Men of Mercy: The Complete Story

by Cross, Lindsay

  She quickly dried her hair and changed into her work out clothes, and did a quick self-check in the antique oval mirror over the sink. The haphazard bedroom taunted her in the reflection.

  She didn’t have time to fix it. Ethan had said training in ten. The chaos would take forever to organize into any semblance of symmetry.

  Warily, she made her way to the door, trying to resist the urge to fix everything. Her gaze landed on the dolls. So many. So out of order.

  Just like her life. She needed her job as an analyst because that’s what she did. She lived in patterns. She loved categorization. She’d structured her entire adult life into the perfect system.

  Kate focused on the door.

  She could start a new career. That’s why she was here. Starting from scratch in a new field wouldn’t be impossible. If she kept her cool and did a good job on this mission, maybe Col Grey would give her suitable recommendations in the private sector. All she had to do was pretend like she didn’t feel anything when Ethan began her training…

  With a cry, Kate flew to the bed and began rearranging the dolls. After separating them into classes of animals, people and randoms, she ordered them from largest to smallest, arranging them into groups of five. The randoms, which consisted of a stuffed star, sword and a tractor, she stuck under the bed. Stepping back, she eyed her work, making sure each was in line with the next.

  The dresser and figurines came next. Tiny clear and painted women in various styles of dresses throughout history, stood turned this way and that, no sense to them at all. Hands shaking, Kate ordered them by style of dress, beginning with the oldest to the newest, left to right, checking to make sure they were spaced apart equally.

  She needed control. Regulation. Symmetry.

  “Hey, Kate, do you have those clothes for me to wash?” Noni knocked on the door and Kate jumped almost a foot.

  “Just a minute!” She dashed for her bag, flicked off the lights and opened the door just enough for her to squeeze out, trying to look like she’d been doing anything other than rearranging Noni’s guestroom.

  Noni gave her a once over and for some reason, Kate got the feeling she was being sized up. “He hasn’t got a prayer.”

  “Ma’am?” Kate asked in confusion.

  Noni shook her head. “Nothing to worry about, dear. I’m assuming from the smell, the bag has your dirty clothes?”

  Kate wrinkled her nose. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “I thought so. Hand if over. You’ve got some work to do.” Noni held out a wrinkled hand and Kate passed her the bag.

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to wash these?” Kate hedged.

  “I’ll handle the clothes. You go handle him.” Noni hooked a thumb over her shoulder, in the direction of the back of the house. “If his expression was any indication, he’s about to wipe the backyard with my grandson.”

  Kate fought the blush heating up her cheeks, mumbled out a ‘yes, ma’am’ and fled down the hall. She didn’t relish the idea of facing Ethan again, but she would do it.

  She was a CIA agent. She was trained and fit for duty. She could control herself for the duration of this mission.

  If only she could control Ethan as easily, but she had a feeling he'd be the one flipping her upside down.

  * * *

  The pity in Kate’s gaze taunted him. She felt sorry for him because he’d grown up without a family. He should have never of even hinted at his past with her. He’d put that behind him years ago, transitioning into military life without looking back.

  The years of conditioning had taught him to block out the pain from his past and move on beyond his childhood fears, so much so that didn’t even want to put down roots anywhere anymore. Forming an attachment to a place or a person didn’t interest him in the least. Besides, relationships were a mirage. Smoke and mirrors as the military called it. None of them were real. People bolted at the first sign of trouble; that was human nature. He was better off relying on himself.

  And his Team.

  Other people, including green eyed enchantresses, didn’t fit into that equation.

  “You gonna stand there all day or are we going to do this?” Aaron cocked his head to the side and arched a brow.

  “Just giving you time to chicken out.” Ethan ducked down and to the right, driving forward in a surge of power to ram Aaron in the gut and throw his teammate to the mat laid out in the backyard. Aaron grunted, tucked his knees to his chest and shoved Ethan off. Both men got to their feet and crouched in a fighting stance, Ethan facing the back and Aaron facing the house.

  “Nice try.” Aaron's grin looked more like a grimace.

  “That was more than trying. Why don't you go ahead and give in now? We both know who's gonna win this round.” Ethan lunged in a fake right and Aaron countered.

  “I'm so going to enjoy watching you lose it around her.” Aaron gave a quick jab with his right, barely missing Ethan's jaw.

  “I don't know what you're talking about. I'm her trainer. That's it.” Ethan surged forward, wrapped his hands around Aaron's shoulders and yanked him down as Ethan raised a knee.

  Aaron twisted out of his grip a second before Ethan's knee connected with his face. “That's why you were practically drooling on the front porch. Admit it, you really like her.”

  “You’re nuts. She’s practically a man. I have absolutely no interest in her.” Ethan circled right and left, always moving, even as Aaron's words brought on the memory of Kate’s lips. Fuck, forget her lips and focus.

  “Oh, you got it bad.” Aaron dove forward and Ethan used his own momentum against him, swinging him around and throwing him to the ground.

  “I don't think so.” Ethan stood over his friend and grinned. “Besides, we'll see how you handle it when Celine gets here.”

  Aaron jumped to his feet and barreled forward, slamming his shoulder into Ethan's stomach. He let out a whoosh of air and then immediately started raining blows down on Aaron's back. They broke apart, Aaron's grin just as vicious as Ethan's. “I'm just glad to know I'm not the only one panting after a hot piece of tail.”

  For some reason, Aaron's comment pissed him off and Ethan reacted on pure instinct. He threw out a straight jab, going for Aaron's mouth. Aaron ducked back, barely missing losing a few teeth.

  “Oh, I struck a nerve. You really do like her.”

  Aaron's words fueled him, the irritation spurred through his body. Kate had struck a chord in him – an immediate tightly wound cord that she had no business touching. “She's weak. She needs to learn how to control herself.”

  He'd been able to read every individual flicker of emotion that flashed across her face, from the way her pouty lips turned down at the corners, to her overly bright green eyes that belied every thought. Including her pity at his slip up about his past. God, he was losing his mind. “Why don't you give up? You never seem to come out on top in these matches.”

  Aaron's smile stretched wide, showing a flash of bright white teeth in his bearded face. “I have a feeling today is going to be my lucky break.”

  “You said that the last time and I believe I kicked your ass then, too.” Ethan embraced the free flow of adrenaline their bare knuckled brawling brought on. Even more so when Ethan took his fellow teammate to the ground.

  Aaron stopped moving and stared past Ethan's shoulder. Ethan growled, “Come on man, don't wuss out now.”

  “Look.”

  “You really think I'm falling for that?” Distraction was literally the oldest trick in the book.

  Aaron continued to stare as if transfixed. “Oh man, I'm going to enjoy this.”

  Ethan finally gave in and glanced over his shoulder, keeping Aaron in his peripheral. He caught a glimpse of black tights and a formfitting black shirt that displayed a generous wealth of cleavage. Ethan's brain blanked. A jolt of awareness shocked his system into a semi-comatose state. The loose pants suit she’d worn earlier had hidden her form, a crime in itself. His gaze continued up to her eyes, which were narrow
ed on him.

  Had she been standing there the whole time? Ethan fought the urge to groan. Freaking Aaron had known and baited him.

  Ethan tried to mentally shore up his defenses against the undeniable spark between them, and then she smiled, transforming her entire face. The air left his lungs in a whoosh at the transformation. She was undeniably the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on.

  He needed her.

  No, he didn’t need her – he wanted her. Despite the fact she didn’t have any kind of place in his life, he wanted her. Ethan sized her up. Maybe he could have her. They’d be in close contact for two weeks and while he never stayed with anyone that long, he might not mind it so much with Kate. She definitely wasn’t his normal cup of tea. That would be long enough for him to get her out of his system and not worry about attachments. He’d have a clear cut reason to leave in the end. She seemed pretty independent. Maybe she’d like that kind of arrangement herself.

  Footsteps pounded behind him, and before he could defend himself, Aaron took him to the ground and shoved his face in the mat. His hands were ripped behind his back and Aaron pinned him down with a thick elbow at the back of his neck. “Thanks for the assist, sweetness. I owe you one.”

  Kate stepped into his line of vision, and Ethan caught a glimpse of toned calves before Aaron shoved him back down.

  Kate squatted in front of him, “I didn’t do anything.”

  “Trust me, sweetness, you did,” Aaron said.

  Ethan had thought distraction the oldest trick, but he’d forgotten about the one that had been around since before Christ. Women.

  And this one seemed intent on paying him back, something that he honestly couldn't fault her for if she'd heard his earlier comments. Ethan relaxed, letting his cheek rest on the soft blue matt in Noni's backyard.

  Aaron dug his elbow a little harder, “Ready to admit defeat?”

  “Too bad you're not the one training me,” Kate said.

  “You and me both, darling. Why everyone thinks this brute is such a better fighter than me I'll never figure out.”

  Aaron shifted his weight slightly, an inch of pressure relieved off Ethan's back. Ethan could practically feel Aaron swelling with pride.

  “It’s obvious they were wrong,” Kate smiled.

  Aaron laughed. He thought he’d won. Not for long.

  Ethan roared to life. He shoved up and twisted into a powerful flip, throwing Aaron to the ground. Ethan shoved a knee into Aaron's back and pinned him down. “They think I'm a better fighter because I am a better fighter.”

  Ethan stared at Kate without blinking.

  He was unwilling to let go until Aaron admitted defeat. “What do you say?”

  Aaron mumbled something incoherent.

  Ethan dug his elbow into his back. “What was that?”

  “I give.”

  Ethan rode the wave of satisfaction and glanced up to see Kate watching him with an unreadable expression.

  Ethan winked, “Thanks for the assist, princess.”

  Chapter 9

  Her heart skipped a beat. She’d been prepared to deal with the serious Ethan – not playful Ethan. His shift from stern to sweet threw her plan to keep him at arm’s length right out the window.

  He hopped to his feet and grinned, instantly smoothing out the chiseled hard lines of his face and she had to fight to keep her expression blank. If he’d pulled the least little male-macho routine with her his triumphant would have pissed her off, instead he melted her control. She couldn't help but admire his quick thinking and his brute strength.

  Warm heat licked up her spine and she quickly looked away before he sensed her desire. He obviously didn’t have the least bit of interest in her. His lesbian statement earlier let her know exactly how he saw her. And she’d pissed him off prying into his past.

  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 them grinning 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 bulge with 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.

  “Alright, try this on for size. You either get on the mat and we start working or you’re off the mission.” Although he’d rather stump his toe right now rather than see her leave. If he’d thought taunting her like that would driver her away, he wouldn’t have done it. But she got so spun up at his goading, a woman with her spirit wouldn’t back down.

  “Col. Grey is the only one with the authority to do that.” Kate crossed her arms and glared at him, the action pushing up her plump breasts to test the top of her shirt.

 
; Ethan’s irritation edged up. “And he find someone else if you refuse to do what I say. As far as you’re concerned – I’m in charge.”

  “You’re an ass.”

  Instead of rising to her bait, he simply waited right where he was. She was either going to do this his way or no way at all. Improperly trained operatives winded up either dead or injured and he had no intention of allowing anything bad to happen to her.

  Finally, after a whole minute of stare down, she blew out a loud breath and stomped over to him. “Fine.”

  When she got on the mat, she cast him a trivializing look and arched a black brow.

  Ethan’s blood started to boil in response. He really did not like that look. “You ready?”

  “I’ve been ready,” she retorted.

  His hand shot out and wrapped around her firm bicep. Heat sizzled up his arm.

  “Let go of my arm,” she said.

  “Make me.”

  His hand slid down, unconsciously testing the silky texture of her skin. Kate's lips parted, drawing Ethan's gaze to her mouth. There was no way in hell he'd make it through training her without tasting those lips.

  Ethan gritted his teeth and fought for control. Allowing himself to become distracted by his throbbing hard on wouldn’t do her any good. Grey had briefed on the past few years of Kate's life, including the fact that the closest she'd been to physical combat was at a computer. He knew she would have had to pass basic training at the Farm for any position at the CIA, but she’d be rusty.

  Kate wind milled her arm in a large arc, broke his grip and caught him by surprise. He'd been so focused on her mouth he'd forgotten his own challenge. She dropped, sweeping her leg in a wide circle and caught him on the side of his shin. He barely felt her kick, but Kate dropped to the mat and grabbed her foot. “Ow.”

  Amusement tinged his words, “Good idea but terrible form.”

  She frowned up at him and rubbed her leg, “Bite me. I was just warming up.”

  He held out his hand, but she ignored him and got to her feet without his assistance.