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

yourself.”
                  Ethan caved to his need and touched her shoulder, a move that to anyone else would look like a confidence booster, when in reality it was because he couldn't stand not to. And this time, Kate didn't jerk away.
                  Heat trailed from her shoulder into his fingers, up his arms and spread wide and deep across his chest. Kate trusted him.
                  Damn. She was relying on him to teach her the skills needed to save her life. He should be clamming up but he felt taller, more confident, and suddenly Ethan wanted nothing more than to live up the expectation he saw in her gaze.
                  “Aaron, get Celine back out here. She's gonna be our Caroline. I want Kate to practice with a body to protect.” Ethan stepped back, breaking that precious contact, and vowed he'd do whatever it took to ensure Kate was ready.
                  “Dude, she won't listen to me,” Aaron protested.
    “Tell her it’s life or death. She'll listen.” Holden seemed to just appear on the mat out of thin air. “And tell her to bring the shoes.”
    Aaron groaned and headed to the house, his feet literally dragging in the grass. “You’re gonna owe me big time for this.”
    “Kate, you’re doing really well. I think with the rest of the week to practice, you'll be more than ready.” Holden's voice was steady with confidence.
    “Thank you, sir.”
    “Ethan, when you finish, come find me.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    Holden went back to the tent, joining Rowdy at the table. The back door slammed shut and Celine emerged, dangling a pair of heels from her fingers, with Aaron trailing behind.
    She went to Kate and held out a hand. “Mr. Holden over there wants you ready for the wedding night.” Celine extended a pair of what had to be five-inch nude heels.
    “And those are supposed to help me how?” Kate didn't take the shoes.
    “This is what you'll be wearing with your dress. Give me your sneakers and put these on.”
    “You're serious?” Kate turned to Ethan, her eyes wide. “I can't wear those. How do you expect me to run?”
    Ethan shrugged, “Orders are orders.”
    “You don't understand. I don't wear heels.”
    “And what's wrong with my choice in shoes? They're gonna make your legs looks drop dead gorgeous,” Celine said.
    “Not when I fall on my ass,” Kate said.
    “Well you can't wear tennis shoes to the wedding, especially if you’re posing as Caroline's stylist. You'll stand out like a sore thumb,” Celine said.
    “She's right. You need to blend in.” Ethan scratched his beard, drawing Kate's attention. “Like me.”
    “You're kidding, right? You can't compare having a scraggly beard to wearing those torture devices.”
    “Oh, honey, you'll get used to them as quick as you can turn around. I swear,” Celine dangled the shoes a little higher, as if baiting a fish.
    Kate raised her jaw and Ethan instantly recognized the stubborn set. “What if we compromised? Celine, do you think you can come up with something a little bit shorter?”
    Celine frowned, obviously not happy with changing her plans, but nodded. “I guess I can make a run to town and find something a little lower.”
    “Kate, will that work?” Ethan asked.
    “I can do three inches, tops,” Kate said.
    “I can work with that. Maybe we can find some cute wedges.”
    “Good. It's settled. Let's continue in your tennis shoes for now. Tomorrow though, I want you in the shoes you'll be wearing at the wedding. When I train for missions, we always simulate them as close to real as possible,” Ethan said.
    “Does that mean I'll be doing a run through in a dress, too?”
    “Absolutely.”

 
     
    CHAPTER TEN
     
                  They set up the scenario like a small cut out from the wedding, with Aaron, Rowdy, Holden and Ethan surrounding her and Celine at her side. Kate kept herself between Ethan and Celine.
                  “The bad