第17部分(第5/7 頁)

ly　silence。　The　air　pulsed　between　them。

〃You're　afraid　to　let　go　of　the　past；〃　he　went　on。　〃It's　so　much　a　part

of　you　that　you're　terrified　to　live　without　it。〃

〃That's　not　true；〃　she　cried。

〃Then　why　don't　you　try？　You　did　it　for　a　night…why　not　for　a　week？

A　month？　A　year？〃　He　softened。　〃I'm　not　asking　you　to　renounce　your

past；　just　to　accept　it　and　move　on。〃　He　paused；　suddenly　a　shade

unsure。　〃You　did　enjoy　last　night；　didn't　you？〃

〃Oh；　yes；〃　she　breathed　so　quickly　that　her　words　stopped　dead　for　lack

of　a　follow…up。

His　smile　filled　the　gap。　It　was　a　full；　warm　curve　of　the　firm　lips

that　had　given　her　such　pleasure　through　the　night。　His　gaze　dropped　to

her　breasts；　then　her　bare　middle。　When　he　bent　to　kiss　her　navel；　she

clutched　his　hair。　But　to　push　him　away？　Or　to　hold　him　there？　Lord；　she

didn't　know。

After　a　night　of　beauty；　the　morning　was　dreary　and　dark。　After　a　night

of　clear…cut　emotions；　the　new　day's　emotions　were　muddy　and　dense。　She

needed　time；　needed　space。　Turning　her　face　into　the　pillow；　she　let　her

hands　slowly　slide　from　his　hair。

〃I　want　you　to　work　for　me；　Chloe。〃

Her　eyes　shot　back　to　his。　〃Work　for　you？　How　can　I　do　that？　I　have　my

own　business。〃

He　brushed　a　tendril　of　hair　from　her　cheek。　〃I　mean；　I　want　to　retain

your　firm。〃

She　was　startled。　She　hadn't　considered　this　twist。　〃For　what？〃

〃They　cater　our　board　meetings；〃　he　drawled　facetiously。　〃e　on；　you

know　what　you　do。　I'd　like　to　hire　ESE　as　a　geological　consultant；

starting　with　a　set　of　revised　plans　for　the　Rye　Beach　plex。〃

Business；　then？　Suddenly　self…conscious；　Chloe　drew　the　sh