My special talent

My laugh instantly demonstrated her naiveté. She did look a bit like a young Judy Garland. That wholesomeness just begging to be turned inside out. "I already have more accountants than I care to admit. What I don't

have..."

With that I brushed a finger along her trembling lips. I think they really were naturally strawberry. She could have worked her way through school modeling for a cosmetic company.

Finally she understood. Her hand moved to the door latch, retreated. I was counting on her, well, her ability to count. I moved her hand, still on my leg, further toward the resolution of her difficulty. She looked...