Page 90 of Guarding Bristol

Chapter Thirty-Four

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Cassie’s patience hadrun out more than an hour ago.

About to come unglued, she barely kept herself from pacing up and down the dock as the Coast Guard cutter made its way to the berth at the far end.The only thing stopping her was Tristan, standing silently beside her while holding an umbrella over them.For whatever reason, probably some misplaced sense of loyalty, he’d insisted on coming here with her after they’d been released from the marina.

This whole thing had been one giant shit storm.But at least Bristol was alive.

“Not long now,” he said quietly, the rain drumming so hard on the umbrella it poured off the edges of it.The storm had turned out to be much more intense than forecasters had predicted, and showed no sign of letting up.The latest models showed it raining and blowing until early afternoon tomorrow.

“Not soon enough,” she grumbled, shoving her hands deeper into her coat pockets, her left one curling around her personal phone.She’d switched it off because it had blown up with calls and messages from her mom and Bristol’s dad as soon as she’d texted them what was happening.Thankfully, calling hadn’t been an option because things had been too chaotic at the time.

She’d been careful not to make it sound that bad, but their concern was completely understandable.Her final message to them was that the Coast Guard was bringing Bristol to shore and that Cassie would personally contact them once she had Bristol back safe and sound.

After a small eternity, the ship finally finished docking.She headed straight for the gangplank at a rapid clip, Tristan right beside her, keeping her dry.She’d thank him for everything later.Right now, she was one-hundred-and-twenty-percent focused on Bristol.Anyone who got in front of her or slowed her down was going to wind up on their ass.

A few people began disembarking.Her heart leapt when she spotted Bristol at the top of the gangplank wearing navy blue sweats, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders.

As soon as she reached the dock, Cassie caught her in a huge hug and held on tight.Thank God.Now she could finally breathe again.

Bristol smelled like seawater, her dark hair still damp and crusted lightly with salt crystals.“You okay?”

Bristol nodded, hugging her just as hard in return.“You?”

“I’ve aged thirty years since the last time I saw you, but...yeah, now that you’re back safe and sound.”Jesus.The past twenty-four hours had been a complete nightmare.She gave Bristol one last squeeze and eased back, belatedly realized that Tristan was getting soaked, standing there in the pouring rain covering her and Bristol with the umbrella.

“Vehicle’s parked just ahead,” she said to Bristol.“Up to a quick run in the rain?”

“Yes.Hi...Tristan?Or are you Gavin?”she asked him.

His gentle smile turned Cassie’s heart upside down.No man that big and strong and deadly should also be that sweet.“Tristan.Good to see you.”

“You too.”

“Come on.Let’s get outta here,” Cassie said, sliding an arm around Bristol’s shoulders.

The three of them made a dash to the SUV.She put Bristol in the back right passenger seat, started to go around to the driver’s door, and stopped.

Tristan stopped too, watching her with those intense green eyes that made her feel things that scared the shit out of her.“You mind driving this time?”

“Love to drive for a change.”His grin was both endearing and outrageously sexy at the same time.

She rammed that thought into a deep, dark closet at the back of her head, jammed a broom handle under the latch for good measure, and got in the back with Bristol.Her stepsister was huddled beneath the blanket, looking pale and a bit like a lost little girl.

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