第17部分(第7/7 頁)

told　me　you　loved　me。〃

〃I　love　her；　too。〃

The　mischief　in　his　eyes　tipped　her　off。　〃Your　mom。〃

〃Smart　girl；〃　he　said　with　a　smile。　Chloe　was　inordinately　pleased。　〃I

didn't　realize　she　lived　in　New　York。〃

〃She　doesn't。　She's　visiting。〃

〃And　you　left　her　for　the　weekend？〃

〃With　pleasure。〃　And　he　showed　no　sign　of　guilt。　〃My　mother　has　never

been　the　easiest　woman　to　get　along　with。　And　the　fact　that　I　loaned　her

my　place　pleased　her　more　than　my　pany　would　have。　But　I　promised　to

take　her　to　an　opening　at　an　art　gallery　she　sponsors。〃　He　cleared　his

throat。　〃She's　on　another　of　her　infamous　culture　kicks。〃

Chloe　couldn't　help　but　grin。　〃Like　the　violin　lessons？〃

〃Like　the　violin　lessons。〃

Their　eyes　shared　amusement；　but　it　faded　fast。　In　its　place　was　raw

desire；　back　with　a　vengeance。

〃Ahhh；　Chloe；〃　Ross　murmured　and　caught　her　lips。

She　tried　to　turn　away。　〃It's　too　late。〃　She　turned　back　again；　needy。

She　kissed　him；　then　breathed；　〃We　have　to　stop。　Really；　we　do。〃

But　she　wanted　him　too　much　for　that。　He　backed　her　to　the　bed　and

followed　her　down；　and　she　met　him　willingly。　When　he　was　gone；　there

would　be　soul…searching　aplenty。　But　not　now。　Not　yet。

Her　soul…searching　began　the　instant　the　brown　BMW　pulled　from　her　drive

and　disappeared　from　sight。

〃I'll　be　in　touch；　princess；〃　he　had　said　when　he　kissed　her　good…bye。

〃You　shouldn't；　Ross；〃　she　had　said；　though　her　th