The thought of him having any hint that she was even semi attracted to him made her slightly nauseous.
Come on Kate, you’re a badass. You train all the time. I mean look at him. He looks like he hasn’t had a haircut in a year.
And with that big goofy grin on his face…how was she supposed to let him touch her and not melt?
“Sure you don't need me to stay out here and help?” Aaron held up a hand and Ethan pulled him to his feet, both of themgrinning and clapping each other on the back like they'd just won some big prize as opposed to fighting in the dirt like a couple of school boys.
Kate sent up a silent prayer that Ethan might allow that to happen, although she doubted he’d ever ask anyone for help.
Ethan shook his head. “No, I've got this.”
“Alright, just scream if you need me.” Aaron passed Kate on the way back to the house and whispered, “Give him hell, sweetness.”
Kate silently watched her last hope of a buffer from Ethan disappear into the kitchen.
The backyard fell into thick silence. She could feel Ethan’s gaze on her back like a heat wave in July.
“Getting cold feet?”
“No.” Yes, in fact, she was. With her solid plan to deal with him standing on shaky ground, she really did want to run inside and hide. Not only had her boss crapped on her career, now she had a seemingly uncontrollable attraction to a man who had no interest in her whatsoever.
What was wrong with her? It wasn’t like she hadn’t been attracted to anyone in the past. She’d had relationship a outside of work when she’d had time. Tim was a super smart accountant who worked in downtown D.C. that had never been anything but respectful of her and the fact her career had come first. But Tim didn’t have stacks of cut muscles filling out his suit or insanely intense blue eyes that made her toes curl in her tennis shoes.
He’d been normal. He’d been respectful. He’d been boring.
Ethan was anything but boring.
“Kate?”
She blew out a silent breath and schooled her features. Remember – he doesn’t like you so you can’t like him. Kate slowly spun, knowing she was in trouble the minute Ethan came into view with his crossed arms making his biceps bulgewith mouthwatering perfection.
That and his gentle smile.
This was the Ethan she didn’t know how to handle. If she had a prayer, she’d have to tip the scales back into her favor. She’d only seen one other mood come out of him – sour. She could deal with that.
“Does it make you feel like more of man tackling him to the ground?” She spat.
His lips dropped and she could practically see his jaw tighten beneath his beard. Kate let out an inward sigh of relief.
Ethan stood at the edge of the blue padded mat, irritation and anticipation flooding his senses. How could she make him want to pull out his hair and kiss her all in the same instant?
She stood suspended a couple of feet away. “You don't have to do this. Really.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Aaron could just as easily take your place.”
A jolt of jealousy hit him at the thought of Aaron’s hands anywhere on Kate’s body. He ground out, “I’m your trainer.”
“It's obvious you don't want any part of this. I’m sure he won’t mind.” She took a step toward the house.
“Get on the mat, Kate.”
His harsh tone had the intended response. She stiffened and spun back to him, her hands balling into fists at her sides.
Damn she was cute with her cheeks all flushed like that.
“Don’t talk to me like that,” she bit out.
