Free Covert Intents: A Branson Family Novella by Janie Crouch

she okay?”
    “She was shaken up, and I decided to bring her home with me, since I wasn’t sure who I could trust.”
    There was a long silence on the other end. “Is she staying there tonight?”
    “She’s welcome here. That way I know she’s safe.”
    He didn’t want to tell Cameron there was no way he was letting Rachel go anywhere right now if he had any other choice. Fortunately Cameron didn’t push the issue.
    “The man who grabbed her, he was after the microchip?”
    “Yes. I’m pretty sure it was a case of mistaken identity, considering her office is on the same floor as the rest of the computer engineering division.”
    “But she’s secure there with you?”
    More than. “Yes, it’s no problem.”
    “Harrington, I don’t have to tell you that she’s my cousin and you better not be putting any moves—“
    “I’ll report in tomorrow.” Seth didn’t want to let Cameron get any further in his warning, given this afternoon’s actions.
    And the actions he planned to continue tonight.
    “Until then, you can just report that Ms. Branson is safe with me,” he continued. “If there’s any update in what they find on campus or her townhouse, please let me know.”
    “Damn it, Seth—“
    Seth disconnected the call. Although Cameron Branson had been at Omega longer than Seth he wasn’t Seth’s boss. And despite what any of the Branson siblings thought, Rachel did not need a keeper. She was an adult, capable of doing whatever she wanted.
    She walked out of the kitchen. “Done with your call?”
    Seth nodded, transfixed as she began to unbutton the shirt of his she was wearing. In just a few moments it dropped to the floor.
    Yes, Rachel was capable of doing whatever she wanted. And right now evidently what she wanted was him.
    He was more than happy to oblige.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER NINE
     
     
    A text from Cameron woke Seth the next morning.
    Ryan Powell is awake. Juliet, Sawyer and I will meet you at the hospital in one hour for questioning.
    At least it wasn’t a message about Rachel, although Seth couldn’t help but wonder if some of the questioning would be directed at him. Rachel turned to him with sleepy eyes as he got out of bed.
    “Everything okay?”
    He smiled at her. “Yes, but I have to go into work for a while.”
    “Janitor work or other work?”
    “Other work. Actually, I’m going to the hospital to question Ryan Powell. He woke up this morning.”
    He expected concern or even distress. What he didn’t expect was for Rachel to flush and turn away. “Oh.”
    It was none of his business. Set h kne w it was none of his business, even after last night. But he still sat back down on the bed so he could look at her and figure out what was behind that little statement.
    “ Oh ?”
    She shrugged, pulling the sheet up to her chin. “It’s nothing.”
    “Is there something between you two?”
    “No.” She pulled the sheet up even further, past her mouth. “Really, no. It’s just, before you got to the restaurant on Thursday, Ryan kissed me.”
    Now it was Seth’s turn. “Oh.”
    She dropped the sheet and scooted closer to him. “But he didn’t kiss me because I wanted him to. He was acting all weird.”
    She wasn’t telling him all of it, Seth could tell. “And? Did you like it? Is that what you’re all flushed about?”
    “No!” She got that out quickly. “I just…”
    “Yes?”
    “I hadn’t been kissed in years and then was kissed by two men in the same night. Not my normal Thursday evening.”
    Seth chuckled, something relaxing in him. She wasn’t interested in Powell, just a little overwhelmed by the attention. He leaned over and stole her lips for himself.
    “I’m amazed complete strangers aren’t coming up to kiss you, as appealing as this mouth is.”
    “Yeah, right.”
    “You try to hide behind glasses and books, but it doesn’t take much to see how sexy you are. I think most men are just