第17部分(第6/7 頁)

eet　to　her

armpits　and　sat　up。　She　forced　a　feeble　smile。　〃So　it's　bribery　now？

You'd　try　to　hook　my　business；　then　slowly　reel　me　in？〃

〃If　necessary。〃　His　grin　came　and　went。　〃I've　toyed　with　the　idea　all

week。　It　was　what　I　wanted　to　discuss　when　I　arrived　Friday。　What　do　you

think？　Will　you　do　it？〃

〃No。

〃Why　not？　It's　a　good　business　move。〃

〃Actually；〃　she　thought　aloud；　〃you're　right。　It　is　a　good　business

move。　I'll　do　it；　but　only　if　Lee　handle　the　work。〃

〃I　don't　want　Lee。〃

She　had　never　doubted　it。　〃That's　why　I　can't　do　this。　Can　you　imagine

us　trying　to　work　together？　After　last　night？　I'm　not　sure　how　much　work

we'd　get　done。〃

He　sighed。　〃At　least　you　don't　deny　that。〃

〃I　never　did。　I　just　don't　know　how　much　more　there　is　to　it　than　that。〃

But　she　lied。　Making　love　with　Ross　was　as　close；　as　deep；　as　merged　as

she　had　ever　been　with　another　person；　and　that　included　Crystal；　which

was　saying　a　lot。　She　would　always　be　attracted　to　Ross；　would　always

feel　that　special　connection。

Sadly；　she　slipped　out　of　bed　and　stood　at　the　window。　She　felt　as

lonely；　as　dismal　as　the　day。　Was　the　pain　of　separating　from　Ross　worth

the　joy　of　being　with　him？　Was　the　pain　her　punishment　for

self…indulgence？

She　heard　his　footsteps　behind　her　and　sighed　when　he　circled　her　waist

and　drew　her　back　against　him。　For　another　minute；　no　more；　she　would

savor　it。　Another　minute；　that　was　all。　〃I　have　to　leave　this　morning；〃

he　said　softly。　〃This　morning？〃

〃I　have　a　date　in　New　York。〃

〃A　date。〃　That　stopped　her。　〃Business　or　pleasure？〃

〃Pleasure。〃

She　turned。　〃You　just