Covert Intents: A Branson Family Novella Read Online Free PDF

brunette.
    Seth threw caution into oncoming traffic and did just that. Pulled Rachel against him, tilted her chin back by threading his fingers in her hair and kissed her as if he’d wanted her more than his next breath.
    Which was pretty much true.
    She was surprised, but didn’t pull away. After just a moment her soft lips parted under his and she gave herself over to the kiss, wrapping her arms around his waist.
    Mousy bookworm, his ass.
    After a few heated moments Seth forced himself to pull away. Not only did they have an audience, but he was undercover. Not to mention the Bransons were going to kill him if they found out he was about to jump their cousin’s bones.
    He’d seen all four Bransons in action. Cameron, Sawyer, Dylan, and even slender Juliet could kill him in ways most people didn’t even know were possible. They’d probably all be willing to do just that if they knew he was kissing Rachel in the middle of a crowded street.
    But damned if he didn’t want to keep kissing her anyway.
    He put his forehead against hers. “Okay, we’re obviously going to need to talk, but not here. And as much as I want to, I can’t do it right now.”
    “O-okay.” He could see her bottomless brown eyes in the light given off by the street lamp.
    “I’ll see you tomorrow on campus, okay? Are you safe getting home?”
    She nodded. “Yes, I just live a couple of blocks from here.” She mumbled off an address.
    Seth didn’t want to let her go alone. He didn’t like the thought of her walking by herself even that short distance.
    “Where’s your phone?” he asked.
    She dug it out of her bag and handed it to him. He programmed his number into it. “Text me as soon as you get there so I know you’re okay. If I don’t hear from you in fifteen minutes, I’m coming to search.”
    “Do you have to go back to work?”
    Seth looked over at Lydia and Dr. Hudson who —now that the show was over— were saying their goodbyes.
    “Yeah, I’ve got to get back to work.” He knew she meant his custodial duties back on campus, but didn’t correct that.
    “Thanks for coming tonight. I know you said you couldn’t, so I really appreciate that you did.” With that she turned away and began walking down the street.
    Seth was torn. He wanted to go with her , sta y with her, finish the agonizing heat that kiss had started. But he couldn’t. Even if this entire situation left her bewildered. Especially because of that.
    Seth made his way to the parking garage, along with many of the others, now focused on the job. It was getting late —after eleven— hopefully Hudson would make a move tonight.
    Ryan Powell was his number one suspect, but either Lydia or Hudson could be in on it with Powell, or perhaps be behind the elevator incident. Hudson had worked at the university for over a dozen years. Lydia was a graduate student who’d only joined the program two and a half years ago.
    Things were more tricky with him tailing anybody from the department now. He’d done it before, but had been sure they wouldn’t recognize him if they saw him. He no longer had those assurances since he’d spent time with them. Someone else from Omega would have to take over all covert surveillance, but for right now he didn’t want to lose sight of Dr. Hudson.
    Seth waved as he drove by Lydia and Hudson in the garage and they waved back. He watched in the rearview mirror as he made his way toward the exit.
    And wasn’t that interesting. He saw Hudson pull Lydia towards him in an embrace before they both got into his car together. They were having an affair.
    That could explain some of the odd behavior from both of them —calls that were suddenly disconnected when Seth had walked by in the hallway, suspicious looks over their shoulders. They were trying to hide a relationship that would be frowned-upon by the university.
    Were they trying to hide more?
    Seth pulled out of the parking garage and stopped his car on a curve half a block away,