella shrugged again as if her stomach wasn’t churning with a sensation that bordered on nausea. How in hell could she deal with this , with him ? She was already at a huge disadvantage. Clearly the three of them had been viewing the devastating videotape and been discussing her. Deciding if they could trust her on the op they were considering. It was professionally painful. Even though she wasn’t sure that she could work with this man, Gabriella wasn’t stupid. It looked as though Diamond might actually be considering her for the job. The fact that Ian was present confirmed that it was an important mission. Knowing the importance of her response, she managed to curb her annoyance. But, she refused to let him gain the upper hand.
    Swallowing her pride and her angst, she nodded. “Fortunately, working together, if that is what we’re going to do, doesn’t require any further knowledge about either of us. All we need is the assurance that each of us will do what we are intended to do and not get in the way of the other. In my view, that is the essence of professionalism and a requirement for a successful mission.”
    Not giving him a chance to respond, Gabriella turned to Diamond.
    “Diamond…I mean, ah, Riley, I know that you were annoyed with the way I handled the Diablos. I—”
    Diamond broke in before she could finish her sentence.
    “Please, Gabriella, don’t minimize what happened by mischaracterizing my reaction as ‘annoyance.’ I was not annoyed with the way that you handled the Diablos goons. It was brilliant and as accomplished a take-down as I have seen.”
    Diamond’s expression hardened more, if possible, sending a surge of bile coursing through Gabriella’s throat. Dear God, don’t tell me that Riley is going to take this moment to chastise me? In front of Ian Ross and, even worse, in front of Jase Malone?
    “No, Gabriella, let me be crystal clear. I was not annoyed , I was angry that you not only disobeyed my direct orders but also had the audacity to ignore Ian Ross. You could have been killed. Moreover, if you had been, you could’ve blown the entire operation.”
    Something in Gabriella’s expression must have stopped Diamond’s intent to reprimand her more. She took a visible breath and continued in a more conciliatory tone.
    “Ordinarily