The Breeding Program Read Online Free Page B

house, for what it was worth, but there was never any money left over to pay the bills once the cheap whiskey and gin had been bought. Kate's past was crowded with cold, uncomfortable nights when the power had been cut off, and her whole life had become devote to escaping the nightmare of her childhood.
     
    The house had passed to Kate by default after her parents had died: her father in a drunken car accident when Kate was in high school, and her mother just two years ago, of complications from cirrhosis. There had been no money to pass down, and with the house in desperate need of repair and the cost of college piling up Kate had turned to childcare to pay the bills.
     
    She'd turned out to be good at it, too. She loved kids, and kids loved her. Maybe it was something to do with the fact that she'd never gotten to enjoy her own childhood, and being around kids allowed her to play all the games she'd missed while she'd been busy taking care of her parents.
     
    Whatever the reason, she loved her job. She knew working as au pair wouldn't pay enough to finally escape her life of poverty, but once she'd scraped through college and into the midst of a recession she knew she'd have a better chance working in childcare than finding a way to use her degree in English Literature. Nobody needed an in depth analysis of The Canterbury Tales, but people would always need someone to look after their kids.
     
    This job, though, would pay more than enough to fix up the house well enough to finally sell it. Without that weight around her neck she could move on, leaving the ghosts of her past behind.
     
    She just needed to impress her - she hoped against hope - future employer.

 
     
     
    Chapter Two
     
    Kate fussed over her skirt as she walked up the long driveway, the gravel crunching beneath her feet and making her teeter on her heels. She smoothed her already perfectly ironed skirt as she walked, holding a manila folder containing her references under her chin as she tugged on the hem.
     
    Kate had thought long and hard about her appearance in the hours since the call. She'd picked out and discarded a dozen outfits, eventually settling on something she called Mary Poppins chic. A navy pencil skirt reached to just above her knees and a simple, ever so slightly transparent white blouse showed a hint of the bra beneath. Her thick, dark brown hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail that reached between her shoulder blades. Not overtly sexy, she thought, but attractive enough to win a few points if her interviewer was that kind of guy.
     
    Shortly before reaching the house Kate approached a woman crouched on all fours by the side of the driveway. As she neared she saw the girl, younger than she'd looked from a distance, tugging out weeds along the verge. She wore plain, dirt streaked gardening attire, but it was obvious she was showing a slight baby bump beneath her shirt. It was even more obvious that under the ground in dirt and sheen of sweat she was very attractive.
     
    Poor girl, thought Kate as she drew level. What a job.
     
    The girl noticed Kate as she passed, dropping her trowel and holding up a hand to block the sun. She gave her a friendly smile, which Kate returned.
     
    'You're here for Samantha's job?' the girl asked brightly.  'The au pair ?'
     
    'Yes, I am,' replied Kate. She couldn't think of anything better to say.
     
    The girl laughed. 'Oh, he'll like you. You look just like Sam. Good luck'
     
    Before Kate could reply the girl turned back to her weeding, uninterested in further conversation.
     
    Well, thought Kate, she's probably just pissed off I'll get to work indoors.
     
    She reached the broad steps leading to the front door, passing between two stone lions standing guard. Kate marveled at the imposing entrance with its heavy hardwood doors and, with a deep breath, grasped the knocker and swung down.
     
    Almost immediately the doors were swung open by a tall, well built man. In the first few moments