Page 66 of Guarding Bristol

He ran a hand through his hair and dragged on his clothes, feeling strangely unsettled and a little raw.Last night was wrong on so many levels, he knew that, but there was no changing it now.Part of him was mad as hell at himself for caving to his baser nature and making this whole situation even messier.

No.That was just a bullshit excuse.What he hated was how off-balance she made him feel.Bristol had woken something elemental in him that he couldn’t ignore, and he didn’t know what the hell to do about it.Or her.

He went into the kitchen and started a pot of coffee.Shaved off his full goatee in the powder room sink while it brewed.He’d worn a beard or part of one for so long, his clean-shaven face was like a stranger staring back at him in the mirror.

Back in the kitchen, he popped some bread in the toaster.It was still early.He had no news, and last night had been a lot.

He’d let Bristol sleep a while longer.When she came out of the room, he would play it cool.Act like last night hadn’t happened so they could just put it behind them and move on.Last night never should have happened.Ending their physical relationship now before things went any further was the right thing to do.

Way too late for that, and you know it.

Yeah, he did know it.Because somewhere along the way, he’d caught feelings for her.Big ones.

Didn’t matter, he told himself sternly.He had to end it.Once their current predicament was over, he would get a new assignment somewhere else.Or maybe he’d leave the DEA for good.Either way, he and Bristol would be going their separate ways soon.She was too good.Too kind.She deserved a hell of a lot better than a burned-out, emotionally closed-off guy who’d spent the better part of the past year living on the street.

He snatched his phone from the counter when it rang.He didn’t recognize the number, but it was local.“Yeah,” he answered, relieved by the distraction.

“You’re in danger.He knows who you are.”

TJ’s spine went rigid.The male voice was somehow familiar, but he couldn’t quite place it.“Who’s this?”

“We’ve never met.But you know me.We’ve spoken before.”

Woah, shit.He’d been trying to meet this guy in person formonths.He’d been feeding them bits of intel for that long.He was the reason TJ had been granted permission to move here to the coast, in the hopes of making enough inroads with him through Mark so they could finally meet in person.

TJ had thought the botched meeting last night had shot that hope to hell, so to say this call was a surprise was an understatement.“So you called to warn me?”

“Partly.But I’m also willing to trade sensitive information in exchange for a favor.”

“What kind of information?”Warning bells clanged in his brain.Who the hell was this guy, and why was he making contact now?The timing was suspicious.

“Sensitive, personal information on Jordan Leandro.”

“How personal?”

“Enough to destroy him.”

This was everything they’d wanted and more.Except it felt too good to be true.TJ kept talking.“Why are you reaching out now?”

“Because I know you’re DEA and your cover’s burned.The only way to protect yourself is to take him down before his people get you.I can help.”

Fuck.Word traveled fast.And his take on the situation wasn’t wrong.“What’s the favor?”

“Federal protection.”

“You’d need to talk to the Feds about that.”

“I’d rather deal with you.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because I don’t trust anyone else, and I’m on a tight timeline.Leandro knows his personal files were copied.It’s only a matter of time before he finds out it was me.And he’s got his falcons out looking for you right now.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because one of them just asked me about you.I threw him off your trail, but it’s only going to buy you a little time.”

TJ looked over at the closed bedroom door.He thought of Bristol asleep in there, oblivious of the mounting danger.

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