Page 26 of Blackstone's Heart
Ethan took a breath as he stirred the eggs in the pan. "Kris, last night wasn't just sex. Not for me. I'll be honest here, when I shipped out I thought I was over you. Oh I thought about you, how could I not? You and I have always been a part of each other's lives since we were kids." He platted the eggs and put them in the oven to stay warm while beginning on the bacon. "When I saw you again it was like a Humvee hit me. Despite wanting you, I also have a job to do and that's help catch this fucker and protect you at the same time. Which does complicate things."
"Yes it does." She agreed. "The big question is, can we both remain objective so you can complete your mission right?"
"Smart ass." He laughed.
"Never said I wasn't. Sir." She countered, with a saucy wink.
"I ought to spank you for your lip."
"Oh, promises, promises."
"Don't tempt me woman." He warned, earning a giggle from Krista. "Anyway, yes that is the big question."
The two remained silent. Krista sipping her coffee as Ethan finished breakfast. Moments later he carried the two plates and sat across from her at the breakfast bar. They ate in silence, both thinking of their situation. This was a unique one because while there was something there between them, she had a psycho stalker after her and no idea who or where he was.
Krista finished first and pushed her plate away. "Okay, let's be objective here."
Ethan polished off his own meal. "Okay."
"We're consenting adults. Both of us know what's at stake with this creep out there."
"Because he's in the wind that makes him a more dangerous and unpredictable threat."
"Yeah it does." She sighed. "Ethan, I'm not making light of this. I want you to know that. I may not show it, but I'm conscious of what's going on around me, or I try to be. I have my conceal and carry so everywhere I go, I'm armed."
Ethan grinned rakishly. "The thought of you armed is giving me a hard on."
"You're such a horn dog." She rolling her eyes. "Stop thinking with your dick for like five minutes, Jarhead. What I'm getting at is, between you, your men and the feds I'm covered as best as I can be."
Ethan took a long swallow of his own coffee. She made valid points. Sitting up he looked at her. "Then what do you want Krista?"
"I want to see where this takes us Ethan. We can take it day by day if you want. But we walked away from each other fourteen years ago. Yet here we are again." Krista replied.
"Then we'll take it day by day." Ethan agreed.
Krista was about to slip off the stool to take her plate to the sink, but Ethan beat her to it. Smiling, she cupped her chin and watched the shirtless, badass Marine rinse off the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. He walked back to her carrying the coffee pot and refilled their cups.
“I’m curious about something Ethan.”
“What’s that?”
“How did you come up with the concept for Blackout anyway? Your dad never really said how you did around me.”
Ethan swallowed his coffee and sat the cup back on the bar top. “I can’t tell you when I came up with the idea exactly. I guess it happened after I was released from Richmond. I got back to Lejeune about a month before the rest of the guys came home. All five of us began our transition out phase, so that last year we were pretty much only doing training ops and prepping the guys who were taking our place after we left.
“So the five of us were down at Sywanyk’s there in Jacksonville having a few drinks and shootin’ the shit. I had asked if any of them had an idea of what they were doing after they got out. The only one who had a semi-plan was Tony. He would join his dad’s motorcycle club and go into work with his dad at his cycle shop.”
“Wait, Tony’s dad in a MC?” Krista asked in surprise.
Ethan laughed. “I know, I thought that too. His dad’s club is more like that club, BACA. You know, Bikers Against Child Abuse? His dad’s club helps with things like security during the annual county fair, they do Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for the needy in the town. They also do the neighborhood watch and stuff.”
“Wow. That’s kind of cool.” She giggled.
“Yep. Anyway, so as we’re all sitting there drinking and I suddenly find myself saying that the five of us should go into business together. Gage asked what kind. It was actually Grant who came up with the security thing. I suggested being based in Austin. About two months after that night, we had a business plan put together. I called up Dad and told him. He was completely on board, actually all of our families were. A year after that last deployment we were out of the Corps and moving here. The rest is history.” He explained.
“Sounds like you guys are living the American dream. I think that’s amazing Ethan and I’m so proud of you.” She smiled, reaching out and covering his hand with hers.
“Thank you. I don’t know why, but it means a lot to me.”
