The Bodyguard and Ms. Jones Read Free

him slightly. At the same time, Cindy pushed off and managed to slide out from under him. She shimmied off the sofa and plopped onto the floor on her backside.
    â€œHe was so overcome by lust that he passed out?” Beth asked.
    â€œI think it was the fever. He’s sick.”
    â€œMost men are.”
    Cindy shook her head. “No, I mean he’s ill. Grace told me he’d been shot and fell off a building. I spoke to his doctor’s office. He left the hospital too early. His doctor said he needs to take his medication and rest.”
    Beth eyed him. “If you ask me, he needs a new line of work.”
    â€œHelp me get him to bed.”
    â€œYou’re going to keep him?”
    â€œHe’s not a puppy. I can’t send him back where he came from.”
    â€œTake him to the hospital.”
    Cindy looked at the unconscious man sprawled out on the sofa. The doctor had given her instructions on how to care for Mike. As long as she got his pills and some water down him, all he really needed was a little rest. He sure hadn’t wanted to go back to the hospital and she couldn’t blame him.
    â€œI promised Grace I would look after him while he was here,” she said. “I owe her.”
    â€œI’m sure she didn’t expect her brother to be so ill.”
    â€œProbably not,” Cindy agreed. “But she’s already gone. I want to try and take care of Mike. If he gets worse, then I’ll take him over to the hospital.”
    â€œMike?” Beth raised her eyebrows. “You two have met?”
    â€œYes, before he passed out.”
    â€œAnd is there a Mrs. Mike?”
    â€œI didn’t ask.” Cindy stood up and brushed off her shorts. “Don’t start matchmaking, Beth. I mean it. Mike Blackburne is a professional bodyguard. He goes from job to job. He’s here because he doesn’t have a place of his own. I’m not interested in a man like that, and he wouldn’t be interested in me.”
    â€œI’m not saying you have to marry him,” Beth said, tilting her head so she could study Mike’s features more clearly. “I’m just saying that once he’s on his feet, maybe the two of you could—”
    Cindy cut her off. “I’m not that type.”
    Beth smiled slowly. “Honey, we’re all that type. It’s just that some of us get a little more of a chance to prove it than others.”
    â€œCheap talk for a woman who’s been married to the same man for fifteen years.”
    â€œI know, but a girl can dream.” She touched Mike’s cheek with the back of her hand. “He’s burning up. If you’re serious about taking care of him, there’s no point in putting him in Grace’s bedroom. You’ll just have to run back and forth between the two houses. Let me go get Darren and the three of us can wrestle Mike into your place.”
    â€œThat makes sense,” Cindy said. “I’ll take his things over.”
    â€œBe right back.”
    Beth left the house and crossed the street to her own place. Cindy heard her calling for her husband. Thank goodness it was Saturday. There was no way she could have moved Mike on her own.
    Cindy picked up the two duffel bags on the floor, went out the front door and cut across the green lawn. She walked down the driveway and into her own house through the back door.
    â€œMommy, Mommy, is he really dead?” seven-year-old Allison asked. “Jonathan says he’s dead, but Shelby and I don’t believe him.”
    â€œHe’s not dead, but he’s sick. He’s going to stay with us for a little while.”
    Jonathan eyed the duffel bags. “You think he’s got a gun in there?”
    Cindy clamped her lips together. The thought hadn’t occurred to her, but Jonathan could be right. “I think the two of you should stay out of the way for the next few minutes. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are going to help