Read Online The Bodyguard and Ms. Jones by Susan Mallery - Free Book Online

and a red headband held her hair off her face.
    He supposed there was nothing unusual about Cindy Jones. In this neighborhood, hundreds of women just like her wore T-shirts and bare feet as they put away groceries. Yet, he’d never sat in a kitchen and observed the ritual.
    She pulled three pink-paper-wrapped packages out of a bag and sighed. “Pork roast, roasted potatoes and salad. My favorite meal.”
    â€œSounds great.”
    She placed two of the packages in the freezer and one in the refrigerator, then tossed him the empty bag to fold. “It is. Nelson never appreciated my cooking. He often wanted to go out. But I like eating at home. Which do you prefer?”
    Mike was startled by the question. “I don’t cook much.”
    â€œOf course you wouldn’t when you’re with a client or subject or whatever you call them. But what about when you’re off work? Or did you leave that for your lady friends?”
    â€œSometimes women cook for me.”
    She was putting away cereal, raising herself on tiptoe and sliding the new boxes behind the old. As she came down on her heels, she glanced at him and smiled.
    â€œWhy is it men can take care of themselves perfectly well when they’re alone, but the first second they live with a woman, they suddenly become helpless?” she asked.
    â€œI’ve never lived with a woman.”
    The smile faded as her eyebrows drew together. “Really? I knew you hadn’t been married, but I just assumed...” Her voice trailed off. She reached into the full bags on the kitchen table and drew out canned beans.
    Until she questioned him, he hadn’t really thought about it. “My life-style isn’t conducive to long-term relationships.”
    â€œI guess not.” She reached in the bag for more canned goods. “No roommates?”
    â€œI told you I travel light.”
    â€œAh, yes. Extra baggage weighs you down. Fight hard, fight lean.” She paused and shrugged. “For a long time I blamed the marines when my father left, but as I grew older, I saw that lots of other officers managed to balance a career and family. They were terrific fathers.” She looked in the bags on the table, then picked one up and started folding it. Her green eyes focused on something above his head. “When my father missed an important event at school or forgot my birthday, I used to wish one of the other families would adopt me. My friend Lorraine had a wonderful family. Warm, loving, everything I wanted. I remember thinking it wasn’t fair.”
    Mike was startled when he realized he could picture Cindy as a child. She would look a little like Allison, only her eyes would be dark with pain. “Life’s not fair,” he said.
    â€œI figured that one out on my own,” she said. “Although I still thought I could make it fair when I married Nelson.”
    She finished folding the bag and slipped it into an open one, then moved to the long counter and started putting away fresh vegetables.
    â€œWhy did you get married?” he asked.
    â€œThe usual reasons.”
    â€œWhich are?”
    She looked at him over her shoulder. “You don’t know?”
    â€œI never married. Never saw the need.” Or felt the compulsion. He liked women. Sex was great, but aside from that, he didn’t get the point. Why would anyone want to share quarters with someone else? He’d heard the fights, listened to his buddies complain. It was better to be alone. It was certainly easier.
    â€œYou ever been in love, Mike?” she asked.
    â€œNo.” He didn’t want to think about the loving part. That was the one piece of the puzzle that eluded him. Without wanting to, he remembered Cindy holding Allison in her arms after the little girl had been injured. The child had clung with the trust of someone who knows they’re loved and will be taken care of. Cindy hadn’t asked for anything in return,