rekindled(英文版)-第5章

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Slipping　in　behind　the　wheel；　she　rolled　her　window　down　to　let　in　the
cool　night　air。　With　escape　imminent；　she　grew　bolder；　looking　up　at
Ross　as　he　leaned　over　with　his　fingers　curved　on　the　lowered　window。
How　handsome　he　was；　she　mused。　She　had　been　powerfully　attracted　to　him
then；　she　still　was。　〃It　was　nice　seeing　you；　Ross。〃

〃You　won't　change　your　mind　and　stay　over？　I'm　at　the　Wayward　Sailor；　an
inn　just　down　the　road。　I'm　sure　they　have　another　vacancy；　since　the
height　of　the　season　is　past。　We　could　grab　a　snack　somewhere　and　talk。〃

Chloe　would　have　liked　nothing　better。　She　knew　nothing　about　the　Ross
Stephenson　who　was　a　successful　businessman。　Instinct　told　her　that　time
spent　with　him　would　be　interesting。　It　would　also　be　downright
dangerous；　even　devastating。

She　sighed。　〃That　would　be　nice；　but　I　have　to　get　back。　I　feel　wide
awake　for　driving。　I'd　just　as　soon　put　the　miles　behind　me。　Besides；　I
have　that　appointment。〃

Ross　considered　that　for　a　minute；　then　held　up　his　hands。　In　gracious
defeat；　he　stepped　back。　She　put　the　key　in　the　ignition；　pumped　the　gas
pedal；　turned　the　key。　There　was　a　click；　but　nothing　happened。　She
repeated　the　sequence。　It　always　worked。　Granted；　her　small　blue　pact
had　seen　better　days；　but　it　had　always　started　for　her…until；　she
realized　as　she　turned　the　key　a　third　time；　this　afternoon。　She　had
heard　the　same　click　then；　had　run　back　into　the　house　and　brought　Lee
out　to　help。　They　had　figured　the　engine　was　flooded；　had　waited　and
won。　The　car　had　started。　But　Murphy's　Law　said　that　it　wasn't　going　to
start　now。

〃Trouble？〃　Ross　bent　in　at　the　window　again。

〃Battery；　I　think。〃

He　opened　the　door。　〃Let　me　try。〃

She　slid　out。　With　an　ease　that　belied　his　awesome　length；　he　folded
himself　behind　the　wheel。　The　front　seat　was　already　back　to　allow　for
the　length　of　Chloe's　own　long　legs；　and　even　then　he　gave　a
good…natured　grimace。　She　had　to　smile。　Getting　in　was　apparently　the
easy　part。　Maneuvering　now　that　he　was　there　was　the　challenge。

But　he　managed。　When　he　tried　the　ignition；　though；　he　had　no　better
luck　than　Chloe。　He　listened　to　that　impotent　click　once；　twice；　three
times。　Then　he　hoisted　himself　out　of　the　car　and　looked　under　the　hood。

〃You're　right；〃　he　said；　straightening。　〃It's　the　battery。〃　He　slammed
the　hood　shut　and　brushed　his　palms　against　one　another。　〃It　looks　like
you'll　have　to　stay。　I　don't　see　how　you'll　get　someone　to　e　out　at
this　hour。〃

She　reached　for　her　bag。　〃I　have　triple…A。〃

〃Chloe。〃　He　sighed　softly。　〃This　isn't　a　bustling　metropolis。　By　the
time…〃

〃Do　you　have　jumper　cables？〃

〃No。〃　He　patted　his　pockets。　〃Not　anywhere　close　by。〃

〃In　your　car？〃

〃It's　a　rental。〃

Her　gaze　fell　to　the　pavement。　She　could　rant　and　rave　all　she　wanted；
but　it　seemed　she　had　little　choice。　〃I　suppose　Lee　could　change　that
early　appointment　for　me；〃　she　murmured　quietly；　then　looked　up。　〃And
you　think　your　inn　would　have　a　room？〃

His　gaze　was　steady。　〃I'm　sure　it　would。〃

Not　one　to　belabor　a　no…win　situation；　Chloe　sighed。　〃Lead　on；　Ross。
Lead　on。〃

Ross　led　her　to　a　late…model　rental　car　roomy　enough　for　both　pairs　of
long　legs　to　stretch　fortably。　Vibes　were　something　else。　Chloe
sensed　that　no　space　would　be　large　enough　for　the　ones　that　circuited
back　and　forth　during　the　short　drive　to　the　inn。

〃You　flew　in　just　for　tonight's　meeting？〃　she　asked；　seeking　to　ease　the
silence。　It　was　awkward；　given　the　intimacy　they　had　once　shared。

〃That's　right；〃　he　answered；　paying　close　attention　to　roads　that　were
now　dark　and　deserted。　〃From？〃

〃New　York。〃

〃Do　you　live　there？〃

〃Occasionally。〃

It　was　an　odd　answer。　When　he　failed　to　elaborate；　Chloe　tried　again。
〃Have　you　had　to　e　here　often？〃

〃More　often　than　I'd　anticipated。　This　project　has　created　something　of
a　stir。〃　If　the　glance　he　shot　her　was　accusatory；　she　accepted　it　as
fair　game　and　took　no　offense。　She　believed　in　her　cause。

〃From　what　Felix　Hart　implied；　you　move　around　a　lot；〃　she　said。

〃I　always　did。〃

It　was　a　direct　reference　to　the　past。　Then；　he　had　been　in　the　Peace
Corps　on　leave　for　Thanksgiving；　the　world　traveler　ing　stateside　for
a　visit。　There　had　been　an　air　of　excitement　about　him。

He　still　had　it。　His　profile　was　strong；　lean；　preoccupied　in　ways　that
suggested　big　business　in　far　places。　She　looked　away；　focusing　on　the
view　outside　her　window；　trying　to　ignore　a　silence　that　she　could　feel
and　taste。　She　was　relieved　when　the　Wayward　Sailor　came　into　view。

Ross　turned　to　her　as　soon　as　the　car　stopped。　His　features　had
softened。　His　tone　was　solicitous。　〃Why　don't　you　wait　here？　I'll　make
the　arrangements　and　find　out　where　we　can　get　a　bite　to　eat。　You　are
hungry；　aren't　you？〃

She　smiled　awkwardly。　〃I　haven't　had　anything　since　lunch。〃

〃No　wonder　you're　pale。〃　He　touched　her　cheek。　〃Stay　put。　I'll　be　right
back。〃

She　sat　quietly；　trying　to　think　of　anything　but　Ross。　Just　when　she　was
on　the　verge　of　declaring　defeat；　he　loped　back　down　the　steps　of　the
charmingly　ancient　house。　〃Any　luck？〃　she　asked　when　he　reached　the　car。

〃There's　good　news　and　bad　news。〃　He　was　leaning　down　to　talk　through
the　window　again。

〃Give　me　the　good　news　first；〃　Chloe　said。　She　needed　that；　needed　it
bad。

He　grinned。　〃The　good　news　is　that　you　have　the　penthouse。〃

She　looked　up　the　inn's　facade　to　the　very　top；　the　third　floor。
Assuming　the　attic　was　clean　and　had　a　bed；　it　would　do。　〃The　penthouse
is　fine。〃　She　scrunched　up　her　face。　〃What's　the　bad　news？〃

He　opened　the　door　with　a　flourish。　〃The　bad　news　is　that　no　one　serves
food　at　this　hour。　The　night　manager　here　says　we　can　raid　his
refrigerator；　though。〃　He　paused；　staring　down　at　her　for　a　minute
before　offering　his　hand　to　help　her　out。　〃The　service　won't　be　fancy。
We'll　be　on　our　own。〃　The　warning　note　in　his　voice　jarred　her。　He　was
remembering　the　old　Chloe。　That　Chloe　had　been　spoiled。　She　hadn't　known
how　to　cook；　having　had　everything　done　for　her　for　the　entire　eighteen
years　of　her　life。　But　her　lifestyle　had　changed　drastically　since　then。

She　rose　from　the　car。　〃That's　fine。　I　think　we　can　manage。〃　Oh；　yes；
she　could　certainly　manage　to　put　together　a　meal。　She　was　actually　a
fine　cook　now。　But　it　occurred　to　her　that　she　and　Ross　would　be　alone。
She　wasn't　so　sure　about　managing　that。

A　frown　creased　her　brow　as　she　entered　the　inn　with　Ross　by　her　side。
He　left　his　overnight　case　at　the　front　desk　with　the　night　manager；　who
cheerfully　directed　them　into　the　kitchen；　a　decidedly　old　room　into
which　every　modern　convenience　had　been　crammed。　Chloe　made　herself　at
home。　Only　after　she　had　placed　a　crock　of　steaming　beef　stew；　put
together　from　leftovers；　and　a　half…loaf　of　what　appeared　to　be
home…baked　bread　on　the　table　did　she　realize　that　she　had　done　all　the
work。　But　it　had　kept　her　mind　occupied。　Ross　had　been　in　and　out　of　the
room　as　she　worked；　finally　settling　down　on　a　tall　stool　by　a
butcher…block　counter　to　watch。

His　presence　didn't　upset　her　now　as　much　as　it　had　earlier。　She　had
gotten　over　the　shock；　she　guessed。　Still；　s