At the sound of a commotion in the corridor, Violet turned, then sucked in a sharp, painful breath. Dominick was striding toward her carrying a…decorated Christmas tree?
He had an entourage of people with him, some dressed as elves who were passing out gifts, some dressed as carolers who were serenading the crowd. Violet’s mind spun in bewilderment.
He stopped an arm’s length in front of her, then planted the tree on the floor.
Her heart was thudding in her chest. “What’s all this?”
A tentative smile curved his mouth. “I brought you your magical Christmas. I remembered that you wanted snow.”
Her jaw dropped. “How did you make it snow?”
He looked sheepish and gestured to the flakes still falling outside. “It’s artificial snow—mostly water, but a few other things thrown in to keep it from melting quickly. A pilot friend of mine has a plane with a sprayer. He did me a favor.”
She was flattered by the attention and all the trouble he’d gone to, but she couldn’t forget what he’d done to her. “Why would you do that for me?”
His jaw hardened and he looked almost…frightened. Much like the way she felt when she looked out over a steep drop. “Because…I love you, Vee.”
Her heart vaulted. She wanted to believe him. “Dominick, you don’t have to say that—”
“I’m not just saying it, Vee. I mean it.” He expelled a long, noisy breath. “I promised a wise woman once that if I ever met someone who made me feel more alive than the crazy stunts I’ve pulled, that I would jump.”
She held her breath. Could it be true? She hadn’t imagined the connection they’d shared?
Dominick looked utterly defeated. “I didn’t mean for it to happen like this. Serves me right, I guess, for thinking I’d have fun teaching you a thing or two.” He reached out and picked up her hand. “Instead, you taught me a thing or two.” He kissed her fingers.
She was holding back tears, happy ones this time.
“Can you ever forgive me, Vee? Can you ever feel about me the way that I feel about you?”
Violet wet her lips, tasted tears. She nodded. “Yes.”
He pulled her into his arms and crushed her against him, then sighed in her ear. “Thank you. Because I’ve got this bad feeling that I can’t live without you.”
She held him tighter, almost afraid to let go. He rocked her back and forth and she felt his love enveloping her, fortifying her.
“You know…” he murmured in a teasing voice “…if you want to stay with the whole exciting sex theme, I saw an elevator on the way in that has our name written all over it. I’m just saying.”
Violet laughed and pulled back. Dominick’s deep blue eyes reflected an emotion she’d never seen in them before—reciprocal, crazy romantic love.
It gave her a wondrous peek into the rest of her life.
Epilogue
“LOOK WHAT CAME in the mail today.” Lillian Tremble held up a letter as she walked in.
Dr. Michelle Alexander glanced up from her computer. “What is it?”
“A letter from Violet Summerlin.”
Michelle smiled. “What does she have to say?”
Lillian slit open the envelope and pulled out the letter. “‘Dear Dr. Alexander, a few months ago I received the letter I wrote as an assignment in your Sexual Psyche class in college. Little did I know that it would set in motion a chain reaction of events that would bring about a life change—not only have I discovered the woman I think I was meant to be all along, but I also found the man of my dreams. We’re going to be married soon, but I wanted to take time out from planning our adventure wedding to say thank you for your wisdom. This might sound a little strange, but for me, the timing of receiving my letter was almost magical. I never imagined I could be this happy. Warmest wishes, Violet Summerlin.’”
Lillian looked up from the letter and sighed. “Sounds like another success story.”
Michelle turned to retrieve a thick black binder from the shelf behind her desk. “You met them both. Do you think they’ll make it?”
“Oh, absolutely. Just like the others. Your sixth sense hasn’t been wrong yet, sis.”
Michelle found Violet’s name in the binder and made a few notes.
“So—” Lillian sat on the corner of the desk. “Who’s next?”
Michelle swiveled in her chair, pulled out a deep file bin and stared in at the hundreds and hundreds of envelopes containing letters written by former students of her Sex for Beginners class. She laid her hands on top of the pile and closed her eyes to listen. Which of her former students was in the most pain, which one faced the greatest emotional need? “When one of my students calls out to me, I’ll be there.”
Lillian winked. “You mean, we’ll be there.”