The Bodyguard and Ms. Jones

by Susan Mallery

  “Where you heading?” the driver asked.

  Mike leaned back against the seat. “L.A.,” he answered. “Home.”

  But as he spoke the word, he knew it was a lie. All he’d ever wanted, all he’d ever longed for in his life was behind him. He wondered if he would ever find his way back.

  * * *

  Washington, D.C., was not the place to spend August. The heat, the humidity and the tourists all conspired to make his life hell. Mike paced to the window of his small bedroom and opened it. The air conditioner clicked on in angry protest, but he ignored it. He breathed in the muggy air and closed his eyes. If he ignored the sounds, he could pretend he was in Houston again.

  But he wasn’t. Instead of shorts and a T-shirt, he was wearing a suit and tie. The holster strapped under his arm held a pistol. He was once again the highly trained, highly paid bodyguard.

  He closed the window, but he couldn’t block out the memories. He’d only been gone two weeks, but he’d already broken down and called. He’d chatted casually with Allison and Jonathan, but his conversation with Cindy had been strained. She’d started crying and told him he was making it hard to be brave. Maybe he should give them time to recover.

  He’d agreed not to call again for at least a month and then only to set up a camping trip with Jonathan. That decision made, life should have been easier. But it wasn’t.

  He couldn’t stop thinking about her. About what she’d said to him. He couldn’t stop hearing her say she loved him.

  He’d seen Cindy with her children. He knew how strong and constant her love was. He knew she gave unselfishly, in a way he could never have imagined. As he lay awake at night, he explored his own long-buried feelings. Since he was a child, he’d tried not to care. That was the main reason he’d left Houston. He couldn’t stay with Cindy and just take. He had to be able to give something back. But he wasn’t sure.

  He wanted to do it right. To be the perfect husband and father. Allison and Jonathan didn’t need another man walking out on them. He had to be willing to stay, no matter what. But he didn’t know how to be a parent. He didn’t know how to be a husband. He could barely commit long enough to be a lover.

  So he honored Cindy’s wish and didn’t call.

  But his heart ached, and the wound inside of him bled as if it would never heal. He stood by the window watching people walk by. There weren’t many in this exclusive section of Georgetown. Occasionally, a mother and her children strolled by. Or maybe it was the nanny.

  Allison’s book lay open on his bed. He looked through it every night, studying the pictures, the wobbly lines, the misspelled words. Some people would probably laugh at her efforts and only notice the mistakes. He only saw the love.

  * * *

  Cindy slammed down her pen and shoved back her chair. She couldn’t concentrate on anything. She walked into the kitchen and paced back and forth on the wooden floor. The house was too quiet. Allison and Jonathan were with their father. Beth and Darren had taken their children to Galveston for the weekend. The neighborhood was strangely silent. She felt as if she were the only person left alive.

  She wanted to jump out of her skin.

  Cindy rubbed her hands up and down her arms. She was hot and cold at the same time. If she’d been able to delude herself, she would have tried to explain away her symptoms as some kind of flu. But it was simpler than that—and more deadly. She missed Mike.

  It had seemed so easy when he was leaving. Loving him had been the right thing to do. It was worth the price she would pay later. Cheap talk while she was still able to see him and hold him and make love to him. Now that she was alone, all she could feel was empty. It was worse than when Nelson left. At least then she’d had her anger to give her energy.

  She wanted Mike back. She wanted him to stay with her and be a part of her life. She wanted to wake up next to him and grow old with him. She wanted him to love her back.

  She paused by the sink and clutched the cool tiles. That was the killer. He didn’t love her. Oh, he probably cared a lot, maybe more than he’d ever cared for anyone. But she knew men like him. Men who came and went on a whim. It wasn’t possible for them to put down roots. And even if Mike wanted to, he didn’t believe he could. Somehow, somewhere, someone had convinced him he wasn’t worth it. So he would never saddle her with what he would consider a flawed man.

  She’d let him go because it was the right thing to do. Letting him go had been—

  She raised her head and stared out the window. Okay. She was alone. It was time to be completely honest with herself. Letting him go had been stupid. About the stupidest thing she’d ever done. If she lived to be a thousand, she would never find a man as wonderful, as caring, as loving as Mike. And she’d let him walk out of her life. Why?

  Cindy drew in a deep breath. The answer to the question floated in her brain for several moments before all the parts connected into a thought she could understand. She’d let him go because the pain of leaving was something she understood. That rejection had happened to her many times before. Demanding what she wanted, what was right for him and for her kids was so much harder. It was uncharted ground. She’d retreated to the familiar and in doing so, had lost him.

  She loved him with all her heart, and if she was honest with herself, she believed he loved her back. Look at all he’d done for her. Every action had spoken of caring. Mike was a man who showed his feelings by what he did, not what he said. In time, he would have found the words. But instead of being brave enough to fight for him, she’d passively let him walk out of her life.

  She crossed the kitchen in three quick steps. After fumbling through her small personal phone directory, she punched in several numbers, pausing to double-check and get them right. The connection took a few seconds. There was a bit of static, then a sleepy, “’Llo?”

  “Grace?”

  “Cindy? Is that you?” She heard rustling bedclothes. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” She glanced at the clock, then added on the extra hours. “Sorry, it’s the middle of the night there, isn’t it? I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  “It’s okay. Are you all right?”

  “Yes. No. I need to know how to get hold of Mike. He’s gone and I don’t have the number.”

  “You want to phone Mike? Why?”

  “I just have to find him.” She drew in a deep breath and clutched the receiver tightly. “If you must know, I love him. I let him walk out of my life because I’m a fool. I know he cares about me and the children, but he’s afraid to take that last step. I’ve got to find him and tell him to come home to us before something terrible happens. He’s on a job. What if he gets shot again? Oh, Grace, I was so brave when he left. I made him think I was going to be fine. I’m not fine. I’m a wreck. I have to tell him how much I need him.”

  “Oh, Cindy, this is wonderful.” Grace sniffed as if she was crying, too. “I don’t know where he is, but I’ll find him for you. I swear I will.”

  * * *

  Donovan raised one dark eyebrow. “You’re walking away from a great job.”

  “Maybe,” Mike said. “I’ll admit the pay is good, but I don’t need to go up against a bullet again.”

  His replacement smiled. “Don’t worry. I’ll get the bastard.”

  “You do that.”

  The younger man strolled out of the room. Mike watched him go, then shook his head. He’d been like that once. Eager, willing to risk it all. But it wasn’t that simple anymore. He had something to live for. Three somethings. Four, if he could convince Cindy to have a baby.

  He glanced around the room one last time, then picked up his luggage. He’d replaced one of his duffel bags with a large hard-sided suitcase. Allison’s book fit neatly in the bottom. It meant he would have to check his luggage. He wouldn’t be able to just walk away when he reached his destination. It was going to be a change, but that’s what he wanted.

  He was nearly out the door when the phone rang. He paused, not wanting to answe
r it, but what if it was Cindy? Even as he crossed to the instrument, he reminded himself she didn’t have his number.

  “Hello?”

  “You haven’t been all that easy to track down, mister.”

  “Grace, how’d you find me?”

  “I have my ways.”

  “How are you?”

  “Don’t change the subject or try to sweet-talk me. Cindy misses you terribly. I want to know what you’ve done to my best friend.”

  “I fell in love with her.”

  There was a pause, then Grace laughed. “About time, big brother.”

  * * *

  He stopped long enough to buy a four-door sedan, in dark blue. The rich, leather interior would take a beating from the kids’ toys and sports equipment, but he didn’t care. He was back.

  He exited the highway and turned left into Sugar Land. The streets and stores were familiar to him. A week from Monday he would join the commuters making their way into the city. He would only have to go halfway there. His new job, training oil executives to ward off terrorist attacks and kidnappings, was about five miles from Cindy’s house. The pay was good, the hours better. He got off every day at five.

  He turned left, finally pulling to a stop in front of the middle school. The two-story brick building was exactly as he remembered it from the times he’d driven past. Up the road was the grocery store, and back the other way, the country club. He knew this small community and the residents. He wondered how disappointed the women would be now that he wasn’t a bodyguard anymore. If he had his way, he wasn’t going to be single much longer, either.

  He found the administration office and got directions to Cindy’s classroom. The door was solid wood, except for a window in the top half. He stood there looking at her.

  She was wearing a skirt and blouse. Low heels made her perfect legs look even more curvy. As he watched her explaining an equation on the blackboard, he felt the wound in his chest begin to heal. How could he have ever thought of leaving her? This was where he belonged.

  After a few minutes, she glanced up and noticed him. Her face paled. She said something to her class, then crossed the floor and stepped into the hall. The door closed behind her.

  “Mike?” she said as if she couldn’t believe it was him.

  “Oh, God, I’ve missed you.” He wrapped his arms around her. They clung to each other. Her body melted against his.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice thick with emotion. “I never thought I’d see you again.”

  “I said I’d come back to take Jonathan camping.”

  “Oh. Is that why you’re here?”

  “No.” He released her. She ducked her head, but he touched his finger to her chin, forcing her to look at him. Tears swam in her green eyes. “I came back for you, Cindy Jones. I couldn’t think about anything but you. I did a lousy job, and I couldn’t see myself getting any better, so I quit.” He stared at her intently. “I’m not very good at relationships. I’ve never had one before. Not like this. So you’ll have to tell me when I do something wrong. I’ll try my damnedest to be the kind of man you and the kids need. I just want to be with the three of you forever. I love you.”

  She was staring at him, openmouthed. He swallowed. “That is, if you want me.”

  “Want you? I love you. I shouldn’t have let you go.” She leaned against him and sighed. “Are you really here? Is this happening?”

  “Yes. All of it.” He touched her hair. “I bought a car.”

  “What?”

  “It’s kind of big, but it will hold all the kids. There’s even room for a car seat if we, ah, you know.” He had to clear his throat. “I got another job. Here in town. I’ve got four weeks’ paid vacation, benefits and I get off work at five every day.”

  “You want a baby, too? I’d love another child.” The joy in her smile nearly blinded him. “I can’t believe this is happening. You have a job here?”

  “Believe it.” He took her hands in his. “Cindy, will you marry me?”

  Her green eyes burned bright with love. She squeezed his fingers. “You don’t have to do all this for me. Just having you back is enough.”

  “I want to do it right. I want to get a barbecue and learn how to cook ribs. I want to mow the lawn, go to swim meets and make love with my wife every Saturday morning.”

  “I hope we make love more than that,” she teased.

  “You have to ask?”

  She touched his face. “These are big changes for you. We don’t have to do them all at once. Maybe we should have a trial run and see if you can stand living in the suburbs.”

  He shook his head. “I’m going to marry you. I’ve been in the suburbs, and I think they might grow on me. Besides, I can’t just move in with you.”

  “Why not?”

  He turned her slowly in a circle. Her class was plastered against the door window, staring at them. Administration office personnel stood at the end of the hall. Several teachers had come out of their rooms and were also watching them. “That’s why.”

  “Oh, my.”

  “Yeah. I have your reputation to think of. What would the neighbors think if we lived together? It would cause a scandal. Besides, you’re not getting away from me again. So we’re getting married.”

  “If you insist,” she said, reaching up and pressing her mouth against his. She pulled back slightly and grinned. “I can’t wait to tell the kids and everyone. They’re going to think it’s wonderful.”

  “So do I,” Mike said, wrapping his arms around her. “So do I.”

  * * * * *

  Don’t miss these next unforgettable novels from Susan Mallery, both part of her

  LONE STAR CANYON series:

  Unexpectedly Expecting, Special Edition - 1370

  Wife in Disguise, Special Edition - 1383

  With her brand-new Mischief Bay series, New York Times bestselling author

  SUSAN MALLERY

  brings to vivid color the story of three friends on the brink of a new life.

  “An engrossing take of emotional growth and the healing power of friendship.”

  —Library Journal on three sisters

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  Turn the page for a brief visit to Susan Mallery’s

  THE GIRLS OF MISCHIEF BAY

  Meet Nicole, Shannon and Pam in their quirky, beachy town by the ocean, where life is richer with friends by your side!

  Pam walked through from the garage to the main house, Lulu keeping pace with her. In the mudroom they both paused. Pam fished her small handbag out of the tote, then hung the larger bag on a hook.

  The open area served as a catchall for things that otherwise didn’t have a home. There was a built-in storage unit with plenty of hooks, shelves and drawers. The latter were mostly filled with Lulu’s various clothes.

  Now Pam eyed the lightweight sweater her pet wore and decided it would keep the dog warm enough until bedtime. Like the rest of the family, Lulu wore PJs to bed. Pam didn’t care if anyone laughed at her for that. She was the one Lulu cuddled next to under the covers and she wanted her dog wearing something soft when that happened.

  They continued through the house to the kitchen. Pam pulled her cell out of her purse and stuck it on the side table by the hall, then checked on the Crock-Pot she’d left on that morning. A quick peek and stir confirmed the beef burgundy was coming along. She added the vegetables she’d already prepared and stirred again, then went out the front door to collect the mail.

  The day had warmed up nicely. February in the rest of the country could mean snow and ice. In Southern California there was every chance
it would be sunny and seventy. Today was no exception, although she would guess it was closer to sixty-five. Hardly reason to complain, she told herself as she pulled the mail out of the box and started back toward the house.

  Mischief Bay was a coastal community. Tucked between Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach, it had a small pier, plenty of restaurants, a boardwalk and lots of tourists. The ocean regulated the temperatures and the steady light breeze made sure there wasn’t much in the way of smog.

  She and John had bought their sprawling ranch-style home ages ago. Jennifer, their oldest, had been what? Three? Pam tried to remember. If Jennifer had been three, then Steven had been a year and she’d been pregnant with Brandon.

  Oh, yeah. She had been pregnant all right. There’d been the charming moment when she’d thrown up in front of the movers. Brandon had been a difficult pregnancy and she’d been nauseous a lot. Something she brought up every so often—when her son needed a little humbling. As all children did, now and then.

  She paused to wait for Lulu to do her business by the bushes and studied the front of the house. They’d redone much of both yards a few years ago, when they’d had the house painted. She liked the new plants that edged the circular drive. Her gaze rose to the roof. That had been replaced, as well. One of the advantages of having a husband in construction—he always knew the best people.

  Lulu trotted back to her side.

  “Ready to go in, sweet pea?” Pam asked.

  Lulu wagged her feathered tail and led the way. Pam glanced down at the mail as she walked. Bills, a letter from an insurance agent she’d never heard of—no doubt an ad—along with two car magazines for John and a postcard from the local high school.

  Pam frowned at the postcard and turned it over. What on earth could they…?

  Lulu walked into the house. Pam followed and automatically closed the door. She stood in the spacious foyer, afternoon light spilling onto the tile floor.

  But she didn’t see any of that. She didn’t see anything but the stark words printed on the postcard.

  Class of 2005. Fellow Cougars—save the date!! Your 10-year high school reunion is this August.