The Bodyguard and Ms. Jones by Susan Mallery

here. I swear.”
    â€œYou never know.” He checked the cul-de-sac before stepping out onto the street. “I’m glad we’re walking and not driving tonight. This cake looks lethal.”
    She glanced at the container he was holding. “It’s called Black Russian Cake and it’s wonderful. Be sure to take a piece. I got the recipe out of a romance novel I read last year. I think the author lives somewhere in town, but I’m not sure.”
    Despite the fact that it was after six, the air was still steamy. They hadn’t had rain in a couple of days so the humidity had fallen below ninety percent, but the sun beat down unmercifully.
    â€œI’m glad Beth has trees in her yard,” she said. “It’s going to be hot.”
    Mike grunted.
    She looked at him. “What’s wrong?”
    â€œNothing.” But he was staring at the house in front of him as if he’d never seen it before.
    She could hear voices from other couples already in the backyard. If she didn’t know better, she would swear Mike was nervous. “Everything is going to be fine,” she said.
    He didn’t answer. Before Cindy could question him more, Beth spotted them and came to the gate.
    â€œYou’re here. I’m so pleased.” With one smooth movement, she reached for the cake plate and held out her other hand. “You must be Mike. I’m Beth.”
    Mike shook hands with her. He smiled tightly as she chattered, then shot Cindy a look. She knew he was wondering if she’d told Beth that he’d overheard their conversation last week. She hadn’t. She figured if she did, Beth would never dare show her face again.
    Before she could intervene, Darren came forward and urged Mike into the backyard. The men had congregated around the two grills. There were six men, counting Mike. He was handed a beer and introduced.
    Cindy thought about rescuing Mike but figured he’d been in more dangerous situations than this. After all, she knew these men and they were basically nice guys. She followed Beth into the kitchen.
    The other four women were already there. They poured Cindy a glass of wine and instantly bombarded her with questions.
    â€œSo what’s he really like?” Sally asked.
    â€œHe’s a serious hunk,” Christina said.
    â€œWhat do the kids think of him?” Mary asked.
    â€œWait, wait.” Beth held up her hands. “I want to go first. I have two questions. One, have you seen him naked yet? And two, how hard are you resisting temptation?”
    Cindy set her container of potato salad on the counter and took the wine Sally offered. She settled on the stool by the bar. “I have nothing to say on the subject.”
    The other five women groaned in unison.
    â€œYou have to tell us something,” Karen said, leaning close and poking her in the ribs. “I mean, we’re all boring married ladies. You’re the only one who gets to have any fun.”
    â€œBeing divorced is a real blast,” Cindy said. She felt her good mood slipping away.
    Beth caught her eye and gave her a sympathetic smile. She quickly put the women to work, rolling paper napkins around plastic utensils. Soon Cindy’s houseguest was forgotten amid the usual chatter and gossip.
    She sipped her wine slowly. She knew these women. She carpooled with them, had been to their houses and had entertained them at her own. But in those few minutes of questions, she realized she was different. She was single and they were married. Funny, she’d never put that together before.
    After the divorce, they’d all stood by her. It wasn’t unusual not to have a husband at a social function. Most of the men in their circle traveled quite a bit, sometimes for months at a time. But she wasn’t one of them anymore and it was unlikely she ever would be again.
    She reached for a package of paper plates and began counting them. Beth came over and leaned against