Crazy Hot (The Au Pairs 4)

Anna waved a hand. "And of course we'll need the keys back to the studio. But take your time. Kevin's decided to sublet it for the summer, but you can take two weeks to find a new place." She squeezed Jacqui's shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll give you a great reference, and you shouldn't have a problem finding another family in the city to work for."

Anna's cell phone rang, and she smiled at Jacqui and nodded definitively, as if to say, "We're done here." She picked up her cell phone and resumed her busy travel arrangements.

Jacqui nodded, her throat dry. Just like that, in one fell swoop, she was unemployed and homeless. What now?

17

MARA FINDS IT'S A LONESOME PLANET INDEED

MARA WATERS HUSTLED THROUGH JFK WITH A BRISK, confident step. She'd just finished her first year at Columbia, acing all her finals and scoring an almost perfect GPA. She smiled just thinking about it. Mara had quickly discovered she was one of those girls who were made for college. In high school she'd been "just Mara"--pretty smart, pretty nice, pretty average all around. But with the polish and poise she'd gained from summers in the Hamptons--not to mention discovering the wonders of butterscotch highlights and professional eyebrow tweezing---she had turned into "that Mara."

As in, that Mara who had thrown the biggest bash the dorm had ever seen (what better training than those numerous Hamptons soirees?). That Mara who had the best clothes of any freshman-- hello, her best friend was Eliza Thompson, up-and-coming designer. And that Mara who'd snagged the best internship in the city freshman year. Her old boss from Hamptons magazine had been true to her word and had put her on staff at Metropolitan Circus.

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"You got everything?" David's voice broke into her thoughts. She adjusted the handle on her bag, hoping that it wouldn't burst open to reveal all of her underwear to the entire airport. "With a bag that overstuffed, I certainly hope so," he teased, and kept on walking.

That Mara was also dating "the David." As in, the David who was editor in chief of the Spectator, the college newspaper, as well as the David who lived off campus in his own sweet bachelor pad in Trump Place, with a view of the Hudson River from his bedroom window. The David who was president of St. Anthony's Hall--better known as St. A.'s--the snobbiest and most elite fraternity on campus, with its sprawling mansion on Riverside Drive.

And that Mara and the David made the perfect couple, particularly because they had all of the same interests. David was an aspiring writer as well, and Mara thought that if they ended up together, they could have one of those Joan Didion-John Dunne relationships--editing and critiquing each other's work while vacationing at the Four Seasons in Maui.

"Wait up! It's no fair--you've got longer legs!" She giggled as she quickened her pace and tried to catch up with him, her rolling suitcase jostling around behind her as she went.

They were off to Brussels, the first stop on their Lonesome Planet agenda. The two of them had been picked to write the latest European edition of the student-friendly travel guidebook, and Mara was looking forward to spending the whole summer in

19

the most romantic places on earth with David--discovering the hidden treasures of Florence, Venice, Paris, London, Prague, and a host of other fabulous cities. She couldn't wipe the smile from her face when she thought of it: the two of them comparing notes, writing pieces, and sharing everything from croissants to gondola rides. Okay, so maybe the gondolas were a bit of a fantasy--the Lonesome Planet guides were specifically about the cheapest and most out-of-the-way locations, which meant they wouldn't exactly be splurging on tourist attractions or staying in five-star hotels. But still. . .

"Mar, we have to hurry!" David called back to her as they raced up to the check-in counter. Mara bounded up beside him and he placed their bags on the scale.

"We're on the ten thirty to Brussels," Mara said breathlessly. "We have e-tickets."

The airline employee gave them a brisk nod. "May I see your passports, please?"

David slid his forward while Mara fished in he

r purse, finally pulling hers out and placing it on the counter with a loud thwack. While the agent looked over their passports David leaned in and gave her a quick peck on the cheek, stroking her sleeve.

"This one is fine," the agent said, handing Davids passport back to him along with a boarding pass. "But this one is expired." She pointed to Mara's beaten-up passport, which she'd gotten ages ago but had barely used until the past few years. "Do you have your new one?"

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"Oh no!" Mara exclaimed.

"You didn't!" David's face fell. "I told you."

He had. He had left sticky notes all over her dorm room reminding her to make sure her passport was current--with exclamation points and the occasional smiley face. She had used it last during her trip to Cabo with the girls and she'd been sure it was still good and had meant to check, but with finals, and finals parties, and, well. . .

The people in line behind them shuffled their bags forward, antsy to get their boarding passes. "Hey, what's the holdup?" an angry-looking woman with a mop of frizzy dark hair asked crab-bily.

"Oh my God. I'm so sorry." Mara felt herself flush red as she grabbed her bag again and they stepped away from the counter.

"We're going to miss our flight." David's forehead wrinkled in concern.

"Hey." Mara cupped his face in her hands. "I know it sucks, but it'll be fine. I'll get a new one tomorrow, and we'll only be delayed a day."

David smiled and seemed to relax. "You're right," he said, pulling out his phone. "I'll call the Lonesome Planet office and let them know what happened." He dialed and placed the phone to his ear. "It's ringing," he whispered, cupping a hand over the speaker. "Hi, can I have the assignment office, please? It's David Preston. Listen, there's been a little problem. ..."