we decide otherwise,” Marguerite stipulated.
The next day Laura sent a copy of Julian’s tape to Teresa Clifford, a young woman of distinction and numerous connections in the West Coast scene. Laura asked Teresa to recommend a possible playmate for Dr. Honeywell if she could.
When Teresa viewed the tape she was impressed. Bestowing this magnetic male on a friend in the scene would be a favor indeed.
The tape arrived at Zoe Miller’s office on a Friday morning but she didn’t insert it into her VCR until late afternoon. The young editor sat behind her desk and her best friend, Carlos, the gay office manager sat on the edge and lit both their cigarettes.
“Listen to this,” the slim brunette read Teresa Clifford’s note to her, “Dear Zoe, Dr. Honeywell is looking for a girlfriend. When you watch the tape you’ll see why I thought of you. His phone number is listed at the end.”
“Let’s see what he looks like,” encouraged Carlos.
As soon as the tape began to roll a blush suffused Zoe’s fair face.
“Wow,” she breathed at length, “I guess he’s a spanking person.”
“That’s your favorite kind, isn’t it, Zoe?” Carlos teased her.
“He’s very handsome, isn’t he?” she replied, looking hard at the screen.
“A little buttoned-down for my taste, but I suppose girls like that fussy, anal retentive look.”
“I like his smile when it happens to come out, but he seems a little pompous, don’t you think?”
“He’s patriarchal, but that’s okay. We like that.”
“Should I call him?”
“He’s a Beverly Hills doctor. That means he’ll have both money and drugs. Of course call him.”
“You don’t think he looks a little, you know, too good for me?”
“Silly.”
“That looks like an expensive suit he has on. Look at me,” she drew attention to her jeans and flannel shirt.
“So he’ll take you shopping.”
“I wonder what he means by sexual servitude.” For Zoe had been sent the unedited version of Julian’s tape.
“If you don’t know, who would?”
“I wonder if...”
“...he’s big enough to satisfy your endless needs?” Carlos laughed.
“Shut up.”
“Size queen.”
“If I am I got it from you. And working here.”
“Call him.”
Dr. Honeywell was packing his briefcase to leave his office for the day when the phone rang at four p.m. His receptionist said it was a personal call from a Zoe Miller.
“Dr. Honeywell?”
“Yes?”
“My name is Zoe Miller. I’m calling because I received a tape of you in the mail today from my friend Teresa Clifford.”
“Teresa Clifford the B&D actress?”
“Yes.”
“She had my tape?”
“That’s where I got it from.”
“H’m.”
“It was an interesting tape.”
“Did you think so?”
“I’m 27.”
“That’s a charming age.”
“I’m career-oriented.”
“I approve of that.”
“I’m into spanking and always have been.”
“When can we meet?”
“I think I should send you a photo first,” said Zoe, regarding her reflection in the mirror across her office.
“You sound very cute. I don’t need a photo; let’s just meet.”
“No, I want to send one.”
“Mail it today.”
Two days later Zoe’s photo arrived. He opened the envelope with excitement, knowing he was about to fall in love. Because of her circumspection, he expected more character than beauty in her face, more softness than sleekness in her body. Therefore he was pleasantly surprised by Zoe Miller, a lean girl with long, black, curly hair, a wide mouth and mischievous eyes. Her preppie clothes and clean scrubbed good looks also pleased Julian. He’d asked The Matchmakers to find him someone like Laura, and this girl might have been her sister. He immediately called Zoe to set up a date for that night.
Zoe prepared for her date in a trance, watching Julian’s tape again and again as she tried on and discarded many outfits. She finally decided on a cream linen open-collared dress, which she wore with a beige blazer, penny loafers and anklets. She wore her hair down, with a headband that matched the blazer. When she was dressed, she watched the tape again.
When the bell rang she jumped, turned off the TV and ran to door. The little parlor of her West Hollywood cottage was filled with a type of smoke that did not surprise Julian in the slightest.
Merely shaking his hand made her blush to the eyes as she thought about why he was here and what might happen to her later.
“Julian?”
“Zoe. You’re much prettier in person than in your photo. And I loved your photo.”
Zoe looked embarrassed and stammered out something about a drink.
“Sure,” he said, “what have you got?”
“Whatever you like.”
“Vodka tonic?”
“I can manage that,” she said, going to the freezer for the vodka. Her hand trembled as she prepared the drink.
“I can tell you’ve been up to something in here, young lady,” he said when she came back.
“You did say on your tape that you had no objection to recreational drugs.”
“I’m a doctor; I love recreational drugs.”
“Really? Do you want some?”
“I’ll just drink this for now. What did you do, though, pour half a pint into this glass?” he winced at the strength of the drink she had handed
