SEAL the Deal (Hot SEALs)

by Cat Johnson

  Will's assumption took Zane aback. It took him a second to recover before he laughed.

  “No. No worries there. Missy and I are good. I swear.” He decided he'd better give Will more information before he started making more wrong assumptions. “Look, I'm going to be perfectly straight with you here. An old classmate of mine is worried about who his cousin's been talking to lately. He's concerned enough he came to me with it. The sticky part is, his family is pretty huge. If the media got a hold of the story—”

  “They'd have a field day. Got it.” Will blew out a breath. “Without knowing details, I can tell you this, there are ways of finding out this person's identity and location but . . .”

  Zane anticipated Will's answer. “The methods are illegal?”

  “Some. Others are just in a gray area. And all of it requires a certain amount of tech skills.”

  “So I'd need to be a hacker or hire one to do it, is what you're saying.”

  “Most likely. Or you could give me the info and let me see what I can find.”

  “I couldn't do that.” Zane shook his head.

  “Dude, my clearance is higher than yours was. You can trust me.”

  “Thanks for the reminder. And no, that's not it. I trust you, but I couldn't ask you to do this.”

  “Why not? My girl is visiting her parents this weekend. Some bridal shower for a cousin or something.”

  Zane snorted out a sound of commiseration. At least Will was being bombarded with wedding stuff too.

  Will continued, “I'm stateside and bored and I've got no interest in hanging at the bar or the strip club with the guys. So you see, you'd be doing me a favor.”

  “Well, when you put it that way.” Zane smiled. “All right. But again, and I know I can trust you but I have to reiterate, this family can't afford a scandal and they're not going to get one on my watch.”

  “Understood. Although I have to say the curiosity is killing me. So who is it? Politician? Movie star? Tech giant?”

  Zane rolled his eyes. “You're making me regret this already.”

  “Aw, come on. For the entire first half of the year I divided my time between working in a room full of servers at Fort Meade and coding my new app. It'll be fun to get into something else for a change.”

  Will had his own app? That figured. The guy's brain wasn't wired the way other people's were.

  “By something else do you mean something shady?” Zane laughed.

  “Me? Never.”

  “Yeah, right. Okay, Let me give you what I know. Got a pen and paper?”

  “Pen and paper? Dude. You living back in the nineties or what? I'll input it right into my computer. And yes, before you ask, it's secure. No worries. I'm home and my system is hardwired and on a dedicated server.”

  Zane had no doubt. The man probably had better security on his home computer than most corporations had.

  He pulled out the paper where he'd jotted down what he could find, careful not to let it rustle for fear of further mocking by the computer god.

  So Zane liked things old school once in a while. So what?

  “All right. Here we go . . .” Zane began relaying to Will what Brent had given him and what he'd discovered through his own investigation.

  When he got to the name of the family in question, Will let out a long low whistle. “So I'm going to assume this is the Hearst family? As in William Randolph Hearst and Hearst Castle and all that jazz?”

  “That's the one.”

  “And shit. Patty Hearst was the kidnapped chick who went off robbing banks with her captors.”

  “And now you see why my friend is concerned.”

  “Yeah.” Will blew out a breath. “Okay, let me see what I can find. Hopefully it's just some asshole cat fishing and trying to get her to transfer money to him then he'd move on.”

  “Hopefully? That's your best case scenario?”

  “Well, no. Best case is he's Prince Charming, they fall madly in love, get married and have fat and happy Hearst babies. But since I'm not betting on that I'm just hoping it's not something worse than a cat fisher. I've spent too much time lately watching terror cells recruiting Americans on social media.”

  Zane knew Will spoke the truth. That was how Jon had gone undercover in ISIS last year, by letting the online recruiter think they'd turned a disgruntled former SEAL to their side.

  “Does your friend know if she's met or made plans to meet anyone in person or is it all online so far?”

  “He's not certain but he doesn’t think they’ve met yet.”

  “Hang on. I might be able to . . . Bingo. She's got a Snapchat.”

  “Um, okay.” Shit, Zane really was out of his element here. He had no clue why Will was so excited.

  “She's got her location turned off on Facebook, but I can track her with Snap Maps. And if her online friend has one too, it could lead us right to him.”

  “Damn. Okay. Great. Thanks, Will. Seriously. I couldn't have done it without you.” And that was no lie. Zane was starting to really grasp how valuable Will was. GAPS's computer guy too. They should probably think about giving him a raise.

  You could teach a man to shoot and fight, but this computer shit? Zane was convinced this might require a different kind of wiring and he wasn't sure he had it.

  No, that was wrong. He was certain he didn't.

  “Okay, let me concentrate. I'll call you back when I'm done. It might be a few hours.”

  Zane snorted. “That long?” He made sure his sarcasm was clear in his tone.

  “You do know that the last guy who teased me somehow ended up with some embarrassing photos mysteriously appearing on his Instagram account, right?”

  “I tease with the utmost respect.” And besides, Zane didn't have an Instagram account so he didn't have to worry. “Talk to you later. And thanks.”

  “You’re welcome. Later.” Will disconnected and all Zane had to do was wait.

  Easier said than done.

  CHAPTER 9

  As Zane dragged himself through the apartment door and slammed it shut behind him, all he could think was how much he hated late afternoon meetings.

  The meeting might start at a decent hour but they somehow inevitably always seemed to stretch out into the evening. By the time he got done with it, today's included, he was stuck in the worst of D.C.’s legendary rush hour traffic.

  Not to mention that when he eventually did arrive home—late for dinner—he was starving.

  Maybe civilian life had made him soft. When he'd been active duty he'd be happy to get home at all. And he and the team were just as happy for a hot meal not eaten out of an MRE pouch in the field.

  He was still part of a team—and not just the GAPS team he and Jon had created. Zane was one half of a unit of two and he'd kept his partner waiting once again tonight.

  Missy was definitely home. The lights were on in the apartment and he could hear the television playing softly in the living room.

  He glanced at the time on the hall clock and cringed. It was even later than he realized. He could only hope she hadn't waited for him to get home and had gone ahead and eaten dinner.

  With a sigh Zane tossed his keys onto the hall table and called, “I'm sorry I'm so late, baby. The client wouldn't shut up.”

  “That's all right.” Missy called back. She leaned out of the kitchen doorway and asked, “Did you eat?”

  “Yeah. I ended up grabbing something on my way—” Zane stopped mid sentence and sniffed. “What do I smell?”

  “Cookies.” She smiled. “I just pulled them out of the oven.”

  Zane lifted one eyebrow. “Cookies? Really?”

  “Yup.”

  Hmm. Of all the things he might have expected to find when he arrived home, hot fresh baked cookies were the last thing he would have guessed would be waiting for him.

  Moving across the apartment, he met Missy in the doorway of the kitchen. He leaned down and dropped a quick kiss onto her mouth before straightening and gazing past h
er into the kitchen, which smelled warm, sweet and homey for the first time since they'd moved in months ago.

  “What's the occasion?” he asked.

  “No occasion. I just felt like something sweet. And I heard the temperature is supposed to take an unseasonable dip tonight, so I thought it might be nice to have some warm chocolate chip cookies.”

  “So you made them? Yourself?” He frowned.

  “I did.” She smiled, looking proud.

  He walked farther into the kitchen. The amount of dishes in the sink proved she was telling the truth. Between the bowls, measuring cups, measuring spoons, mixer parts, and cookie sheets it certainly looked like she'd assembled them from the ingredients he could see still out on the kitchen counter.

  Meanwhile Zane hadn't realized they even owned all this stuff. Sure he cooked, but bacon and eggs on a Sunday morning required one frying pan, maybe two, max.

  “Want to try one?”

  He wasn't generally a dessert eater but the scent that enveloped him was too enticing. He gave in to its allure. “Sure.”

  She smiled as she held out the plate. He reached out and took one, and had to use his other hand to save the oversized cookie as it bent and broke in the middle and the hot melted chocolate chips stretched between the two halves.

  He managed to get one half into his mouth without making a mess and groaned when the warm, buttery, chocolaty flavor coated his tongue.

  His mouth full, he chewed and swallowed before he said, “Wow.”

  “Want a glass of cold milk to go with that?” she asked.

  Cookies and milk. He had a flashback to sitting in his parents' kitchen as a child as the staff spoiled him while his mother and father were off somewhere doing something without him. He'd loved those stolen moments.

  “Okay. Thanks.”

  “Of course.” She smiled again, broader.

  Seeing her like this had him smiling too. Apparently baking made Missy happy. Who knew?

  Actually, the cookies had lifted his mood as well, elevating it from annoyed to amorous. After making sure his fingers were free of chocolate, he grabbed her hips and hauled her close.

  Leaning down, he took possession of her mouth for a deep kiss.

  He tasted chocolate and pulled back. “You had one yourself.”

  “I had more than one plus some of the raw dough.” She laughed. “I probably shouldn't bake too often or I'll end up gaining weight.”

  “We both will but I'm fine with that. Although, I think I can come up with a way for us to burn off some of those calories.”

  Her eyes narrowed just a tad. “I think that sounds like an excellent idea.”

  With one hand he picked up the glass of milk she'd poured him and held on to her with the other. Glancing back he said, “Grab that plate of cookies, will you?”

  Missy's eyebrows rose but she said, “Okay.”

  Cold milk. Warm cookies. Hot Sex. Yeah, his evening had definitely improved.

  He glanced at her on the way to the bedroom. “You should bake more often.”

  Plate laden with cookies in her hand, Missy smiled. “Don't worry. I plan on it.”

  Zane didn’t waste any time getting them both naked and sliding inside her.

  Sex had always been good between them, right from the first time they'd been together on her boss's sofa when they'd basically been breaking and entering—or at least abusing the key Missy had to water the woman's plants while she was away.

  Three years later, they knew each other as well as two people could.

  In the past Zane would have assumed that would make things boring. He'd learned the opposite was true.

  They were perfect together. After years of practice—as often as he could get—he knew exactly how to touch her to make her cry out his name.

  Exactly how hard he could push her to reach that next peak of pleasure. When to be gentle and when she wanted rough. And that the prim and proper senator's daughter was anything but when they were between the sheets—or wherever they happened to be.

  He'd had her every way a man could and she'd surprised him with a few tricks of her own. With her, Zane had gone from a man who couldn't wait to ditch the girl of the moment to see what else was out there, to realizing he'd never grow tired of Missy.

  Funny what love did to a man—even a man like him.

  Maybe if he'd known falling in love made sex so damn good, he wouldn't have waited so long. Though he hadn't been waiting for just any woman. He'd been waiting for Missy, even if he didn't know it at the time.

  Until a few years ago, they'd been too young. He'd definitely been too stupid.

  Now, things were perfect just as they were.

  Missy was perfect as her eyes slammed closed and her mouth opened on a gasp.

  He felt her body squeeze his, drove into her one last time and held deep, letting himself succumb to the pleasure.

  Still breathing heavy from the exertion, he rolled off her.

  When his brain started to function again, Zane realized Missy had met with her cousin today and he hadn't spoken with her since.

  “How was lunch with Amelia?”

  “It was more like a late breakfast. It was good. I had a chocolate croissant that was to die for and chai tea, which I love and don't get often enough.”

  So that's what had gotten her into the mood for cookies, a chocolate laden breakfast. Though, he hadn't asked to find out what she'd eaten. More to feel her out about how the time spent with her cousin had been. Particularly since he knew Meli, younger than Missy, had just gotten engaged.

  He had a bad feeling this engagement was going to be a sore spot for her.

  “And how's your cousin?”

  “Good. Busy planning the wedding.” Missy lifted up on one elbow. “She asked me to be in the wedding party.”

  He blew out a breath. “Better you than me.”

  Missy pressed her lips together.

  The fact she had more to say, that she was holding something back, radiated so strongly off her he couldn't help but ask, “What?”

  “Nothing.” Her hesitation before answering told him the real answer definitely was not nothing.

  Only a stupid man would stir up trouble at a time like this when there were warm cookies and a hot naked woman in his bed. Zane was not a stupid man.

  If whatever was on her mind was important it would come out eventually. Until then, Zane intended to enjoy what blessings he had at his disposal.

  “What happened with the office space today?” she asked.

  He noticed she'd changed the subject, and he let her. “I saw it and it's perfect.”

  “So you're taking it?”

  “Yup. I signed the lease quick before Jon changes his mind.” Zane laughed, only half joking. “I can't wait to show it to you. I mean it needs furnishings but the area is perfect and the space is exactly what I had in mind. Thank you for introducing me to the owner. It made suffering through yet one more wedding event bearable.”

  “You're welcome.” She visibly deflated, going from happy about the office, to looking incredibly sad.

  Why? Was it because of his comment about suffering through the wedding stuff?

  Maybe he had been a bit too anti-wedding lately. He'd have to ease up on that. He'd do anything to not be the cause for that expression on her face, including suffering in silence.

  “Hey,” he said.

  “Yeah?”

  “I love you.” He brushed the back of his fingers across her cheek.

  “I love you too.”

  “And I love those cookies.” He glanced at the plate next to the bed.

  She laughed. “Good to hear.”

  “There's something else I love.”

  “What's that?” she asked.

  He slid down between her legs, spreading her thighs as he went. “This,” he said before he dipped his head down and heard Missy gasp above him.

  CHAPTER 10

  “Miss Greenwood. Welcome home.” Maria, one of the staff at her
parents' house, never failed to welcome Missy with enthusiasm. It didn't matter whether she was away for hours or weeks.

  “Hi, Maria. Are my parents home?”

  “No, miss.”

  “Hmm. That's odd. They knew I was coming.” In fact, her mother had invited her and Zane over for dinner tonight.

  “They went to the club but said they'd be home by four.”

  “I guess I am kind of early.” She glanced at the time on her cell phone. It was only three-thirty.

  “Can I get you something?”

  “No, thanks.”

  “Not some wine or even water?”

  Missy laughed. “No, thanks. I'm fine. Go do what you need to do and don't worry about me. I'll be up in my old room until my parents get back.”

  “Yes, miss.” The woman bowed out of the room and left Missy with the surreal feeling of being a guest in her own home.

  She'd only moved out a short while ago, but apparently she'd been relegated to visitor status. It seemed ridiculous when as a child there'd been days she'd spent more time in the kitchen with the staff than she had with her parents. She certainly could manage to get herself something to drink if she decided she needed it.

  Though given the fact the subject of Amelia's wedding was going to come up, maybe a drink wouldn't hurt.

  With a sigh Missy headed up the wide staircase in the foyer to the second floor where her bedroom was located.

  The room remained just as she'd left it. Ready in case she needed or wanted to spend the night there, she supposed.

  Short of her getting so drunk she couldn't make it back to her apartment twenty-minutes away, barring traffic, she didn't see any reason she would have to stay here.

  Though sometimes when Zane was away on assignments for GAPS for days, or even weeks at a time, and she was worried out of her mind about his safety, it could be tempting to run home to her parents.

  At those times, it was probably better she didn't do that. Talking about the fear with someone who couldn't really appreciate what it was like was worse than not talking about it at all.

  Zane's company was called Guardian Angel Protection Services but at times she wished she had a guardian angel of her own while he was off protecting others.