The Bodyguard & Ms Jones. Susan Mallery

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      “What if he doesn’t want to come?”

      “He has to. Everyone wants to meet him. It will be fun. You’ll see. Besides, you have to show him around sometime. You can’t imagine the phone calls I’ve been getting.”

      Actually, Cindy could. She’d gotten a few of her own. Everyone was curious about “Grace’s bodyguard broth-er.” “I can’t decide if it’s the fact that he’s single or if it’s his career that has everyone so curious,” she said.

      “It’s both.” Beth rose to her feet and walked to the refrigerator. “Is it all right?” she asked, motioning to the door.

      “I’m sorry. I should have offered. Grab me a soda, too, please.”

      Beth pulled out two diet sodas. She handed Cindy one, then popped the top on the other. After taking a long drink, she set it on the counter and began sliding cooled cookies into a plastic container.

      “Mary Ellen called to find out if I thought she should offer to cook him meals,” Beth said.

      Cindy snorted. “Yeah, right. Does this mean she’s done having her way with the delivery guy?”

      “Probably not. But I would say the affair is winding down. You know how she likes to have someone waiting in the wings.”

      “Mike is in a weakened condition,” Cindy said. She finished spooning out the last of the cookie batter and set the bowl in the sink. “I’m going to have to protect him from Mary Ellen. That brunette bombshell could kill a man.”

      “That’s not all,” Beth said. She sauntered over to the sink and turned on the hot water. “Everyone is very intrigued by the fact that he’s staying here with you.”

      “What?” Cindy spun around and turned off the faucet. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

      “Don’t get mad at me. I’m not making up the rumors, I’m just telling you. After all, it’s been two years since Nelson left and you haven’t been on a single date. Now you have a naked man living in your house.”

      Cindy leaned against the counter and sighed. “He’s not naked,” she said weakly, then wondered if it really mattered. She knew how people talked in small communities. Gossip spread faster than fire ants. Nothing was as interesting as what everyone else was doing.

      “I hope you’re telling everyone he’s been injured,” she said. “My goodness, he can barely walk to the bathroom unescorted. We’re not having wild sex. My children live here.”

      “The sex doesn’t have to be wild, if that would help.”

      Cindy just stared at her.

      “Fine. Disappoint all your friends. See if I care.” Beth squeezed soap into the large mixing bowl and swished it around. When the water was sudsy, she picked up the measuring spoons and cups and dropped them in. She reached for a dishcloth. “It hasn’t even been a week, so I’ll forgive you for not having had sex yet. But you have to give me something. Have you at least seen him naked?”

      “Beth!”

      “Oh, please say you have.”

      “I can’t believe we’re having this conversation.”

      Beth looked at her, then at the dishes. “If you see him naked, will you tell me?”

      “I’m not going to see him naked.”

      “But you have to.”

      “Why?” Cindy stared at her friend. “You’ve finally slipped over the edge, haven’t you? You’ve lost your fragile hold on reality.”

      “Of course not. It’s just...” Beth drew in a deep breath. “I met Darren in college. I hadn’t dated much in high school and he was the first man I, you know, did it with.” A spot of color appeared on her cheeks. “I talk big, but the truth is, I’ve only been with Darren. I’ve never even seen another man’s...” She cleared her throat. “I just want to know what he looks like.”

      Beth was up to her wrists in soapy water. Cindy took a step closer and gave her a hug. “You’re a terrific friend. I was a virgin when I met Nelson, too. So I haven’t seen anyone else naked, either.”

      “It’s just so unfair.” Beth glanced at her, blue eyes dancing. “Men see women naked all the time. It’s in magazines, in the movies. Maybe we should take advantage of that for the next school fund-raiser. We could hire men to walk around naked. Think of the cover charge to get in. It could be a couple hundred dollars. We could buy a lot of sports equipment with that.”

      Cindy released Beth and stepped back. “You are crazy.”

      “It’s a great idea.”

      “No.”

      Beth finished washing the measuring cups and rinsed them. “Can I at least go check and see if Mike really has on underwear?”

      “No.”

      “But if I peel the covers back slowly, he won’t even—”

      “No! I mean it, Beth.”

      “You’re no fun.” She rinsed her hands and grabbed a towel.

      “Where are you going?”

      “Home.”

      Cindy walked Beth to the door. “You want some cookies?”

      “Save them for Mike. He’ll need his strength to survive around here. Don’t forget. Next Saturday. Say, six o’clock?”

      “I’ll ask him, but if he doesn’t want to come, I can’t make him.”

      “Of course you can. Bat your eyes. If that doesn’t work, try a low-cut T-shirt.”

      “Sorry, they’re all like this.” She fingered the neckline of her crewneck shirt.

      “So disappointing. If you’re not going to be a little more wild, I might have to find another single friend.” Before Cindy could answer, Beth gave her a hug. “Take care of yourself and that hunk of yours.”

      “I will.”

      As Beth crossed the street, Cindy glanced around the house toward the greenbelt. About eight children were playing together in the shade of a pecan tree. She wondered where they got their energy. It was about ninety-four degrees and the humidity was nearly that high. Just standing in the open doorway was making her sweat.

      She stepped inside and shut it behind her. The timer on the oven dinged.

      After taking out the last batch of cookies, she put a couple of cool ones on a plate, then poured a glass of lemonade. A quick glance at the clock told her it was almost time for Mike to wake up. In the last couple of days, they’d settled into a routine. He slept for an hour in the morning, then right after lunch. He spent his afternoons reading or watching TV. Every day he was getting a little stronger, but he wasn’t going to be back at work anytime soon.

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