Page 10 of Hot SEAL, Under Pressure

Tasha’s eyes lit up. “I love it.”

“I’m not sure how good I’ll be but I’d be willing to give it a shot.” Gabby nodded.

The only hold out looked like it would be Dani. She’d quit NMM and hadn’t looked back. Not sinceCold Feet, the bridal show—and the final project—she’d worked on with Nick.

Dani’s gaze settled on Shelly’s. “Joanne’s going to be very unhappy if you don’t get us to do the show.”

“Yes,” Shelly admitted.

There was no use lying to Dani about the reality of the situation. Dani knew Joanne. She knew what working for NMM was like from personal experience. It was one reason she now worked somewhere else.

Dani sighed. “All right. Nick and I will do it. For you, Shell. Not for Joanne or New Millennia.”

Shelly couldn’t help the uncontrollable smile that gripped her. “Thank you so much.” But they weren’t exactly in the clear yet. “There’s just one problem…”

As the three women watched and waited Shelly drew in a breath and then let the truth spill out.

“The guys already told me no. Emphatically,” she added.

Tasha sniffed out a laugh. “You leave the guys to us.”

“Yeah. I have my ways of convincing Zach.” Gabby grinned mischievously.

Dani frowned. “Knowing how competitive the guys are, I’m surprised they said no. I figured it would be right up their alley.”

“Right? That’s what I thought.” Shelly nodded in agreement.

“Don’t worry. Nick’ll do it,” Dani assured her. “He’ll do anything for me.”

Tasha nodded. “Then Clay will have to do it too, to save face.”

“We got you. Don’t worry about a thing,” Gabby agreed.

With that assurance, Shelly breathed freely for the first time in days. “Thank you so much.”

“Thankyou. I’m looking forward to it.” Tasha smiled.

“You mean you’re looking forward to the ratings boost forHot Housethis show will bring,” Dani guessed.

“Yeah. There’s that.” Tasha raised her glass. “To—what’s the name of the new show?”

Shelly felt shy admitting it, but she’d come up with a name and hadn’t had the nerve to pitch it to Joanne yet.

“I’m thinking Under Pressure? Like that old song. I thought it was fitting.” Shelly shrugged.

“Okay.” Tasha nodded and glanced around with her glass lifted high. “Here’s toUnder Pressure.”

The others raised their glasses and Shelly’s hopes and dreams for this show and for her career—hope she’d been afraid to set free until now—took wings and soared.

“Shelly!” Clay’s voice came from behind her, deep, firm and so loud it made her jump.

Uh oh. Did he know she’d gone behind his back to recruit Tasha and the other women after the men had already said no?

“Um, yeah?” She turned slowly and with undeniable fear in her gut, found Clay with her gaze. He was stalking angrily toward the road.

Holy shit. Was he leaving the party because of her?

Tasha’s laugh had Shelly turning back.

---