Ethan shook his head but didn’t speak; he couldn’t find the words. The tuxedo had absolutely nothing to do with his inability to breathe. From the first moment he saw Kate he’d started falling, and never stopped.
But love? Ethan Slade loved no one. How did he even know that’s what he was feeling? He didn’t. Maybe this was just an overzealous attraction. Maybe it was because Kate was so different from the faceless women he usually hooked up with.
Maybe she was his one, just like Noni said.
Cold sweat broke out on his face and neck and Ethan reached up to tug at the ruthless starched collar. This damn tuxedo might just kill him.
“Man, you getting sick? You’re starting to look a little green.” Aaron took a step away.
“Did they turn up the heat in here? Feels like a freaking furnace.”
“No, it’s these monkey suits. I swear I have on more layers of clothing than I wore in cold weather mountain warfare school.”
“I’m getting back into regular clothes as soon as the ceremony is over, whether Holden likes it or not.”
And if those girls didn’t hurry up, his dick was going on overdrive. He couldn’t get Kate out of his mind, her smile, her silky hair, the way her tight hot sheath had milked him bone dry.
He was rock hard. Ethan glanced at his watch, they still had two hours before the ceremony started, with all the socialites arriving this shindig could go well into next morning. And Ethan couldn’t wait that long.
He banged on the door, listened as light footsteps padded across the room and Celine pulled it open just a crack. “What do you want?”
“Need to talk to Kate.”
Celine frowned. “You can’t be in here, and she can’t come out. She’s busy. Now shoo.”
Could he wait another full three hours before he saw her?
Ethan pushed against the door, not really shoving hard enough to make Celine fall back, just enough force so that he could slip inside. What he saw made him lose his breath for the second time that night.
Kate stood in front of a huge floor length oval mirror in a wedding dress, turning left, then right, admiring herself in her reflection. Ethan’s mind blanked, and he panicked. Marriage? He’d only known her for a couple of weeks.
Fuck she was beautiful.
Invisible shackles cinched around his wrist weighing him down, the weight of responsibility and commitment enough to take him to his knees.
Kate lovingly smoothed her hands down the front of the white dress and then met his gaze in the reflection, her soft expression almost seductive.
“I, I, I,” Ethan stammered out, grabbed the handle and then slammed the door shut. The twenty foot ceilings and extra wide hall shrunk like saran wrap cutting off his air. His mind whirled like a three-year-old on an out-of-control merry-go-round. Marriage. Kids. Commitment.
Kate.
“Watch the door, I got to take a piss.” Ethan managed to croak out and stumble step down the hall, hanging onto the wall for support.
“Ethan!” Kate called out from behind him.
Ethan stopped a few feet from the guest bathroom door and turned, bracing himself for he had absolutely no idea what. Kate rushed to him, a concerned look on her face, still wearing the wedding gown and looking too damn beautiful for words. “It’s not what it looks like. Caroline wanted me to feel how heavy all the pearls were. That’s it.”
His lips moved but nothing came out. She came to him taking his two hands in her own, anchoring him to her. Shackling him to her. Ethan gave a shaky laugh and pulled his hand away, wiping them down the front of his pants. “Don’t want to get the wedding dress dirty.”
“We were just having some fun, playing dress-up, you know?” Her eyes searched him looking for what, he had no idea.
Dress-up. Girls did that, right? Maybe she was telling the truth. Maybe this wasn’t some crazy marriage trap. “Really?”
Kate’s calm gaze met his own. “Yeah, I just wanted to know what it was like to wear a hundred thousand dollars. Caroline let us both try it on.”
A little bit of the tension eased from Ethan’s shoulders. Clothes, makeup, and hair – that’s what girls did, even if Ethan hadn’t pegged Kate for that type.
His lungs moved a little bit, allowing him to draw in some much-needed oxygen. “I don’t know what to say. I saw the dress and kind of –”
“Panicked?” Kate arched a black brow.
“Yeah, I panicked.” Ethan snatched her hands and raised them to his lips to press a soft kiss on her knuckles, lost in her gaze. “Kate, I really like you, a lot. And I want to see where this goes – but I’m not ready for marriage yet. And I’ve got to be honest, I don’t know if I’m cut out for marriage.”
Ethan half expected her to throw his hands away from her, but she leaned down and pressed her own kiss to his knuckles. “Me either, silly. I vowed I’d never get married after my mom tried to force it on me, so if I go back on my word that means my mother was right. Don’t know if I could live with that.” Kate said, smiling.
The ice-cold prison around his chest melted and warmth flooded his body. Ethan stepped in closer and cupped her cheek. “Now that we’ve gotten that nonsense out of the way, the reason I knocked on the door was for this.” He captured her mouth in a deep demanding kiss, tilting her head to the side to allow himself even more access. Their hot mouths collided, tongues sliding, mating as one.
Kate was perfection—everything about her—and he’d never get enough of her taste. He pulled away first leaving them both breathless and gasping.
“I have plans for you tonight, and this time it won’t be me screaming.” Ethan said.
“Why do we have to wait until tonight? Let me get out of this dress and meet you in the bedroom. We have time right now.”
If his cock wasn’t already rock hard, her whispered words made it so.
“Ugh, I can’t leave my post. Shit, sweetheart, you’re making this really, really hard for me.”
Kate nodded eagerly, gathered the dress and turned away heading back to the bedroom.
Caroline stuck her head out the bedroom door, an impish grin on her pixie-shaped face. “I need that dress back.”
ETHAN escorted her back to the bedroom and shooed her inside. “Go, before I lose my control completely.”
Kate turned and blew him a kiss. The heart stopping grin he gave her just before he closed the door slamming home the realization she’d fallen in love with him. A Special Forces operative with an adrenaline addiction.
“Okay, get this torture device off me. I don’t know how you’re supposed to wear this all night.” Kate arched her back, reaching for the row of tiny buttons down the back.
Celine slapped her hands away. “You’ll tear it, let me.”
“You looked beautiful in that.” Caroline, in her satin white bride robe, walked from her stance at the window to the two girls.
“Okay, I’ve got the clasps undone. You can step out.” Celine helped Kate out of the dress and Caroline handed her a robe.
“Thank you.”
Celine lovingly carried the dress to the bed and smoothed it out with gentle motions. “Just because it’s the dress of doom doesn’t mean it’s not beautiful.”
“I hate to say this girls, but we are a sorry bunch. Kate’s stuck guarding us while that swoon-worthy piece of man meat is right outside the door. I can’t even get Aaron to kiss me, and Caroline, you’re marrying some asshole you don’t even know.” Celine spun around with her hands planted on her hips in a perfect imitation of super woman.
Her words were met with silence. Then Caroline cracked the first giggle. Someone pounded on the door and Celine snapped. “What do you want?”
“I want to talk to my daughter please.”
“Oh God, it’s your father.” Mortification rushed straight to her cheeks and Kate slapped a hand over her eyes.
“It’s okay, I’ll handle it.” Caroline squared her shoulders and opened the door. “Yes, father?”
Senato
r Tom Cotter strode into the room, his regal presence preceding him and his tailored black tuxedo.
Kate glanced past his shoulder and spied Ethan’s empty post, leaving her to wonder if he’d changed his mind and ran for the hills.
Celine pretended to inspect the wedding gown and stayed close to Caroline.
Senator Cotter put his hands on Caroline’s arms. “I just wanted to make sure you realize how much this means to me. This marriage will mean great things for us both.”
Caroline’s already straight shoulders stiffened. “Of course.”
“This union will ensure that you’re taken care of for the rest of your life. The general is a good man.”
“Yes, I know.”
How could the senator miss the hurt in Caroline’s voice?
“You’re not planning to do anything out of the ordinary, are you?” He pushed further and Kate bit her lip to keep from telling him to get out.
Caroline jerked from her father’s grip. “When have I ever done anything less than what you expected?”
Senator Cotter’s shoulders deflated a little, his face paling. “Caroline, please, I’m just trying to look out for you–”
“And you, father. You’re trying to look out for yourself. Believe me, you’ve raised me in this world and I know exactly what’s happening. Don’t worry, your precious daughter will be perfect for you just like always.”
Caroline choked on the last words and Kate couldn’t stand it a minute longer. “Sir, we’ll make sure Caroline is exactly where she needs to be.”
He suddenly looked his age, lines forming around his mouth to match his gray hair and Kate steeled herself against the sympathy rising under that look. The senator reached for Caroline, but she gave him her back, leaving him to curl his hand into a fist at his side.
“Thank you, Kate. Keep her safe.”
As soon as her father left the room, Caroline exploded. “I can’t believe you sided with him!”
Kate shook her head. “I didn’t side with him. I said I’ll make sure to get you where you need to be, which is in a limousine headed back to the airport. You’re not about to sacrifice yourself for your father’s career.”
The idea struck a nerve a little too close to home for Kate to ignore. If her mother had gotten her way, Kate would’ve sacrificed her hopes and dreams for Georgia’s picture perfect lifestyle.
Celine gave a fist pump. “Yes!”
“Keep it down. We don’t want anyone getting wind of our plans.”
They converged together in a tight circle in the center of the room. Kate spoke first. “After what went down tonight, I can guarantee you none of them will have the balls to come in this room before the ceremony. That gives us a full hour before anyone even begins to suspect you’re missing.”
“But the reporters are here. My dad will be a laughing stock. I don’t know.”
“Do you really care if he suffers a little bit of embarrassment for trying to force you into a marriage you don’t want?”
“I’ve never done anything so rash.”
“Then it’s time you lived a little,” Kate said.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“Caroline, one day you’ll be a mother, is that the legacy you want to leave your children?” Celine’s quiet question shook Kate to her core. She’d never allowed herself to indulge in thoughts of a long term relationship, let alone marriage and children, but she couldn’t help imagining little black haired boys with light blue eyes running around the house.
Caroline’s features hardened. “No, I don’t. Let’s get changed. I’ll call Liam, my limo driver. We’re friends. He’ll come pick us up.”
“Not here. Have him meet us outside the west gate. We’ll have to sneak out.”
The next few minutes flew by in a flurry as they yanked on their clothes and stuffed belongings into small bags.
“I’m ready. Once we get on the airplane, I’m taking us all on a one-way flight to Cabo.” Caroline slung a dark pink bag over her matching pink pullover.
“We can talk about vacations when we make it out of here. Keep quiet and follow me.” Kate went to the pair of French doors standing slightly ajar at the far end of the bedroom. A faint summer breeze drifted through and a crescent moon hung low over the tree line. But she didn’t study the scenery. She was too busy searching for the roving patrol Team Omega had set up to pass by Caroline’s bedroom every fifteen minutes.
She caught a movement and ducked back. “Okay, as soon as the guard clears the corner of the plantation, I want you to run straight for that wall and wait for me behind the bushes.”
Kate watched until the guard disappeared and then gestured Celine and Caroline across the yard. Kate stepped into the doorframe and paused. This would be career suicide. Even with the irrational feelings flowing freely through her body she recognized that fact. But she also realized she couldn’t live with herself if she was a part of anything that forced Caroline into an unwanted marriage for political gain. She’d left her home town for that very reason – to avoid capitulating to her mother’s wishes of the perfect marriage. She wouldn’t be able to sleep knowing she’d allowed the same fate to fall on Caroline.
Kate took a deep breath and took off in a crouched run, her feet flying over the thick green grass. She didn’t stop until she was hidden in the bushes, the only sounds in the night their soft pants as they fought to catch their breath.
“This is the most exciting thing I’ve ever done,” Caroline whispered.
“Me too. I’ve never evaded a high-tech security team and a US Senator,” Celine said.
“Hush, or our adventure will be over before it begins.” Kate moved forward cautiously, making sure to hug the wall and stay in the dark shadows of the tall evergreen bushes. A hidden wrought iron gate stood about ten feet ahead, guarded by another pair of roving guards. They just had to make it through that gate undetected and they would all be free.
At least for now.
A limb snapped and Kate threw her arm back, pinning the other two girls to the fence.
One of the guards stopped in front of the gate and lit a cigarette, the smell of smoke a disgusting blur on the fresh fragrant night air. “Can you believe this place?” he said to his partner. “I tell you what, when my daughter gets married one day, she’s getting a couple of grand for the wedding – that’s it. Cotter spent more on his little princess’s wedding than most of us see in a lifetime.”
The other guard joined him by the gate, standing watch beside his friend. “That’s the kind of shit you get to do when you rub elbows with the elite. Hell, Cotter’s got more connections at the Pentagon than the president.”
“Especially now he’s marrying his daughter off to the general in line to take over as commander of JSOC. I’m just glad I got out of the military when I did.”
JSOC, or Joint Special Operations Command, was the head of the Special Forces and oversaw all black, gray and white ops ran by the Teams. The guards continued completely oblivious to the three women standing not even 3 feet away.
“I don’t like it,” the second guard said. “There shouldn’t be that close a tie between the man holding the purse strings and the man commanding Special Forces. Feels like some bad shit is fixing to go down.”
The first guard tossed his cigarette down and squished it beneath the heel of his boot. “Not my problem. I did my time, and I’m content to sit back and take these cake jobs for easy money. Besides, did you see the chest on the bride? I almost feel sorry for the general.”
Caroline sucked in a deep breath and Kate slapped a hand over Caroline’s mouth just in time to muffle her outraged shriek.
The men moved on, oblivious, their soft chuckles dying off as the distance between them grew.
Another full minute passed before Kate let go of Caroline’s mouth. “Come on.”
“Not until I get those jerks’ names.”
Kate rolled her eyes and tested the lock on the gate. “You really think your dad’s going to fire them if you r
un back up there and tell him, ‘Oh, by the way, I overheard their conversation when I was trying to escape your arranged marriage.’ I don’t think so.”
“I think your chest looks just fine,” Celine said.
Kate eased the gate open, did a quick check of the nearby perimeter and spotted a black limo parked a hundred feet down the road. “Come on, your driver came through.”
Kate stayed in the lead, sizing up the tall, lanky blond who climbed out of the driver side door at their approach. She didn’t remember this guy on the security roster.
Kate shoved Caroline behind her. “Who are you?”
“Don’t worry, that’s Liam. He’s been my driver for the past year.”
“Ms. Caroline, I came as quick as I could.” Liam shoved his hands in his pockets and shifted from foot to foot.
“Thank you, Liam. I’d like to leave right now if that’s okay.”
Liam blushed bright red, ducked his head and opened the door. “Yes, ma’am. Of course.”
Once they were seated inside, he shut the door without another word, and cranked up the limo and drove off.
The divider glass was already up between the front and back cab, and Kate let out a relieved chuckle. “You almost gave us away.”
Caroline placed a pale hand on her chest. “Did you hear what they said? How could you expect me not to react?”
“I can expect you not to react because we were sneaking out of one of the most highly secured social events I’ve ever seen.”
“Looks like lover boy thought of everything.” Celine lifted a fresh uncorked bottle of champagne. “I think someone has a crush on Caroline.”
This time Caroline blushed. “Don’t say that. Liam is sweet and thoughtful.”
“And you like him.” Celine finished the sentence for her. She poured a glass for each of the girls, forcing Kate to take one. “I know what you just did for her is a really big deal for your career. You need this, believe me. Enjoy it.”
Caroline raised her glass. “A toast to me, for standing up to my father for the first time in my life.”
The glasses clinked together. Celine and Caroline downed theirs in one gulp while Kate took a cautious sip. Fruity crisp flavors exploded in her mouth. “This is delicious.”
The Omega Team: Ethan's Promise (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Men of Mercy Book 7) Page 9
