Page 2 of Guarding Bristol

The drive home was extra gorgeous at this time of year.The sun hung low on the horizon, spilling its deep golden rays across the sea that stretched out as far as the eye could see as she headed south to her quiet little neighborhood nestled on a rise facing the water.The three-story townhouse was the first place she’d ever owned, and she loved every square inch of it, but especially the view of the water from her bedroom on the second floor.

Everleigh was bent over pruning the hydrangeas bordering the walkway when Bristol got out of her car.“Hey, neighbor.”

“Hi.Got big plans tonight?”Everleigh answered.The petite physiotherapist looked like an angel sent to earth with the deep golden sunlight shining on her silvery-blond hair.

Bristol stopped to pick up a few cut branches lying on the grass and toss them in the pile on the tarp.“Lady tapas with Cassie.You wanna come over?”

“Love to, but I’m taking Grady on a long overdue date when he gets off.They’re on exercise this coming weekend, so we’re getting quality time in before he leaves.”

Her husband Grady was an L&D nurse at the hospital and also a PJ in Travis’s unit.Seriously, Crimson Point was a hotbed of hot military men.She wouldn’t mind finding one for herself, as long as he didn’t try to change her.She didn’t do well with controlling men.“Awesome, enjoy.”

“Oh, I will,” Everleigh replied with a sly wink that made Bristol grin.

Cool, citrus-scented air greeted her when she opened her front door and walked in.She rushed upstairs to change into yoga pants and a long tunic top, then hurried back down to the kitchen to put together dinner.Crackers with hunks and slices of various cheeses she’d bought from a shop in town, fresh berries and other fruit, toasted nuts, sliced veggies, ranch dip, hummus, rotisserie chicken, a few roasted pepper slices, marinated artichokes.All the good stuff, and the best part was, she hadn’t had to make any of it.

“Knock-knock,” a familiar voice called from the front entry.

“Come on in.I’m in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on this masterpiece.”

Cassie appeared around the corner a few moments later, tall and slender in snug cropped jeans and a form-fitting top that hugged her trim figure to perfection.Her short cap of black hair was wispy around her face, the dark color a sharp contrast to her pale skin and startling, silvery eyes.“Hi, honey.How was your day?”

“Great, you?Oooh, yeah, you brought the good stuff.”Bristol took the bottle of her favorite red from her and fished in the drawer for the corkscrew to open it.

Cassie perused the board she’d built.“Lady tapas?Nice.”

“Right?I love not cooking.”She handed over two wineglasses.“Pour us a glass and make yourself comfy on the couch.I’ll be right there.”

Cassie took the glasses to the attached living room and stretched out on the couch with a deep sigh.“Oh, yeah.Been looking forward to this all week.”

“Same.”It was so nice to have Cass around.It hadn’t been easy to convince her to make the move out here from Vegas, but Bristol knew her stepsister was way happier here.Now they got to hang out whenever they felt like it.

She finished arranging the board to her satisfaction and carried it to the coffee table, accepting a glass of wine as she settled into the opposite corner of the couch.“Cheers, babe.”

“Cheers.”Cassie clinked glasses with her and grinned.“Look at us, hanging out by choice all on our own as if we actually like each other.”

“I know, right?We’ve come a long way.”

“I’ll say.You hated my guts when we first met,” Cassie said with a smirk.“Stone-cold Elsa-freeze treatment.”

Yeah, because her dad had decided the best way to introduce her and Cassie was to bring Cassie over to dinner one night and announce over roast chicken that they were going to be sisters when he eloped with Cassie’s mom in a few weeks.

Bristol had been singularly unimpressed.“I know.Sorry I was such a moody bitch.”

Cassie snorted a laugh in the middle of taking a sip of wine, wound up choking.Bristol leaned forward to pound on her back.

“It always cracks me up when you swear,” Cassie wheezed when she finished coughing.“You’re so damned adorable, you look like sugar wouldn’t melt in your mouth.”

She frowned.“Whatever, I swear.”

“Hardly ever.And I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say the word ‘fuck.’”

Bristol brushed at a crumb on her pants.“Be grateful.Because that would mean I’ve gone nuclear.”

Cassie’s eyes danced with silent laughter.“I think I’d pay good money to see that.”

“You say that only because you haven’t witnessed it firsthand.”She gestured to the mostly demolished food remaining on the board.“Want more?I’ve got lots more.”

Cassie groaned.“No, I couldn’t.Maybe another glass of wine for dessert though.”

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