rekindled(英文版)-第15章

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how　as　pelling　and　attractive　a　man　had　avoided　the　lure　of　a　wife；　a
home；　a　family。　When　she　was　caught　in　the　act　of　admiring　him；　Ross
smiled　in　what　she　swore　was　a　knowing　way。

And　so　went　the　evening。　Lee　talked　with　Ross；　and　Ross　talked　with　Lee。
Chloe　listened；　joining　in　from　time　to　time；　trying　to　fight　admiration
without　much　success。

Why　Ross？　she　asked　herself　at　one　point。　Why　not　Lee？　The　two　were　as
physically　alike　as　brothers。　But　then；　why　had　Ross　been　attracted　to
Chloe　rather　than　Crystal？　Or　had　he？　Had　Crystal　been　right？　Had　it
been　a　case　of　his　taking　what　was　offered　by　whichever　sister　came
forward？

That　question　nagged。　Had　her　being　with　Ross　been　pure　chance？　A　simple
turn　of　fate？　But　what　about　that　coin？　There　was　nothing　coincidental
about　Chloe　winning　the　toss。　And　Ross…had　he　been　looking　at　Chloe
rather　than　at　her　identical　twin　sister？　Had　it　all　been　by　design；　or
had　it　been　by　pure　chance？

She　was　distracted　as　the　evening　waned；　unaware　of　looks　of　concern
sent　her　way。　When　Lee　said；　〃I'm　takin'　off　now；　Chloe；〃　she　was
startled。　Her　head　came　up。　Unsure；　she　straightened。

〃I'm　sorry；〃　she　apologized　softly。　〃I'm　afraid　I　haven't　been　much
help。　We　haven't　even　gone　over　those　things　we　should　have。〃

〃No　problem。〃　He　smiled。　〃We'll　do　it　tomorrow。〃　Taking　his　cue　from　the
disquieted　look　in　her　eyes；　he　turned　to　Ross。　〃Are　you　staying　here
tonight？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃No。〃

They　spoke　at　the　same　time。　Chloe　hurried　on。　〃No；　Ross。　You　can't　stay
here。〃　She　was　determined。　〃There's　one　bedroom　and　one　bed；　and　I　need
it。〃

〃Why　don't　you　stay　with　me；　friend？〃　Lee　offered…and　for　the　second
time　that　evening；　Chloe　could　have　disowned　him。　She　wanted　Ross　to
leave。　Out　of　sight　was　out　of　mind。　Lee's　offer　only　plicated
things。

Naturally；　Ross　accepted　the　invitation。　〃No　imposition？〃

〃No　imposition。　The　sofa　in　the　living　room　opens　into　a　bed。　The　back
door　will　be　open。　Chloe　will　point　you　in　the　right　direction。〃　Before
she　could　protest；　Lee　reached　the　door。　〃Good　night；　folks。〃　He
grinned；　letting　himself　out　with　a　flourish。

With　a　steadying　breath；　Chloe　settled　deeper　into　her　high…backed
chair；　tucked　her　feet　under　her；　forced　her　fingers　to　relax　against
the　broad　wicker　arms；　and　looked　across　the　room　at　Ross。

He　spoke　softly。　〃You　really　do　look　like　a　princess　in　that　chair。
Those　peacock　markings　could　as　easily　be　a　crown　of　gold　as　a　swirl　of
wicker。　Are　you　fortable？〃　His　eyes　were　gleaming；　mocking。

〃No；〃　she　answered　honestly。　〃You　know　I'm　not。〃

His　grin　held　no　apology。　〃That's　a　shame。　I　don't　want　you　to　be
miserable　through　the　entire　weekend。〃

〃You　can't　stay　all　weekend！〃

〃Why　not？　I　have　a　place　to　sleep。　That　Lee's　a　good　guy。〃

〃Too　good！〃　she　grumbled。　〃I　thought　I　could　trust　him。〃

Ross　sat　forward；　elbows　on　his　thighs；　fingers　steepled。　〃That's　what
puzzles　me。　I'm　sure　you　can　trust　him；　but　I　can't　figure　out　for　the
life　of　me　why。〃

Chloe　instantly　came　to　Lee's　defense。　〃He's　been　a　true　friend　to　me。〃

〃Why　only　a　true　friend？　Why　not　a　lover？〃

〃Lee　doesn't　want　that　from　a　woman。〃

〃You　mean；　he　prefers…〃

〃No。　No；　Ross。　Don't　twist　things。〃　Beneath　his　stare；　her　own　insides
twisted。　〃Lee　was　married　once。　He　has　two　children。　He　and　his　wife
divorced　five　years　ago。　She　lives　in　St。　Louis。〃

〃Ah。　Once　burned　。。。　okay；　I'll　accept　that。〃

〃How　kind；〃　she　murmured；　but　she　was　annoyed　enough　to　see　an　opening
and　take　it。　〃What　about　you？　In　the　eleven　years　since　I　knew　you　when；
what　have　you　done　along　similar　lines？　Should　I　assume　you've　developed
odd　preferences？〃

The　instant　she　said　it；　she　knew　it　was　a　mistake。　Good　humor　faded
fast　from　Ross's　face。　When　he　stood　and　approached　her；　she　struggled
to　avoid　cringing　into　the　chair。　There　was　a　hard　look　to　him。

〃Would　that　make　you　trust　me　more？〃　he　murmured。　He　towered　above　her
for　a　minute；　then　bent　over。　His　hands　covered　hers　on　the　arms　of　the
chair。　His　face　was　too　near。　〃Sorry　to　disappoint　you；　but　my
preferences　are　still　for　the　opposite　sex。〃　His　lips　moved　closer。
Chloe　looked　down　to　escape　them；　but　his　long　body　filled　her　view。
Everywhere　she　moved　her　eyes；　she　saw　him；　one　point　more　alarming　than
the　next。　If　it　wasn't　the　vee　of　his　chest；　with　its　wisps　of　dark　hair
edging　alongside　the　tab　of　his　collar；　it　was　the　breadth　of　his
shoulders　or　the　lean　tapering　of　his　middle　or　the　casual　set　of　his
hips。　Those　hips　told　their　own　story。　She　tore　her　gaze　away；
pletely　convinced　of　his　preference。

He　grinned。　〃Any　further　questions？〃

The　slight　shake　of　her　head　was　enough　to　bring　his　lips　into　contact
with　her　cheek；　and　Chloe　was　suddenly　conflicted。　Pull　away。　Move
closer。　Keep　your　eyes　shut。　Look　at　him。　Look　at　him。　Look　at　him。

She　looked。　His　eyes　held　gentleness　now。　And　the　same　desire　she　felt。
So　close。　So　far　away。　〃Kiss　me。　Don't。

He　did。　Very；　very　lightly。　A　ghost　of　a　touch　with　shuddering
intensity。　Chloe's　eyes　were　shut；　her　lips　parted。　To　taste　him　once
more　　。。。　When　he　kissed　her　again；　his　tenderness　incited　her　need。　She
moved　closer；　clung　to　him　with　her　own　lips；　drank　in　the　tang　of　his
mouth；　so　moist　and　strong　yet　soft。　His　tongue　touched　hers　briefly
before　he　raised　his　head。

〃Definitely　my　preference。〃　He　spoke　thickly；　his　breathing　uneven。

Chloe　was　momentarily　disoriented。　It　was　a　minute　before　reality
returned。　Then　she　was　appalled。　〃What　am　I　doing？〃　she　asked；　not
realizing　she'd　spoken　aloud。　〃What　am　I　doing？〃

〃Letting　yourself　live；〃　came　the　husky　but　gentle　declaration。

Burying　her　face　in　her　hands；　she　struggled　to　understand　what　had　just
happened。　She　couldn't　face　him；　much　less　herself。　Easier　to　hide
behind　the　cascade　of　hair　that　fell　forward；　shielding　her　from　the
world。

Lost　in　silent　self…reproach　Chloe　was　unaware　that　he　had　moved　away
and　returned　to　the　sofa。　He　was　waiting；　listening；　when　she　finally
raised　her　head。

〃Why　are　you　doing　this　to　me？〃　she　pleaded　softly。　〃Why　can't　you　just
leave　me　alone？〃

He　frowned。　〃Funny；　I've　asked　myself　the　same　question　a　dozen　times　in
the　last　two　weeks。〃　He　studied　his　knuckles；　seeming　to　struggle。　〃It's
like　for　the　first　time　in　years；　I　care。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　she　asked　falteringly。

〃You　asked　me　what　I've　done　with　myself　during　the　past　years。〃　He　gave
a　snort　of　disgust。　〃I　haven't　been　quite　as　noble　as　you。　There　have
been　women　over　the　years。〃

She　had　assumed　that；　and　felt　no　resentment。　There　was　a　certain　solace
in　the　knowledge　that　when　all　was　said　and　done；　he　was　still　attracted
to　her。　After　all；　he　was　magnificent。　More　than　one　of　those　women　must
have　tried　to　tie　him　down。

〃Didn't　you　find　anyone　special？〃　she　asked　quietly。

Ross　ore　than　others。　But；　no；　there
was　no　one　special。　No　one　who　meant　enough　to　tempt　me　to　change　my
lifestyle。　I'm　on　the　road　all　the　time。　I　do　own　an　old　brownstone　in
Manhattan；　but　I　doubt　if　I　spend　a　total　of　three　months　a　year　there。
Hotel　rooms；　friends'　apartments；　rented　suites…that's　been　ho