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 Grey 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 matterhow 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?” Grey 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,” Grey 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.” Grey 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.” Grey 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 a couple of weeks. Couldn’t he?
Chapter 8
“Here’s your room.We’ll get the mat set up in the back yard while you shower.” Ethan led her to a rustic wood door halfway down the hall.
Kate gazed up at him closely in the darkened hall, trying to read through his carefully spoken words, but all she got was a guarded expression. “Um, thanks. I should only be about ten minutes.”
“I’m bunking in there.” He pointed to the open door right beside hers.
A single black bag sat unpacked in the corner. Any other evidence of Ethan didn’t exist. “Where is the rest of your stuff?”
“I try to keep it lite,” he said matter-of-factly.
“You mean that’s all you brought?”
“When you live on the road, you figure out what you really need and don’t need.”
“Don’t you ever go home?” Kate asked.
He shrugged. “Don’t have one.”
“A home?”
“Nope.”
She blinked up at his blank expression. “Where do you live then?”
“Where ever I end up.”
“What about your family? Where did you grow up?”
“Don’t have one of those either.” Ethan crossed his arms and stared down at her blankly.
