No Peeking...

Violet hesitated, then wet her lips. “Sex for Beginners.”

“Come again?”

“The class was called Sexual Psyche, but everyone referred to it as Sex for Beginners.”

“So that’s what goes on in those all-girls schools,” Nan teased.

“It was just one class,” Violet said, tingling with embarrassment.

“So what was in the letter? Your sexual experiences? Your fantasies?”

Violet didn’t respond.

“Oh, my God. You wrote down your sexual fantasies! What were they?”

“Never mind,” Violet said, exasperated. “It was a silly assignment.”

“I think it’s fascinating. In fact, it would make a great story for the paper.”

“No, it wouldn’t.” Violet was in a near panic at the thought of being exposed.

Nan sighed. “Okay. So the letter went into the incinerator by mistake?”

“Looks that way.”

“Did you at least get to read it?”

“Yes.”

“And?”

“And…like I said, it was a silly assignment. I only brought it up as an example of why having an assistant isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”

“You need to give her a chance. You’re never going to grow your company unless you hire people to work for you and delegate stuff to them.”

“I know. And when things slow down after the first of the year…I’ll think about it. I do hate the idea of passing up business. I could’ve earned a lot of extra money on this assignment.”

Nan’s wistful sigh breezed over the line. “But I guess it’s just as well that you didn’t take Dominick Burns up on his offer.”

Violet frowned. “Why?”

“Well, he is a notorious playboy. He’d probably get you down to Miami and try to have his way with you.”

Violet swallowed hard. “Do you think so?” she managed to say, her voice squeaking.

“Oh, sure. You’d probably have spent the entire time fighting off his advances.”

“Yeah, that would’ve been…awful.” Violet glanced down at Winslow, who had planted himself on the sidewalk, whining. “I guess I’d better go. Duty calls. Have a great time in Aruba.”

“I will,” Nan said. “Give your parents my best. I’ll call you when I get back in town.”

Violet said goodbye and disconnected the call, then went through the steps of cajoling Winslow to do his thing. When he was finished, she carried him back to the house to save time. He practically purred in her arms.

“He did great,” she said, handing him over to Patricia. “Merry Christmas, Ms. Kingsbury. Enjoy your time in Birmingham with your son and your grandchildren.”