Under Pressure [IAD Agency] (Siren Publishing Classic)

living room for an aperitif. The food was completed. They had made enough for several armies, but Bella could bet there would be nothing left at the end of the evening. Bella and Jenna laid out large trays of canapés for everyone to snack on, and Gio poured glasses of champagne for them. Bella took her drink and sat on the arm of Jason’s chair, but he quickly pulled her onto his lap to nuzzle her neck.
    Moments later Brett came in with a woman using a cane. She was strikingly beautiful, tall with short dark curly hair and a perfect olive complexion. Bella admired her lovely violet eyes as Mikayla Lincoln politely thanked her for the pastry from yesterday. Bella knew that Mikayla had been shot on the last mission she was on and was surprised that she was already up and about. Sal immediately got up from where he had been sitting and forced her to take his seat on the couch.
    Another woman stood with them, and Bella was introduced to yet another Mac Security-IAD agent named Shannon Montgomery. Shannon was a stunning woman, tall with yards of wavy blonde hair and electric-blue eyes. She looked like an Amazon queen. Her voice dripped of molasses and clearly proved her to be a southern belle. Gio quickly came over for an introduction and kissed her hand as he let free his abundant charm. Surprised pleasure flicked in her eyes before they shut down and became unreadable once again.
    “Hey there, Legs. Do I get to kiss you, too?” Finn joked from his seat.
    “In your dreams, Irish,” Shannon replied nonchalantly as she accepted a glass of champagne and sat on one of the couches next to Slade. Directing her gaze at Bella, Shannon explained. “Finn here insists on using nicknames. Jason is Mac, Sal is Toro, and so on. It’s his annoying little habit, but he’s got all of us doing it now.”
    Finn grinned. “It’s my natural charm.”
    “Mika here got her name back when we were in the service together, so we can’t blame that one on Finn. Since her last name is Lincoln, Lynx just fit.” Brett handed Mikayla a plate of food and winked at Bella. “Lynx, our wild cat.”
    Bella studied the striking woman for a moment and could immediately see how the play on her last name for a wild cat suited her perfectly. Mikayla Lincoln’s large violet eyes were slightly slanted and did indeed remind Bella of a wild, untamed jungle cat. Her gaze shifted back to Shannon and took in the miles of legs the blonde had stretched out in front of her as she gracefully crossed them and could also see why Finn had taken to calling the woman Legs.
    Bella watched, amused, as Jenna strategically sat down next to Shannon, leaving no room for Adrian to follow. Both women ignored the frowning man standing behind them with his arms crossed over his chest.
    “What do you guys call Tara?” Bella asked, intrigued.
    “T-rex,” Finn answered with a fake shudder. “’Cuz she’s fierce and will eat you up and spit you out. Utterly ruthless.”
    “Hey, watch it,” Adrian snapped sharply from where he hovered behind Jenna and Shannon.
    “What? That’s why I love her.” Finn held a hand to his heart and sighed, making them laugh. Adrian slapped Finn on the head as he made his way back to the food.
    Shannon smiled. “Don’t mind the animals. We haven’t quite gotten them housebroken yet.”
    Finn leaned forward. “Adrian and Rock are just protective of T-rex. To them she is like a sweet little sister. Sweet my ass. That is one lady I never want to piss off, that’s for sure.”
    Mikayla said nothing but raised an eyebrow in question as she popped an olive in her mouth.
    Finn cleared his throat. “Actually, all the ladies we work with are pretty fierce.”
    Shannon laughed and leaned over to tap glasses with Mikayla, winking at Bella.
    Brett stood back up to once again make his way back over toward the food. “Truthfully I think you women are more dangerous than us men.”
    “As it should be.” Mikayla grinned.
    “So do you all work for Mac Securities?” Jenna asked.
    “Yes, we do.”
    Bella turned slightly to look back at Adrian who seemed to be hovering around the table of food picking and choosing items with great concentration. “What’s your nickname, Adrian?”
    He flashed her a wicked grin. “I don’t want one, and Finn had enough sense to understand that I would hurt him badly if he gave me one.”
    “He’s so sensitive,” Finn joked before jumping up from where he was seated just in time to avoid a blow to the