Page 13 of I Won't Be In On Monday

"Wow, thank you." She hurries over and takes a seat, giving me a surprised look.

"What's that look about?" I ask her.

"I thought you were going to have me get to work right away or something."

"I'm not that much of a slave driver, Juniper."

"Could have fooled me." She grins."Can you get two plates for the bagels please?”

“Is that all we’re eating?”

"Yes, sir. Unless you're going to make us something else."

I stare at her for a couple of minutes. "You're sure mouthy outside of the office, aren't you?"

"I mean, it's Saturday morning, way earlier than I like to wake up, and I'm in your apartment to help tidy up and get ready for your daughter. I think that I can be myself around you, don't you?"

"I guess so. So your boyfriend wasn't upset?" I ask her, as I grab two white plates and place them down in front of her.

She stares at me for a couple of seconds and then opens the bag and pulls out two bagels. "Knives, please," she asks.

I nod and head towards the cutlery drawer and take out two knives, then bring them back. "You didn't answer my question."

"I didn't think it needed an answer," she replies, as she cuts the bagels. "These aren't as toasted as I like. Can I toast them?"

"Sure." I nod toward the microwave. "There's a toaster right under there."

She stands up and carries the plate with the bagels towards the toaster and puts one bagel in and presses down the switch. She looks around the kitchen.

"This is nice."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I like your kitchen." She shrugs as she looks over at me, a weird expression on her face that I can’t quite read. "So, what exactly is it that you want me to do?"

"I was just thinking we could get my bedrooms in..." I pause as she wrinkles her nose. "What?"

"Nothing," she says, shaking her head quickly.

"No. You were obviously thinking something, and I am curious to know what."

"It doesn't matter. You want us to do what?"

"I just want to make sure that my house is appropriate for a child," I clarify. "If you see anything that's inappropriate, get rid of it."

"You mean like dirty magazines?" She grins at me.

"I'm not that young." I wink at her. "I got rid of all myPlayboysyears ago."

"And what about the other dirty mags?"

"Who says I have more?"

"I don't know. Something just tells me that you do."

I grin at her. "All dirty magazines have been put into the trash as well as a couple of DVDs that I had."

"DVDs?" She raises her eyebrows. "You still have DVDs?"

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