President Kowalski’s knowing stare flitted to their union. As they were connected at the hip, it was evident they’d been working close indeed. She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes before announcing, “I like it. It’s an inexpensive and simple solution to our community outreach problem. Unfortunately, Pembroke has a reputation for being elitist and aloof. We need to change that.” With a decisive nod, she added: “I’d like to see a written proposal from you, Dr. Reese.”

“Really?” Victoria croaked.

“The sooner the better. If we can get this started in time for the Spring Semester, we can see how well it works for students of other disciplines. For now, we should start with English, don’t you think?”

Victoria was frozen. John nudged her to speak. “Of course,” she blurted out. “I can meet with you tomorrow if you’d like.”

“Email me this evening so I’ll remember.”

“Just one more thing,” she said. “Does this need to be approved by the Curriculum and Policy Committee? I was told it would take a month to reach your desk.”

Kowalski frowned. “Who’s running that committee?”

“Dr. Kenneth Williams, ma’am.”

The woman rolled her eyes and exhaled a mirthless chuckle. “Oh brother. Just leave Kenneth to me. He’s still golf buddies with the last president who nearly gambled away our endowment. No, Dr. Reese, we’ll get this off the ground by January.”

Victoria looked up at John, her eyes widened with excitement. “Okay, that’s perfect.”

“Let’s hope that I get more Four-Week Initiative ideas as good as yours,” Kowalski said against her drink. “Howard, you don’t mind my people pestering your people, do you?”

Director Wegman clamped his teeth on his oversized Holmes pipe and shrugged his narrow shoulders. “If John doesn’t mind a Pembroke woman bossing him about, I’m fine. I’m used to it.”

John’s shoulders shook with laughter. “It isn’t half as bad as you make it out to be, Mr. Wegman.” He exchanged looks with Victoria, who hadn’t separated from him since the start of this negotiation. “I find some of Dr. Reese’s bossing delightful.”

Her mouth quirked into an embarrassing grin.

“Is he just saying that because he’s your boyfriend?” Mary Anne asked with a raised brow.

“It seems that way,” Victoria said. “Johnny has always objected to my rules.”

John almost lost his breath. Victoria stood tall beside him, asserting herself and laying claim to her own brilliant ideas. Claiming him. He wasn’t an associate tonight, in front of her boss.

He was her boyfriend.

Epilogue

Epilogue

Christmas Dinner in Chicago