Chapter 11
The next morning Kate woke to sore muscles and an ear-splitting siren for her alarm clock.
The workout yesterday had taxed her mind and muscles, she'd constantly had to fight her attraction to Ethan and block his attacks.
By the end of the day, she'd had to swallow her pride and be the one to call it quits. Not Ethan.
Kate planned to change that today. She'd studied his moves, listened to his instructions and became aware of his patterns.
Plus, she was wearing her ‘armor’ as Celine had called it.
She spent a full extra ten minutes fixing her hair into a ponytail and applying mascara and then all but limped down stairs, her muscles not as eager as her renewed confidence.
“I got your plate ready. Have a seat.” Noni gestured to the kitchen table and a huge stack of pancakes layered with syrup.
Kate's stomach rolled at the mouthwatering sight. “Noni, I can't eat that right before training. I'll throw up.”
Noni had on a steel gray button up dress today and the color seemed to match her determination. “You can't fight on an empty stomach.”
“I can't fight on a full one either,” Kate grumbled as she settled in the chair.
“You're just as grouchy as my Johnny used to be.” Noni swiped the plate of pancakes and replaced it with eggs and toast. “How's this?”
“Perfect, thank you.”
Noni settled directly across from her, her stare making Kate shift in her seat. Aaron's grandmother seemed to see right into her soul, and she didn't like it one bit.
“I watched you two yesterday. He can't keep his eyes off you.”
Kate choked on her eggs and quickly took a gulp of orange juice. “Excuse me?”
“Ethan. Every time you're not looking, he's looking at you. And the way he looks at you…” Noni nodded her head with confidence leaving Kate to stare at her open mouthed.
“I really don't think this is an appropriate conversation.”
“Pfft, just because I'm old doesn't mean I can't appreciate love when I see it blooming. You willing to take a little advice from someone with a lot more experience?”
Kate slowly sat her juice back on the table and tried to keep her pulse below a thousand beats per minute. “Ma'am, I'm not sure what you thought you saw, but I just met Ethan. He's my trainer, nothing else.”
And I melt when he touches me. She flushed at the unbidden thought.
“Mmm-hmm. Is that why your cheeks have turned red as a tomato? I think you know as well as I do that the sparks flying between you two on those mats have nothing to do with training.”
Kate's stomach twisted into one big knot and she pushed back from the table, unwilling to even consider having feelings beyond attraction for Ethan Slade. The man was a wild card, a loner and completely and utterly unpredictable. Three things Kate couldn't stand.
Lord, she could barely tolerate when her bathroom towels hung unevenly. How could she contemplate having any kind of feelings for the unpredictable force that was Ethan?
“Thank you for breakfast, but I think I better get to work.”
“Hold on,” Noni's bony hand shot out and shackled Kate's wrist. “Listen, a man like that, you got to keep him on his toes. Do the unexpected. Be out of the ordinary. He won't know how to handle it and you'll have him eating out of your hand.”
But I am ordinary. Kate gently extracted her hand from Noni and took a step toward the door.
Kate went out the kitchen door into the backyard only to come to a stop at the edge of the back porch. Aaron was on the mat, instructing Celine, while Ethan stood off to the side in gray sweats and a black muscle shirt, watching with a heart breaking handsome smile.
Grey was further back, under a tan tent, bent over a picnic table talking to another man. The extra bodies seemed to crowd the yard and Kate's skin grew tight.
Ethan glanced her way, and then back to the mat. A heartbeat later he spun completely to face her, eyes wide. A surge of satisfaction coursed through her veins and she approached him, suddenly eager once more to start.
Ethan’s gaze locked on to her chest and Kate fought the urge to tug her top up. She wasn’t used to wearing anything this revealing, but the desire exploding across his gaze was proof he wasn’t the cold machine she’d thought.
“How are you feeling this morning?”
Like my muscles are twisting over my bones. “Fine.”
“Really? I thought I put you through some pretty tough paces yesterday. You ready for more?” He reached out and touched her arm, which ignited a spark. She jumped back, rubbing the spot he'd touched.
“Why so jumpy?”
Kate scowled up at his amused expression. “Just ready to get started. How’s Celine doing?”
She gestured to the pair on the blue pad. Currently Aaron had his arms crossed and his gaze locked on the tiny blonde standing with her hands on her hips.
Ethan chuckled, “She's had him like that all morning.”
“Looks like he's scared of her.”
“Not scared, he just doesn't know how to handle her. She's unpredictable.”
Kate started at Ethan's words, the exact replica of Noni's. She told herself it was just curiosity about Aaron and Celine, but she knew deep down she was curious for her own sake. “And he likes that?”
“It's driving him crazy, but yeah, she keeps him guessing.”
Ethan scratched his beard and Kate instantly itched for a pair of scissors to trim him nice and neat. “Why do you both have a beard?”
It's not like the military encouraged that, as a matter of fact, most men she knew had to keep their faces completely shaved.
“We're not normal military. Aaron and I are in the Teams, and they like for us to be able to blend in. Why, you like it?” Ethan leaned down closer, offering his cheek.
Kate caught herself mid-movement and pulled back. “I want to cut it, not touch it.”
Hurt flashed in his eyes, and was gone just as fast, sending a small dose of guilt right to her chest.
“You don't like my beard?”
“It's not that I don't like it. I mean, it looks good on you, I just prefer clean shaved men.”
“So you think I'm handsome?” Ethan probed further and any good will Kate had evaporated.
“I didn't say that. Are we going to train or stand here and chat all day?”
“You're not a morning person, huh?”
“How’d you guess?” Kate threw her hands up in the air and stormed to the mat, ready to ask Aaron for a lesson rather than stand there and let Ethan insult her.
Aaron and Celine faced off in the center. “You know I have no idea what I'm doing here. Why do you keep snapping at me?” Celine planted a fist on her hip and glared at Aaron, who looked even more chagrined than earlier.
“I'm not snapping; I just don't understand what's so hard about blocking. We've been going over it for an hour.”
“Why don't you let me explain the chemical ratios of mixing dye and color and then keeping the correct ph balance so that you don't burn your client’s hair?
Or the twenty different shades of blue and their coordinating colors.
See, your eyes are crossing. I honestly don't see why I have to try and learn any of this stuff. Caroline will be perfectly safe surrounded by all her bodyguards.” Celine sauntered forward and trailed a finger down Aaron's chest. “And I'll be perfectly guarded by you.”
Aaron swallowed, his jaw ticked and he grabbed Celine's finger. “Not if I can't be with you every second of the entire day and night.”
“Well then, I guess you better stick to me like glue. I am done with this complete waste of time.” Celine spun on her heel and strode off the mat, leaving everyone in the yard staring as she stomped inside.
Aaron scrubbed his face and then turned to follow her, but Ethan stopped him halfway. The two men talked for a minute and then Aaron changed route. Kate tried to follow his path but Ethan stepped into her line of vision. “Ready?”
Kate took a steadying breath and nodded. She could do this. Caroline's life may depend on her abilities. “I'm ready.”
Ethan raised his brows but didn't say anything. Yesterday's lesson had been contentious, with her repeatedly going on the attack and losing. Kate liked to think she was smart enough to learn from her mistakes.
Noni's advice floated through her mind, followed by how Celine had controlled Aaron completely. Today would be different. Today Kate would win.
“I think yesterday I approached your lesson from the wrong perspective.
I don't want you in the position to physically fight a man twice your size and weight. We need to build on your strengths.” Ethan started to slowly circle her, a technique meant to keep her off balance.
Kate stared straight ahead, letting her other senses help her.
Ethan continued, “Today, I want to tap into that intelligent mind.”
Ethan stopped right in front of her, his entire expression locked on hers with intensity. “Trust me?”
If he'd commanded her, or bullied her, she would have told him to shove it, but Ethan asked for her to trust him. Kate found herself nodding before she finished her thoughts.
“You are Caroline's bodyguard. You will be with her at all times. It is your job in the event of an attack to protect Caroline and allow the rest of us to handle the threat. Your objective is to keep her safe.” Ethan sized her up, and Kate fought to keep the heat from rising to her cheeks.
Every time he focused on her, he made her feel like she was the only person in his entire world.
“What about protection? If I'm the one closest to her, don't I need to fight off the attacker?”
Ethan shook his head. “Yes, but I also want you aware of the threat before it becomes critical.”
Kate raised a brow, “And just how am I supposed to do that if we don't know who or what the threat is?”
“You are always aware. No matter where you are, you know your surroundings.”
“Of course I'm aware. My job is catching the details other people miss.” Irritation lined her tone, but she couldn't help it.
Ethan didn't react at all, instead he clasped his hands behind his back, spread his legs apart and said, “Close your eyes.”