Free The Omega Team: Ethan's Promise (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Men of Mercy Book 7) by Lindsay Cross

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 stormed towards 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