His Wife for a While (27 page)

She'd kept the awful truth from her last employer for years. She hadn't lied; she just hadn't felt the need to answer questions that had never been asked. She'd lost the position, though, regardless of her excellent job performance record, once the plant manager had found her out.

She would need to practice extreme caution when answering Joshua Kingston's questions — she planned to be truthful, as always, but that didn't mean she had to bare her soul to the whole world.

Tucking her purse under her arm, she started up the long, winding walkway. The air was thick with humidity as only summers in
New Jersey
could be. Yet, she was oblivious to the August heat as all the reasons she so crucially needed this job swam through her head; Eric needed new clothes, she owed the doctor for the last office visit when Eric had been so sick, and she still owed Mrs. Kingston for this month's rent. Next month's rent would be due in two short weeks.

Cassie heaved a sigh. If she could only convince Joshua Kingston to hire her, she needn't worry about next month's rent.

Halfway to the front door, the distinct sound of snapping twigs caught her attention. She stopped and scanned the yard. Then movement in the periphery of her vision had her looking upward at the side of the house, but the expected scampering squirrel or foraging crow wasn't what she saw. She sucked in her breath sharply. There, perched precariously high in the tree, was a young boy. His hold on the branch looked awkward as he reached out toward a furry ball of fluff. Cassie had to squint to see the tiny kitten out on the limb.

She physically shuddered as cold fear crawled across her skin. The boy was going to plunge to the ground, she was sure of it.

Look for Nanny and the Professor, coming soon!