It was nearing nine as I left the party, and though the sky still reflected a robin's egg blue, the light was rapidly receding.

After conferring with Father Aquilino, Zelda had been drawn into the party's midst and didn't seem interested in leaving. I tried to make party talk, chatted with a few strangers, and listened in on a conversation about behaviorism between a professor of cognitive psychology and a small gaggle of grad students. Finally I left the party and took off on foot in the direction of my house.

Unless I was sorely mistaken, Zelda had taken an interest in me. The campus rumor mill had informed me that she and Dexter were no longer an item, though she still worked as his assistant. They appeared to run hot and cold, with as much underlying animosity as affection. But maybe that's how Zelda was with everyone she liked.

I reached University Way, which bordered the western edge of the campus. Known by everyone as "the Ave," its store facades were brick and glass, the business names displayed subtly with an absence of neon. The Ave was lively this evening, crammed with kids sporting black leotards, black leather jackets, multiple body piercings, and hair the color of strawberry or lime Jell-o.

Leaving the Ave, I turned right on Campus Drive, left on Roosevelt and strolled across the University Bridge. Looking down from the bridge, I spotted my house in the clutter of floating homes, mini-marinas, and seaplanes. All looked peaceful and still; even the waters were serene. Five minutes later I reached the narrow plank that connected my living quarters to terra firma. I crossed its length to my own narrow deck, retrieved the key found under the mat, and let myself in. Though the sun had set I left the lights off, turned on the stereo, and sat admiring the gentle waters.

Deciding that my nightly survey of e-mail could wait until morning, I went upstairs and into the cool, dark bedroom. Regina's photo was as I had left it, face down on the desk. I picked it up and said softly, "She reminds me of you, you know. Schemes within schemes." Regina didn't answer. I turned the photo to face the bed, undressed, and slipped between the sheets.

When I'm not pulling an all-nighter, I can fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow, and tonight was no exception. At some point I began to dream of Regina. Her warm hand lightly caressed my chest. Then she lowered her reach and began a most accommodating massage. The soft scent of flowers and citrus enveloped me. I sighed with pleasure even as the thought drifted into my mind that Regina hated perfume. "You smell so nice," I murmured.

"I am so nice, don't you think?"

It was Zelda. With me, in my bed. Very much with me. Dazed, I tried to turn around. Zelda's strategic grasp produced a mixture of pleasure and pain.

"Surprised?" she asked.

"Shocked is more like it."

"Funny," she said, squeezing tighter, "no signs of shock here."

I pulled her hand away and rolled over to face her. I grabbed her wrists and drove them into the mattress. She resisted for a moment but soon lay back. The strength I felt recalled those muscular arms in her black sleeveless dress. Aided by patterned moonlight streaming through the blinds, my eyes adjusted and I saw that the dress had disappeared.

"You're very strong," I said admiringly. "You must work out regularly."

"I do. But seldom enough to keep me happy." She twisted her thighs for emphasis.

"Not a good reflection on Dexter."

"Ray, you know next to nothing about Julius or our relationship. I wouldn't underestimate him."

"More helpful advice," I said. "You're being awfully nice to me this evening."

She smiled. "I can be very nice when I want to be."

I released her hands and stroked the area under her arm. I caressed her neck and the soft skin between her breasts. "By the way, what is your relationship with Dexter?"

Her fingertips played with my shoulders. "Not what it used to be, lately. Forget Julius. I think you and I can be a big help to each other."

"Physically or emotionally?"

"Professionally."

"Professionally? I don't understand."

She moved to lie beside me, her head resting on her hand. "Your ideas turn me on, Ray. They're brilliant. But you're going to blow it, like you did with Julius tonight. He's right, you know. There's more to people than chaining thumbrules together."

"Oh, really?" I shifted my weight.

"Yes, really." She grabbed my shoulder. "You, my friend, have a problem."

"And what is my problem?"

"There are things you know but also things you don't know."

"But maybe the things that I don't know, I don't need to know."

"How can you be sure, if you don't know what you don't know?"

"Hmmm…I don't know."

"Well, that's progress," she said. "It's very healthy to know that you don't know. Actually, that's Julius' problem. He thinks he knows it all, which leads him to underestimate his opponents. That's how you can beat him at your little duel."

"So that's Dexter's problem. How do you know all this?"

She smiled mysteriously and patted my cheek. "I know what I know."

She snuggled playfully into the blankets and then pulled me on top of her. She started scratching my back. The pressure of her nails intensified just to the point of pain. "So what will it be?" she asked. "Partners?"

"I can't believe we're having this conversation in bed."

"Would you rather I didn't talk?"

"Well..."

Without waiting for my response, she pushed herself up, grabbed me with surprising strength, and reversed our positions. I looked up at her as she nuzzled into my chest. As she worked her way down, any misgivings retreated. Our new professional relationship had begun.