rekindled(英文版)-第18章

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was　thinking　more　of　firms　like　Cabot　and　Walker；　or　Fennimen　East。〃

But　Lee　was　grinning。　〃What's　wrong　with　the　Hansen　Corporation？〃

〃Nothing；〃　she　said；　but　rethought　her　answer　when　Lee　was　clearly
disbelieving。　She　lowered　her　voice。　〃What's　wrong　with　the　Hansen
Corporation　is　that　Ross　Stephenson　is　its　president。〃

So？〃

〃Lee；〃　she　pleaded；　〃Ross　is　a　friend。　I　would　no　more　ask　him　to　hire
ESE　than　。。。　than。。　。〃　She　went　silent；　at　a　loss　for　words。　She　was
hoping　to　survive　a　single　weekend　with　Ross。　She　couldn't　begin　to
imagine　working　with　him　on　an　ongoing　basis。

Lee　grew　serious。　〃What　is　he　to　you；　Chloe？〃

She　sighed；　giving　up　the　struggle　to　find　excuses。　〃We　knew　each　other
before　Crystal　died。〃

〃He's　the　one；　isn't　he？〃　There　was　only　kindness　in　Lee's　voice；　yet
his　words　jolted　her。

〃What？〃　she　whispered。

〃He's　the　one…the　man　in　your　life。〃

〃There　is　no　man　in　my　life。　You　know　that。〃

Lee　grew　gentler。　〃Over　the　years；　I've　learned　a　lot　about　you。　You've
told　me　about　your　sister；　that　she　died；　that　you　rarely　visit　your
family　back　in　New　Orleans。　But　you　never　talk　about　men。　You're　a
beautiful　person；　Chloe。　I　know　it；　and　he　knows　it。〃　He　tilted　his　head
toward　the　living　room。　〃I　dare　you　to　look　me　in　the　eye　and　deny　that
there　was　ever　anything　between　the　two　of　you。〃

She　couldn't　lie。　Not　to　Lee。　〃I　can't　do　that。　But；　whatever　it　was；
it's　over。〃

〃You　think　so？〃

〃Yes。〃　She　said　it　firmly；　and　held　her　head　the　same　way。

Lee　studied　her　for　a　long　minute；　before　making　a　show　of　wiping　his
hands　together。　〃Well；　then；　I　guess　that　settles　that。〃　He　graciously
redirected　the　conversation　to　safer　ground。　〃I　do　agree　with　you　that
the　private　business　sector　could　be　a　promising　outlet。　I'll　be　in
Washington　next　week　to　work　with　the　Coast　Guard　on　the　Gulf　project。
Let　me　see　what　nosing　around　I　can　do　while　I'm　there。〃

〃How　much　longer　will　the　training　project　take？〃

〃With　the　government；　that's　a　good　question。　And　when　it　es　to　oil
spill　cleanups；　no　amount　of　training　is　ever　enough。　I　would　guess　the
present　phase　will　take　another　few　months　at　least。〃

Chloe　contemplated　those　ing　few　months。　Unthinkingly；　she　glanced
toward　the　door。

Lee　headed　that　way。　〃I　can　take　the　hint；　pretty　lady。〃　His　hand　was　on
the　knob　before　she　could　call　him　back。　〃Anything　else　can　wait。　Have
fun！〃　He　left　with　a　wink。

〃Lee！　Wait…〃

But　one　dark　head　was　replaced　by　another。　〃At　last；〃　Ross　said　and
closed　the　office　door。　〃Alone　at　last。〃

Chloe　forced　herself　to　sit　back　slowly。　〃I　hadn't　realized　you　would
hang　around　all　morning。　I　hope　you　weren't　bored。〃

〃Actually〃…he　circled　her　desk　to　plant　himself　on　the　corner　nearest
her…〃I　went　over　some　papers　of　my　own。　I'm　a　good　loser；　for　a
morning。〃　He　cocked　his　head　toward　the　door。　〃Ready　to　go？〃

〃Go？　Where？〃

〃Oh〃…he　looked　out　the　window　in　amusement…〃I　thought　you　could　show　me
around　town。　I'm　a　stranger　to　these　parts。〃

Judging　from　the　confidence　he　exuded；　it　was　a　wonder　that　any　parts
were　strange　to　him。　Chloe　couldn't　ignore　the　thread　of　excitement　that
he　had　brought　with　him　into　the　room。　Indifference；　she　reminded
herself。　But　it　was　a　tough　order。

Standing　quickly；　she　tried　to　remedy　the　situation。　〃I　wish　I　could
help；　but　I　still　have…〃　A　strong　arm　caught　her　waist。　Before　she　could
say　another　word；　she　was　imprisoned　between　his　thighs。

〃All　work　and　no　play…〃

〃Makes　a　successful　scientist。〃

〃And　a　very　dull　woman。〃

She　frowned；　unwittingly　taking　his　bait。　〃Do　you　think　my　work　is
dull？〃　Her　disappointment　was　genuine。　So　was　the　devastatingly　handsome
smile　that　spread　across　his　face。　The　hands　that　were　looped　loosely
behind　her；　now　brought　her　closer。

〃Nothing　about　you　is　dull；〃　he　said；　〃except　your　determination　to　hold
me　at　arms'　length。〃

Arms'　length　was　a　lot　farther　than　where　she　was　now。　Well　within　the
circle　of　his　arms；　with　her　hands　braced　at　the　point　where　his　jeans
met　his　hips；　she　was　under　his　spell。

Ross　lowered　his　head　and　kissed　her；　tasting　the　sweetness　of　her
mouth；　and　it　struck　her　that　she　might　well　have　been　too　successful　at
her　own　game。　By　denying　the　past；　she　was　responding　to　him　in　the
present　alone。　Her　return　kiss　was　gentle；　sampling。　She　played　with
being　free　of　all　memory；　all　guilt。　Her　lips　opened　to　his。　She　gave　of
herself　as　she　hadn't　done　in　years。

〃That　was　nice；〃　he　whispered　against　her　mouth；　then　pulled　away　and
set　her　back　before　she　could　do　it　herself。　He　trailed　a　long　thumb
across　her　cheek　to　the　lips　he'd　just　left。　〃We'll　do　it　again　soon。〃
It　was　said　so　gently　and　carried　such　lightness　that　Chloe　couldn't
help　but　smile。　A　warm　flush　painted　her　cheeks　a　ely　pink；
plementing　the　gray　of　her　eyes；　which　held　a　hint　of　apology。　〃You
have　a　way　of　sneaking　up　when　a　girl　least　expects　it；　Ross。　What　am　I
going　to　do　with　you？〃

His　gaze　told　her　first；　and　there　was　something　heady　about　it；　until
he　added；　〃You're　going　to　love　me　one　day。　That's　what　you're　going　to
do。〃

She　stiffened；　but　he　went　on。　〃Right　now；　you're　going　for　a　ride　with
me。〃

〃I　have　errands　to　do；〃　she　protested。

〃Like？　〃

〃Like　marketing；　for　starters。　In　one　meal　you've　nearly　wiped　me　out。〃

〃So　we'll　go　to　the　market。　What　else？〃

She　adlibbed。　〃I　need　new　house　plants　for　the　living　room。　With　winter
ing　on…〃

〃Winter？　It's　creeping　up　toward　seventy　again　today。　How　can　you　think
of　winter？〃

〃It'll　be　here。　And　anyway；　the　sooner　the　plants　get　used　to　the　house；
the　easier　it　will　be　for　them　to　adapt　to　the　cooler　weather。〃

His　gaze　narrowed。　〃I　bet　you　talk　to　your　plants。〃

〃No。　If　I　did　that；　they　might　think　I　was　flaky。　I　want　my　plants　to
respect　me。〃

She　doubted　Ross　heard　her。　He　was　focusing　on　her　mouth；　looking
entranced。　Suddenly　he　slid　the　fingers　of　both　hands　through　the　hair
on　either　side　of　her　face；　brought　his　own　head　down；　and　kissed　her
again。　This　time　there　was　a　hunger　there　hadn't　been　before；　a　new
urgency。　This　time　Chloe　was　frightened。　How　not　to　lose　herself　in　that
hunger？

〃Ross；〃　she　cried；　〃don't；　please；　don't。〃

He　released　her。　His　voice　remained　husky；　but　his　eyes　held　a　promise。

〃I　won't　push　you　now。　But　you　will　love　me　one　day。　One　day　soon。〃

〃You're　wrong…〃

〃Not　this　time；　princess。〃　He　paused　to　let　his　breathing　steady。　〃Let's
go。　We'll　stop　for　lunch　first。　I'm　starved。〃

Chloe　took　a　steadying　breath　of　her　own。　〃After　that　breakfast？〃

〃That　breakfast；〃　he　grumbled；　〃was　interrupted。　And　anyway；　that　was
this　morning。　It's　nearly　two。　Any　more　feeble　excuses　to　try　on　me
before　we　leave？〃

Chloe　looked　around　her　office。　Its　familiarity　gave　her　strength。
Indifference。　She　could　do　it。

〃Not　a　one；〃　she　said；　preceding　Ross　from　the　room　without　another
word。　It　was　only　when　they　reached　the　front　door　that　she　felt　an　odd
sense　of　adventure。　Eyes　alight；　she　turned　back　to　Ross。　〃I　have　an
idea。　Let's　take　the　bike。〃

〃I　have　a　better　idea；〃　he　countered；　pulling　the　neck　of　his　turtleneck
away　from　h