Excerpt

The heiress Cheryl Astor is aboard her yacht in the harbor when I come up for a rest. I am twenty-seven and so is she. I am wearing my diving gear and she looks over the railing and sees me. She asks, What are you doing?

Im tempted to tell Cheryl Astor she descended from a crook that stole a fortune from my ancestor. But, it was over a hundred years ago and Cheryl has apparently inherited only the good attributes of the family. Plus, she could terminate my contract to clean her bottom.

I say, Checking for bombs. Terrorists plan to blow up all huge yachts. They rung the information out of a man they jailed in the asylum yesterday.

Cheryl smirked. Seriously, what are you doing?

I swam over here to clean your bottom.

My bottom isnt dirty.

The bottom of your yacht. Im taking a rest. You have a huge yacht.

Why dont you come aboard? I was sunbathing. Ill put something on and make you a drink. You probably would like something hot?

The wetsuit keeps me warm. But Id have to swim over to the dock steps.

I could let down a Jackies ladder.

I dont correct her. I say, Tell you what. Ill finish your bottom in twenty minutes. Swim over and put my wetsuit and tank in my car. Walk around to your boarding gate. Say forty minutes. If the offer still stands I like vodka.

She agrees and I hurry. I couldnt see her live body but if it matches her magazine photos she has everything: face and figure. I leave my trunks on as I cant change into my pants out in the open with people around. I towel off and pull on a blue, lightweight sweatshirt.

I am closing the trunk of my Ford when the epiphany hits me. I shouldnt be going aboard her yacht. Were billions of dollars apart. If she signals any kind of encouragement Ill make a pass. Then what? If it leads from a moments affair into a relationship it will suddenly terminate after a short time and again leave me frustrated.

I had been cuckold before. I thought Jo Ann would marry me. We met when twenty in school and lived together while in college and two years more. Three years in all we live together and I never guess she is seeing someone.

It comes as a shock She opens our conversation with, Brad, well always be close friends. Im very fond of you, but I have to be practical. Doctor Bland has asked me to marry him.

Doctor Horace Bland? Why he must own the hospital. How does he know you?

Weve spent many weekends together.

Damn it, Jo Ann. How are you going to explain me with whom youve slept for three years?

I told him about you. He understands. Last week he terminated a four-year relationship with a nurse. Were kind of in love.

I say bitterly, You with his money. When are you moving?

Today. You can have our furniture.

Why did you let me make love to you last night?

Jo Ann laughed. My going away present.

That was it. Jo Ann married for money; why not me? I decide to go aboard the rich young womans yacht.

The area where she has her huge yacht is fenced off. There is an intercom push to talk box. I know the name of her yacht is, After You. I push its button. She finally answers, Hi. Is this the bottom cleaner?

I say, In person, and she remotely unlatches the thick wire gate. I walk down beside her yacht; it must be a hundred feet long. I see her as I approach and then have a full view of her. Shes holding two drinks, but my hopes fade. She is wearing a bikini and is much too attractive. She must have half the male population after her for her. Her attorneys will advise her to have a prenuptial agreement with anyone she marries. It would be stupid not to have one. Husbands have murdered beautiful wives for their money.

I come aboard and she says, Wow! My bottom-cleaning frogman has turned into a prince. And I havent even kissed you. She winks and adds, Yet, as she hands me a tall vodka Collins.

Cheryl has seductive green eyes to go with her fluffy dark blonde hair. I say, I assume you are the Cheryl Astor who inherited New York. Im Bradford Scottsdale. Loan sharks call me Brad.

I love a man with a sense of humor.

Whats his name?

She chuckles. What do you do beside clean bottoms?

I tell her I teach math in a private grammar school. And say that 111,111,111, times the same number totals 12345678987654321.

She says, Fantastic!

Yeah, the kids loved it. They showed their parents and they now think Im brilliant. I decide not to tell her how I got taken

She flat out asks, How much do you earn a month?

Probably what your interest earns in an hour.

No, please tell me. I wont tell anyone.

I shrug. About forty-two hundred a month.

I have an estate home.

Yes. I saw it featured in a Sunday paper.

Its lawns are two hundred acres huge and the patios swimming pool is double size. So is the party-patio. I need a supervisor over the help that mows the grass, cleans the pool and can also fix minor things needing repair.

If youre offering me the job, Im sorry. Two jobs are all I can handle.

The supervisor has his own quarters near the putting green; if you like golf. Ill be there most of the time. Ill want you to attend my parties as a guest and circulate.

Cheryl, it is tempting, but Im trying to establish a social life. I have to say, no.

The job pays eight thousand a month.

When do I start?