“Deal? Women don’tdealwith 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 withher.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 set his teeth on edge. She thought she had the upper hand here, still. It was time to bring her back down to his level. “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 Grey strode out onto the front porch.
"Ethan, sorry I was in the shower when you got here, so glad you could make it,” Grey said and then turned to Kate. “Just get here? Need me to carry something inside for you?”
“Did you just indicate that I’m trying to be a man?
Grey 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!”
Grey 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 couldremember. 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?” Grey 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. Grey 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.
He needed to keep his distance. Kate was planting some crazy ideas in his head like dating and feeling her hair, a lot like the kind of woman Noni described.
Two weeks. He had to keep his shit locked down for two weeks when he could get back to what he was meant for: The Special Forces. Not a suit-wearing agent with exotic green eyes.
Damn, he was so screwed.
“I've got cookies in the oven right now.” Noni pulled the door open.
“Great,” Ethan said.
Kate took a step back. “I need to grab my bag.”
“I can get it,” Grey offered.
“No!” Kate cleared her throat. “Um, I’ll get it, you guys go on inside.”
Grey waited until Kate was out of earshot. “Am I going to have a problem here?”
Ethan straightened and kept his face blank of the heat rushing through his body. “No, sir.”
“Okay,” Grey went inside, leaving Ethan alone on the porch to watch Kate bent over inside her passenger door.
