第18部分(第3/7 頁)

e　couldn't　begrudge　him　the　gentle　teasing。　He　was　a　dear　friend。

〃You're　getting　snoopy　in　your　old　age。〃

〃I　live　right　next　door。　How　could　I　miss　it？〃

〃You　could　have　looked　the　other　way。〃

〃And　pass　up　the　pleasure　of　seeing　you　blush？　You　don't　do　it　very

often；　you　know。〃

With　determined　steadiness　she　sipped　her　coffee。　〃I'm　not　doing　it　now。

What　you　see　is　the　freshness　of　morning…〃　；；…made　fresher　by　a

stimulating　weekend。〃

〃Stimulating；〃　she　said　with　a　grunt。　〃That's　one　word　for　it。〃

〃He's　a　good　man；　Chloe。　I　liked　him。〃

〃He　liked　you；　too。　The　two　of　you　aren't　all　that　different。〃

〃Maybe　because　we　care　about　you。〃

Chloe　smiled。　〃You're　sweet。〃　She　changed　the　subject。　〃When　do　you

leave　for　Washington？〃

〃Hold　on；　pretty　lady。　I'm　still　curious。　You　and　that　guy　had　a　thing

going　once。　Is　it　on　again？〃　Quietly；　she　said；　〃I　never　talked　about　'a

thing'　with　Ross。　I　said　I　knew　him　and　that　whatever　might　have　been

between　us　was　over。　Don't　read　something　into　it　that　isn't　there。〃

〃You　make　a　nice　pair。〃

〃It's　not　your　affair。〃

Lee　backed　off。　〃You're　right。　It's　not。　If　I　had　any　sense　I'd　marry

you　myself。〃

Chloe　was　suddenly　cross。　〃I　wouldn't　say　yes　to　you；　either！〃

〃So　he　did　ask　you。〃　Her　partner　smiled。　〃Fast　worker；　that　one。〃

Unable　to　e　up　with　a　suitably　indignant　retort；　she　stood　up　with

her　mug　and　made　to　flee　to　her　office。

〃What　about　breakfast？〃　Lee's　voice　trailed　after　her。

〃I'm　not　hungry！〃

〃You　shouldn't　work　on　an　empty　stomach。〃　Ross　had　said　the　same　thing

Saturday。

〃I'll　live！〃　she　shouted　over　her　shoulder　and　cl