Part 2 (2/2)
”I suppose you will. Do you have any idea what you used to do'”
”Certainly. I cleaned and cooked. But my primary responsibility was taking care of children.”
She felt her jaw drop. ”Are you telling me you're a nanny'”
He tilted his head curiously. ”Why are you so surprised'”
”Because--because--” She regarded the huge, powerful man sitting across from her with bewilderment.
”I guess you just don't look enough like Mary Poppins to me.”
”Indeed. What profession do you think I would be most suited to'”
”Uh ' you'd make a fabulous male model.”
”Model'”
”Yeah, you know, the guys who model jeans in those ads in magazines. Or pose for the covers of
romance novels. You know what I mean.”
He shook his head. ”I'm afraid I don't.”
”As gorgeous as you are, you could make a lot of money.”
”Gorgeous'”
Annie c.o.c.ked her head. ”You do realize you're incredibly good-looking, don't you'”
James looked uncomfortable. ”I would prefer to find a post more similar to my prior job.”
”Yeah, well....” She gestured helplessly. ”I don't think you're going to find a job like that without
references.”
”What is a reference'”
”When your previous employer is willing to say how great a worker you were.”
A frown creased his perfectly unlined forehead. ”That is quite impossible, as you know.”
Annie stood up, taking his plate, and walked to the dishwasher. Over the noise of clinking gla.s.s and china, she said, ”No, James, I don't know anything of the kind. I hope you realize I don't really believe your story about being from the future. It's ridiculous.”
”But it is true.”
”It's crazy,” she said, more sharply than she had intended. ”There's something very wrong with you, James. You need to be looked at by a doctor.”
”I do not think that would be wise.” Annie slammed the dishwasher door closed and turned to look at him. ”Look, James, I don't know whether you need a medical doctor or a psychiatrist, because I'm not sure what's wrong with you. But my best friend happens to be a doctor. If you'd let her take a look at you--” ”No.” Annie stared at him, frustrated and annoyed. ”I just want to help you, James.” ”And I am grateful for that impulse. But all I really require from you is clothing.” The phone rang. James looked around, clearly startled. She turned back to the counter and picked it up.
”h.e.l.lo'” ”Hey, Annie, what's up'” ”Kay!” Annie exclaimed. ”Just the person I wanted to talk to.”
”I appreciate that, Ann, but I'm in a hurry. I'm heading out to Florida to see my mom, remember'” ”Oh, d.a.m.n,” Annie said. ”I forgot.” ”And you'd have forgotten to feed Oscar if I hadn't called to remind you, wouldn't you'” ”Oscar doesn't need food,” Annie said. In her opinion, Kay's enormous gray cat had enough fat deposits to keep him alive for at least a month. As a doctor, Kay should have known better than to over feed an animal the way she did Oscar. But until she had had her baby, Oscar had been her only companion, and she had spoiled him shamefully.
”Give me a break, Annie. I'll put him on a diet when I get back, I promise.”
Annie saw James rise to his feet and move toward her, frowning at the telephone. ”What is that'” he said.
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