Perfect Partners

easier to handle, Letty decided, if she had been able to find some common ground with Stephanie. But Stephanie was as remote as an Amazon queen. She certainly bore no resemblance to Letty’s mother, who had been the perfect faculty wife.
    Mary Thornquist had been warm, open, and charming. She had not held a doctorate, and she had not written any impressive papers, but she’d had a knack for creating a home. She’d also known how to deal with Morgan when he grew too stuffy or pompous. There had been a lot of laughter in the Thornquist household.
    “How do you like Ridgemore?” Letty asked as she and Morgan strolled along the blacktop where Joel had taken his late night run.
    “Very much. My lecture load is light. Got an office with a window. Plenty of time to write my papers. And no Friday afternoon faculty sherry hours, thank God.”
    Letty winced. “I know you never enjoyed attending those.”
    Morgan smiled at her. “I’ve had enough of ivy-covered halls and moribund traditions. And so have you, I think. I’m sorry Dixon proved to be a bastard. But I’m glad you found out before the marriage.”
    “So am I.”
    Morgan paused. “Did you really walk into his office and find him with his—”
    “Don’t say it, please,” Letty muttered.
    “His you-know-what in some grad student’s mouth?” Morgan amended.
    Letty felt herself turning a bright red. “Yes, and I wish to heaven I had not confided that little snippet of information to Joel Blackstone. I don’t know what got into me last night.”
    “Maybe you just needed to talk. Knowing you, you probably didn’t confide the details to anyone at Vellacott.”
    “No, it’s not something one wants to discuss with one’s co-workers. Lord knows why I chose Joel Blackstone as my confidant. I guess I was just tired because it was the middle of the night and my common sense was half asleep. At any rate, I certainly learned my lesson.”
    “What lesson?”
    Letty glared at her father. “You know what I’m talking about. I could not believe what Joel said to Philip on the phone this morning. Last night when I made the mistake of pouring out my heart and soul to him, Mr. Blackstone seemed quite gentlemanly. Very understanding. I had no idea he could be so crude.”
    Morgan chuckled. “His tactics may strike you as crude, but something tells me he’s effective. Charlie said everything Thornquist Gear is today was the direct result of his putting Blackstone in charge ten years ago.”
    “I’m not questioning Joel’s executive ability. It’s obvious he’s got plenty of it.” Letty straightened her shoulders. “And I intend to learn everything I can from him.”
    “Everything?”
    Letty nodded enthusiastically. “Everything. He’s going to be my mentor while I learn how to run Thornquist Gear.”
    “This should be interesting.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “Just what I said.” Morgan’s bushy brows came together in a thoughtful frown. “Interesting. Blackstone isn’t like any other man you’ve ever known, Letty. He’s no ivory tower type. He doesn’t deal in theory; he deals in hard facts.”
    “I realize that.”
    “I seriously doubt he’s had any sensitivity training,” Morgan said dryly.”
    Letty smiled ruefully. “I’m sure you’re right.”
    “He doesn’t play the game by the book. He’s the kind of man who makes up his own rules.”
    Letty was alarmed. “Are you saying he’s probably unethical in his business dealings?”
    “No. I’m just warning you that his idea of fair play will probably be considerably different from your own.”
    “If I find out that he’s dishonest or underhanded, I’ll fire him immediately.”
    “That,” Morgan said slowly, “might be quite a trick.”
    “Dad, he works for me, remember? I can get rid of him at any time.”
    “Don’t bet on it, my dear.”
    “I own Thornquist Gear, darn it,” Letty retorted. “I can do as I wish.”
    Morgan grinned. “Spoken like a born corporate leader.”
    Letty was starting to feel insulted. “What’s the matter, Dad? Don’t you think I can learn to handle the company? As head of the reference department I’ve been managing people for several years.”
    “Running Thornquist Gear will not bear much of a resemblance to running the reference desk at Vellacott Library. Letty, you’re as smart as they come. You can do anything you want. I always told you that and I meant it. All I’m trying to do is warn you that you’ve never