The Bodyguard & Ms Jones

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“Sounds like the flu.”

“Funny. When I first met Nelson, I just knew he was the one.”

“Because you felt all tingly inside?” The question was meant to come out sarcastic, but instead he sounded curious. And he was.

“Actually, no. That should have been my first clue. With Nelson, the love grew more slowly. I was attracted to him because he was so different from me. His family has lived in Houston for three generations. He was stable. Until college, he’d never been out of the state. I thought he was the answer to my prayers. I was wrong on that one.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Me, too, but it’s done. I’m going to do the best I can with my kids. They’re going to have everything I didn’t. Stability, a sense of continuity. A chance to grow up in one place. That’s one of the things I like about living here. I know our neighbors, and they know us.”

Mike had lived in his L.A. apartment for five years and hadn’t known even one of his neighbors. Of course, he was gone a lot, but even if he’d come home every night, he still wouldn’t have made friends with anyone. He preferred to be alone.

“This is a different world for me,” he said.

“I’m sure it is. Minivans, schools, churches on every corner.”

Damn. He’d forgotten. “Cindy, some lady came by while you were out and left you something.” Using the table for leverage, he pushed to his feet, then limped toward the foyer. The sheet of paper was where he’d left it on the hall tree. He limped back and handed it to her.

She scanned the flier. “I’m glad she stopped by. I’d nearly forgotten.” She grinned at him. “I guess you don’t have any blood to spare.”

“Not this week. Ah, Cindy, I didn’t think when she rang the doorbell.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh, Lord, you didn’t pull a gun on her, did you? Was she about five feet tall, kind of round with gray curls and wearing a hat?”

“That’s her and no, I didn’t threaten her with a gun.”

“Thank goodness. Miss Vanmeter is one of the most conservative members of the church. She’s a spinster and not very forgiving of us `young people,’ as she calls anyone under forty.”

He swallowed and leaned against the island for balance. “I’d just gotten out of the shower. I was shaving. I came to the door in my towel. I didn’t mean to flash the church lady.”

Cindy covered her mouth with her hand, but he could tell she was giggling. “The woman won’t go to a movie that isn’t rated G. I’m sure she’d never seen a naked man in her life.”

“I wasn’t naked. I was wearing a towel.”

“It was probably the highlight of her year.”

“She thinks we’re living together.”

That sobered her up. “Oh, my. Okay. I’ll call the church secretary and explain.” She drew in a breath. “I’ve never been involved in a scandal before.”

“There’s more.”

“The towel fell off? She made a pass at you?”

“I met Beth. She was standing in her yard while Miss Vanmeter was avoiding eye contact. We waved and said hello. Actually, she’s the one I thought about flashing.”

“Oh, I hope you didn’t. She would have enjoyed it too much.”

“That’s what I thought.”

Light color stained her cheeks. Little lines crinkled by her eyes. He was close enough that he could inhale the faint scent of her perfume. He liked the fragrance, and the way her laughter made him want to smile. He lived in a world of shadows, dodging death and trying to outwit assassins. Cindy lived in a world of normalcy and light.

Without thinking, he reached out and touched the tip of her nose. “I’m sorry for making trouble with Miss Vanmeter.”

Electricity arced up his arm, through his chest and settled low in his belly. He couldn’t pull away fast enough. Cindy’s humor faded and she caught her breath as if she, too, had been burned.

He backed up and took his seat at the table. She continued to put away groceries. They talked, but the connection had been broken, severed by a physical awareness he couldn’t shake.

“I should probably be leaving,” he said. Usually, he couldn’t wait to get away, but this time, even though he mouthed the words, he didn’t want to move out of Cindy’s house. Which meant it was past time to go.