Page 16 of Blackstone's Heart
Jerry laughed."Excuse me?"
Pouring herself a healthy dose of sweet red, Krista filled Jerry in on what had just happened with Ethan. "Then he just fucking sat there, Jerry. Like I had just told him the sky was purple."
"I'm sorry I'm still trying to picture that hottie's manly bits."
"Christ Jer, focus! What the hell am I supposed to do? I mean, yeah I thought I was over him but then this morning he comes waltzing back into my life and suddenly bam. I'm all hot and bothered like some horny teenager." Krista groaned.
"Doll, Ethan Blackstone would get anybody hot and bothered. As for what you do? I'd say let him make that next move."
"Why? Why should I have to wait for the insufferable man to decide?"
Jerry sighed."Krista, as you told him, you two have both changed. As for you being over him? Ha, that's a laugh honey. I knew you still had it bad for him after reading Dress Blues. Come on, that photo shoot? How the models had to look a certain way? Look like you and Ethan for example? Tell me, why were you so damned specific on that cover?"
Krista was silent as she contemplated his words. "I...I guess, well I...oh hell."
"Bingo. You never got over him. Now, you let him decide the next move because his move will tell you what direction you two will go."
"And if he just wants to get in my pants?"
"Well, then you enjoy the hell out of Mr. Marine hotness and move on."
Krista groaned. "Yeah. Well, I'll see ya tomorrow. And thanks for listening."
"You're welcome, but you never have to thank me for being there for you. Love ya honey."
"Love you too Jerry. Night." Krista smiled a little as she ended the call.
Leaning back on the couch she sipped her wine. Jerry was right. She had made her position clear to Ethan. It was now up to him to decide what he wanted. No longer feeling like a fool, she gathered the wine bottle, her phone and headed for her studio. She would see if a long writing session would help clear her mind.
Chapter 5
Krista sank into the chair at the food court at the Hill Country Galleria. She was tired but satisfied. Though her bank account probably wasn't. Jerry sat across from her while Grant took the seat to her right. The three had just spent the last three hours hitting the stores. Yet, after the previous night’s ending and her confusion over Ethan, her mind was actually clear. Guess her girlfriends were right. Retail Therapy was the best kind.
"And I thought my sisters could shop." Grant said.
"You got sisters? How many?" Krista asked with a smile, eager to learn more about the men Ethan called his team.
"Three younger. There's Britney who's a nurse, Casey is in her last year at Ol' Miss and my baby sister Annie, who just started at Ol' Miss." Grant answered with an adoring and proud-big-brother tone.
"Sounds like you guys are close." Jerry commented, cupping his chin in one hand and smiling as well.
Grant nodded. "I love them and would happily dismember anyone who threatened them. Of course before I joined the Marines I made sure they could also defend themselves."
"They're lucky to have you Grant." Krista stated, laying a hand on his arm.
She had instantly felt a connection to Grant Whitney. Maybe it was because he reminded her a lot of her older brothers Jax and Hayden. God she missed them, she missed all her brothers. Jax was up in Dallas, Hayden down in Houston and Danny, well, all Danny could tell them was that he was somewhere in Florida. A sad sigh escaped her. She felt Grant cover her hand with his.
"You okay there?" He asked.
"Yeah, just hearing you talk about your sisters has me thinking about my brothers." Krista replied with a nonchalant shrug.
"Ethan told me you had three brothers and that one is a DEA agent?" Grant pushed gently
"That would be the baby, Danny." Jerry spoke up. "Krista's brothers are great. Jax is a hot shot criminal prosecutor up in Dallas. Nick says he's making quite a name for himself up there. Hayden went into corporate law and working for some big business down in Houston."
"Then we have Danny. He's deep cover and all we know is that he's in Florida somewhere. I was able to talk to him about two weeks ago. But he doesn't know what's going on now. We all agreed he doesn't need to know until he's finished with his current assignment." Krista stated, unable to fully hide the worry she felt for her baby brother.
Before another word was spoken, Krista's phone went off. She rolled her eyes but answered. "Hi Jax."
