Free Croc and the Fox by Eve Langlais

tongue out at the swan who honked with laughter.
“Hey, who threw a party and didn’t invite me?” Mason loomed in the doorway with a big grin. He slapped his brother, Chase, on the back, a hard whack that didn’t budge the big man. “Ha. I knew Miranda wouldn’t last a week in the safe house. You owe me twenty bucks.”
“Stupid agents in charge should have brought more food. Pregnant bunnies are bottomless pits apparently.” Grumbling, Chase dug into his pocket and grudgingly handed over a crumpled bill.
“You wagered on me?” Miranda asked, hands on her
hips. “Yup.”
    “Awesome. Next time let me know though, and I’ll rig it so you win, honey bear.” Miranda winked as she bounced on the balls of her feet.
“Who says I lost? A nosy mother and paper thin walls,” Chase added when Viktor raised a brow at his odd statement. “Ack! Too much information. I feel sick,” Mason moaned. “No fair. I just had breakfast, too.”
    A rough jab to the ribs and Mason shut up. Chase smiled smugly.
“Why is your friend hiding? I want to meet her.” Miranda still bobbed for a peek, but Renee, overwhelmed at all the new people, didn’t move from her spot behind him.
“She’s kind of shy,” Viktor replied, certain the entire outline of Renee’s face would forever mark his back, she pressed
so hard.“Shy?” Miranda blinked and her nose twitched. “But it’s
    me. Didn’t you tell her about me? I’m hurt,” Miranda exclaimed, clasping a hand to her chest dramatically. “I thought I meant something to you.”
    Sharp nails dug into his waist and Viktor fought not to wince. He patted the hand that currently left a bruise. “Renee, this is Miranda, my partner.” The claws pressed harder. “Work partner. She’s on maternity leave with her husband, Chase.”
    The pressure eased. Slowly, Renee peeked around his arm. “She’s an agent?”
“One of the best,” Miranda boasted. “When I unleash my bunny, everybody runs.”
A giggle escaped his fox. “You’re a rabbit? As in long floppy ears and fluffy tail?”
“Don’t let my awesome exterior fool you. Inside, I am a deadly predator.”
“With great big fangs. We know,” Mason interrupted. “Attention hog.”
“I am not!”
“Don’t start,” Chase growled.
His admonition didn’t stop Miranda from flicking a finger at Mason, who blew her a raspberry before facing Renee, who watched them sparring with wide eyes. “Hello there, my name is Mason. I’m also a FUC agent, and that techno geek hottie over there is my chocolate dipped delight. You might remember me from yesterday. I was part of the team that helped free you.” Mason stuck out his hand, and Renee looked at it, but didn’t touch it.
“You’re supposed to shake it,” Viktor muttered under his breath.
Slipping her hand free from his waist, Renee clasped the extended appendage and pumped it vigorously before dropping it like a hot potato.
“Nice grip. You’re a lucky man, Viktor.” Mason winked. Miranda and Jessie giggled. Even Chase looked amused. Viktor, however, wanted to punch his unit buddy for the remark. How dare he think of Renee in a sexual manner? And just how good is her grip? Damn the bear for putting the question in his head, and worse the image of how he could find out.
Maybe he’d take the nosy mammal to the training gym later on and show him why you didn’t throw verbal sticks at ornery – horny – crocs.
Despite his annoyance at Mason’s crude innuendo, it did have a benefit. More of Renee emerged from hiding, still glued to his side, but at least she didn’t cower behind, using him as a
shield.“Oh, aren’t you just the cutest thing,” Miranda
    exclaimed. “But the clothes have got to go. Oversized men’s wear is for home use only. A pretty girl like you needs color and skin tight stuff to show off your curves. Victor, you need to take her shopping.”
“I don’t have time. I’ve got some reports to write. People
    to talk to. You know. Work stuff.” Hell,