The Secret (Winslow Brothers 3)

“Everyone, I would like to introduce you to my TA this semester,” I announce and point the now-capped black marker in my hand toward Rachel. “This is Rachel Rose. You’ll be seeing a lot more of her this year. Also, it should be noted, she will be tasked with grading some of your papers, so I’d be nice to her if I were you. Maybe woo her with chocolates and friendly smiles every once in a while—get in her good graces.”

The class laughs.

“Hi, everyone.” Rachel smiles and offers a little wave. “I’m here as a resource when you need me, and no, chocolates and wooing are not required.”

The class dissolves into a fit of giggles again, and a couple of young, strapping boy-men sit up in their seats a little bit taller. Rachel Rose is going to be something of a regular in quite a few spank banks, I’m afraid.

“So, Rachel, what do you think?”

“What do I think about what?”

I point toward the whiteboard over my shoulder. “What makes the book so great?”

One would assume that the daughter of the great Nathaniel Rose would know a book like Anna Karenina like the back of her hand, but one would also assume that a woman who gave you her panties in the middle of a nightclub wouldn’t try to pretend it didn’t happen.

So, I’m done being an ass by assuming. Instead, I’m all ears for her response.

“Because it transcends time,” she answers with something that’s been said a million times before.

“That is what all the critics say about it, yes, But why do you think it transcends time?”

Her eyes narrow ever so slightly, the pressure of being put on the spot placing a weight on her eyelids. I can’t wait to see what she does with it. Fight or flee, Rachel, fight or flee.

“Because at the core of the book, no matter the time period in which it was written, are the fundamentals of human nature,” she expands confidently. “Tolstoy was a master of showing things that every human can relate to, no matter the era. Things like jealousy and boredom and insecurity and the double standards we create in society because of various factors like wealth and class and gender.”

“Double standards,” I muse, nodding in agreement before continuing to test her knowledge. “And what double standard struck you the most in the book?”

“Well, I’d say Anna’s brother sleeping with the nanny and finding forgiveness from his wife and everyone else is a serious double standard when you compare it to how Anna was treated in the theatre. I mean, that scene is my least favorite scene in the book.”

“Wait…there’s sex in this book?” Landon questions, and I waggle my eyebrows dramatically.

“Ahh, this is exactly why you shouldn’t act like you’re too cool for school, bro.”

Landon is still confused, glancing around the room and undoubtedly wondering if Anna Karenina is an undercover porno book he should’ve been wanking off to over winter break, but the rest of the class, thanks to Landon’s question and Rachel’s description, is now seriously invested.

As for me, I’m left wondering how Rachel’s shapely thighs, smooth skin, full breasts, and sultry eyes are now playing second fiddle to her mind in terms of my attention.

She’s as brilliant as Nate said she was and then some, I have a feeling. But he’s not the only one who’s underestimated her.

Rachel Rose is proving to be a lot more trouble than I bargained for.

Rachel

I’ve only observed fifty-five minutes of Professor Winslow in action, and even though it pains me to admit this because I don’t like to agree with my father on pretty much anything, I can see why he considers Ty Winslow a brilliant teacher.

Ty commands his class’s attention without aggression or fear tactics. He doesn’t dictate them into paying attention. He simply convinces his students to engage in the discussion in a way that makes them feel like they’re choosing to do it. And he also gets them to have fun in the process.

That’s a hard thing to do when a book like Anna Karenina is the topic.

At least, it is if you’re not teaching pupils like me. I, personally, happen to love that book—have always loved that book—but for most people, it is a painful endeavor to actually finish. It’s long and can feel tedious at times. And the way in which it is written can feel difficult to interpret and navigate.

Sure, this first class didn’t come without putting me to the test, but annoyed or not, I understood why he did it.

By bringing me into the discussion, he took Anna Karenina and all its complexity and made it seem conversational. Students who arrived feeling nervous and uncertain left feeling interested and confident in Tolstoy, of all things.

He made them feel like they could relate to the book, and he did it without knocking even a single notch of his charming smile out of place.