“Tell her it’s life or death. She'll listen.” Grey 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.” Grey's voice was steady with confidence.
“Thank you, sir.”
“Ethan, when you finish, come find me.”
“Yes, sir.”
Grey went back to the tent, joining Ranger 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. Grey 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 look 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 13
They setup the scenario like a small cut out from the wedding, with Aaron, Ranger, Grey and Ethan surrounding her and Celine at her side. Kate kept herself between Ethan and Celine.
“The bad guy isn't always the most obvious person in the room and you have to be prepared to react, because no matter how hard I train you, and I'm gonna train you hard, you may miss something and you have to be prepared for that.” Ethan ripped a gun out from behind his back and leveled the pistol straight at Kate's head.
