The Omega Team: Ethan's Promise (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Men of Mercy Book 7) (5 page)

Kate paused, her gaze holding his in a way most men couldn’t and Ethan felt the first niggle of respect form. But he sure as hell didn’t like the way she studied him, like he was some kind of code needing to be cracked.

“You’re right. We got off to the wrong start. I want this job and I want to be the best I can. If you’re the ticket – I can deal.”

“Deal? Women don’t
deal
with me.” They fall at his feet and beg for dates and long nights of sex. And he couldn’t wait to get away from them. But Kate called to him, made him want to spend time with
her.
Not run for his bike and the next hop overseas.

She smirked, as if realizing she’d pricked a nerve. “Fine. I can work with you. I’ll be civil if you can do the same. It’s only two weeks.”

Her calm response threw him completely off guard and Ethan dug fast for a retort to toss her back off track, just like him. “Fine, but leave the man act at the door.”

“Man act?”

“Yeah, the pants suit, the cocky walk. You’re supposed to be here as Caroline’s stylist.” That bright red stain rushed back to her cheeks and Ethan found himself smiling in response.

Better, much better.

Kate sputtered but didn’t get a word out before the door opened behind him and Gray Holden strode out onto the front porch.

"Ethan, sorry I was in the shower when you got here, so glad you could make it,” Holden said and then turned to Kate. “Did you just get here? Need me to carry something inside for you?”

“Did you just indicate that I’m trying to be a man?

Holden paused and Ethan couldn't stop a small chuckle from escaping his lips. He’d struck a nerve, just as he’d meant to. “I don’t discriminate. Your orientation is none of my concern.”

“I am not a lesbian!”

Holden cleared his throat and cast a questioning glance Ethan’s way. “Kate, no one here implied that.”

The angry flush spread over her entire face, turning her smooth perfect skin a deep shade of red and damn if Ethan wasn’t enjoying himself more than he had since he could remember. This might be a lot more fun than he thought.

“Yeah, I didn’t say that at all,” Ethan chimed in.

“Why don’t we go inside and talk about what you two need to do to get ready?” Holden edged toward the door.

“You didn’t have to say it exactly. I’ve had plenty of boyfriends, none of whom had any issue with the way I dressed or talked or walked.”

Damn she was cute all riled up. “Did you always meet in the dark, then?”

Kate opened her lips and then slammed them shut. Holden shot him another questioning look, but Ethan had no answer, he couldn’t really figure out why he’d poked at her so much himself. Maybe it was her strung tight as a whip nature. Or the cocky tilt to her chin. Or maybe he wanted her and didn’t know how to deal with the bone jarring emotional punch she dealt.

The front door squeaked open and Aaron and Noni stepped out. The old lady's gaze shifted from Ethan to Kate, a knowing gleam in her eyes, and Ethan felt the noose tighten around his neck.

Noni's words from earlier haunted him and he knew then that he'd have to keep his distance from Kate. Ethan had no intention of giving up his freedom and settling down, and he had a feeling Kate could be that woman Noni had been talking about. He took a physical step away from everyone, putting himself on the outside of the circle.

Two weeks. He had to keep his shit locked down for two weeks when he'd be five thousand dollars richer and he could get back to what he was meant for: The Special Forces.

Not a suit-wearing agent with exotic green eyes.

“I've got cookies in the oven right now.” Noni pulled the door open.

Kate ducked inside first, avoiding his gaze and Ethan was glad for that. He needed a second to get his head on straight. Aaron followed her in, leaving Holden and Ethan alone on the porch.

“Am I going to have a problem here?”

Ethan straightened and kept his face blank of the heat rushing through his body. “No, sir.”

ETHAN followed Holden into the kitchen. Aaron and Kate were already seated at the small table; Holden took one of the two remaining chairs. Noni opened the oven door and the scent of sugar cookies filled the air.

“Noni, that smells like heaven on earth,” Aaron said.

“Don't you dare touch these cookies. They still need to cool.” Noni sat the tray on top of the stove, put in another batch and set the timer. “I'll leave you to your business.”

Noni walked right past Ethan and gave him a big wink. Great. The only chair at the table was right next to Kate. If he didn't sit he'd probably offend her, but if he did, he'd have to feel her next to him. Ethan chose to lean against the wall.

Kate stiffened in her seat, but he couldn't help that. He knew if he got close to her again this soon he wouldn't hear a word Holden said and he needed to keep his head on straight.

“All right, I've got the rest of the team arriving in a few days, we can finalize the logistics then. I asked you to come in early because you each have an important role to play,” Holden began.

“Before we go any further, Aaron, where is Ms. Latimer?”

“I spoke with her a little while ago. She got lost, but she's on her way. She should be here any minute,” Aaron flushed and Ethan felt a small surge of satisfaction. He wouldn't be the only man walking around in need all week.

At least Ethan could keep himself busy with work. Aaron would be stuck babysitting the stylist, although he doubted Aaron viewed it as stuck. He was as hot for Celine as she was for him.

Holden continued, “Aaron you already know your job will be to train Ms. Latimer on basic self-defense strategies, even though if we do our jobs right she won't need to use those lessons.”

Aaron gave a tight nod, his ever-present grin absent for once.

Kate interrupted. “Excuse me, sir, but why are you bringing in a civilian?”

It was a good question. Untrained people were more often a liability to a mission than an aid. They were panicky, unreliable at best.

“Caroline demanded Ms. Latimer be her clothing coordinator. Apparently she’s very in style. Plus, Aaron vouched for her and we vetted her.”

“So we are putting our HVT at risk because she's demanding a certain person?” Ethan said. Caroline was their high value target, and the more Holden spoke, the more she sounded like a spoiled princess who didn't care about her own safety.

“We are ultimately under Senator Cotter's command and this was something he wasn't willing to negotiate, no matter how much I protested. Since Aaron already has an established relationship with Ms. Latimer, I picked him to train her.”

“We’re just friends,” Aaron stiffened.

“Okay, friends. Anyway she's completely ignorant of combat or defense and will be more comfortable and probably listen better to someone she knows. Is everyone here okay with that?” Holden kept his tone straight, even though Ethan detected an undercurrent of irritation.

“Aye, aye, Capitan.” Aaron leaned back and gave a fake salute.

“Drop the smartass,” Holden said and then he turned his attention to Kate. “I need another female to act as a stylist to Caroline, but you will also be acting as her personal bodyguard. You will have a perfect excuse to stay by her side the entire time.”

Kate nodded. “I can do that, but I didn't bring any attire appropriate for a wedding event.”

“I expected as much. Ms. Latimer has been provided your sizes and is bringing your attire.”

“We don't have much time; I suggest you start training immediately.” Holden pushed back from the table and stood. “Aaron, let me know when Celine arrives. I'll want to talk to her, too.”

“Yes, sir,” Aaron said.

“I'll let you get to it then.” Holden headed out of the kitchen, pausing directly in front of Ethan. “Good luck.”

Ethan didn't need luck. He'd been in worse situations. Much worse. He was a highly trained SF operative; he could control his hormones for two weeks. Couldn’t he?

CHAPTER FIVE

Kate stepped into the guest shower, her travel bottles of shampoo and conditioner and body wash already lined up perfectly along the small ledge, labels out. She reached out to adjust the body wash a little further to the left and her hand trembled. Dammit. She hadn’t been this hyper sensitive at her own prom.

Kate washed her hair, scrubbing a little harder than normal and then let the conditioner soak in for the precise amount of time it took for her to wash her body. She was back out of the shower exactly seven and half minutes after she started. The familiar part of her routine bringing her comfort and control after that eruption of insanity on the front porch.

She quickly dried her hair and changed into her work out clothes, a pair of black leggings and matching tank top and did a quick self-check in the antique dresser mirror. Her eyes appeared a little too bright for her liking, but the rest of her seemed normal enough. Except for the anticipation racing through her veins.

Kate took a deep breath and focused on the concrete. She was a CIA agent. She was trained and fit for duty. She could control herself for the duration of this mission and then hopefully, she'd never have to lay eyes on Ethan again.

He wasn't made for her- not without a heavy overhaul anyway. Kate liked everything around her orderly. Solid colors, clean lines. She'd nearly fainted when Aaron showed her into this bedroom earlier. It fit the house, with cheerful painted walls and mismatched antique furniture lending to the shabby-chic charm. The bright patterned quilt matched perfectly, but the chaotic unrestrained bevy of flowers and completely mismatched patterns would simply not do. Kate had flipped the cover over, leaving only the pale yellow lining visible.

She smoothed down a small wrinkle in the coverlet and sighed. If only she could control Ethan as easily, but she had a feeling he'd be the one flipping her upside down.

ETHAN ducked down and to the right, driving forward in a surge of power to ram Aaron in the gut and throw his teammate to the ground in the backyard. Aaron had set up a large blue training mat to cushion their fall, so he hadn't really hurt Aaron with the aggressive move. Aaron grunted, tucked his knees to his chest and shoved Ethan off. Both men got to their feet and crouched in a fighting stance, Ethan facing the back and Aaron facing the house.

“Nice try.” Aaron's grin looked more like a grimace.

“That was more than trying. Why don't you go ahead and give in now? We both know who's gonna win this round.” Ethan lunged in a fake right and Aaron countered.

“I'm so going to enjoy watching you lose it around her.” Aaron gave a quick jab with his right, barely missing Ethan's jaw.

“I don't know what you're talking about. I'm her trainer. That's it.” Ethan surged forward, wrapped his hands around Aaron's shoulders and yanked him down as Ethan raised a knee.

Aaron twisted out of his grip a second before Ethan's knee connected with his face. “That's why you were practically drooling on the front porch. Admit it, you really like her.”

“You’re nuts. She’s practically a man. I have absolutely no interest in her.” Ethan circled right and left, always moving, even as Aaron's words brought on the memory of Kate’s lips.
Fuck, forget her lips and focus
.

“Oh, you got it bad.” Aaron dove forward and Ethan used his own momentum against him, swinging him around and throwing him to the ground.

“I don't think so.” Ethan stood over his friend and grinned. “Besides, we'll see how you handle it when Celine gets here.”

Aaron jumped to his feet and barreled forward, slamming his shoulder into Ethan's stomach. He let out a whoosh of air and then immediately started raining blows down on Aaron's back. They broke apart, Aaron's grin just as vicious as Ethan's. “I'm just glad to know I'm not the only one panting after a hot piece of tail.”

For some reason, Aaron's comment pissed him off and Ethan reacted on pure instinct. He threw out a straight jab, going for Aaron's mouth. Aaron ducked back, barely missing losing a few teeth.

“Oh, I struck a nerve. You really do like her.”

Aaron's words fueled him, the irritation spurred through his body. Kate had struck a chord in him – an immediate tightly wound cord that she had no business touching. “She's weak. She needs to learn how to control herself.”

He'd been able to read every individual flicker of emotion that flashed across her face, from the way her pouty lips turned down at the corners, to her overly bright green eyes that belied every thought. God, he was losing his mind. “Why don't you give up? You never seem to come out on top in these matches.”

Aaron's smile stretched wide, showing a flash of bright white teeth in his bearded face. “I have a feeling today is going to be my lucky break.”

“You said that the last time and I believe I kicked your ass then, too.” Ethan embraced the free flow of adrenaline their bare knuckled brawling brought on. Even more so when Ethan took his fellow teammate to the ground.

Aaron stopped moving and stared past Ethan's shoulder. Ethan growled, “Come on man, don't wuss out now.”

“Look.”

“You really think I'm falling for that?” Distraction was literally the oldest trick in the book.

Aaron continued to stare as if transfixed. “Oh man, I'm going to enjoy this.”

Ethan finally gave in and glanced over his shoulder, keeping Aaron in his peripheral. He caught a glimpse of black tights and a formfitting black shirt that displayed a generous wealth of cleavage. Ethan's brain blanked. A jolt of awareness shocked his system into a semi-comatose state. The loose pants suit she’d worn earlier had hidden her form, a crime in itself. His gaze continued up to her eyes, which were narrowed on him.

Had she been standing there the whole time? Ethan fought the urge to groan. Freaking Aaron had known and baited him.

Ethan tried to mentally shore up his defenses against the undeniable spark between them, and then she smiled, transforming her entire face. The air left his lungs in a whoosh at the transformation. She was undeniably the most beautiful creature he'd ever laid eyes on.

He wanted her. Wanted her bad.

Footsteps pounded behind him, and before he could defend himself, Aaron took him to the ground and shoved his face in the mat. His hands were ripped behind his back and Aaron pinned him down with a thick elbow at the back of his neck. “Thanks for the assist, sweetness. I owe you one.”

Kate stepped into his line of vision, and Ethan caught a glimpse of toned calves before Aaron shoved him back down.

Kate squatted in front of him, “I didn’t do anything.”

“Trust me, sweetness, you did,” Aaron said.

Ethan had thought distraction the oldest trick, but he’d forgotten about the one that had been around since before Christ. Women.

And this one seemed intent on paying him back, something that he honestly couldn't fault her for if she'd heard his earlier comments. Ethan relaxed, letting his cheek rest on the soft blue matt in Noni's backyard.

Aaron dug his elbow a little harder, “Ready to admit defeat?”

“Too bad you're not the one training me,” Kate said.

“You and me both, darling. Why everyone thinks this brute is such a better fighter than me I'll never figure out.”

Aaron shifted his weight slightly, an inch of pressure relieved off Ethan's back. Ethan could practically feel Aaron swelling with pride. Ethan roared to life. He shoved up and twisted into a powerful flip, throwing Aaron to the ground. Ethan shoved a knee into Aaron's back and pinned him down. “They think I'm a better fighter because I
am
a better fighter.”

Ethan held him down, unwilling to let go until Aaron admitted defeat. “What do you say?”

Aaron mumbled something incoherent. Ethan dug his elbow into his back. “What was that?”

Ethan rode the wave of satisfaction and glanced up to see Kate watching him with an unreadable expression. Ethan winked, “Thanks for the assist, princess.”