第20部分(第3/7 頁)

〃

She　grinned。　〃You　mean；　will　I　now　go　on　and　pick　the　thing　to　bits　on

the　geological　score？〃

〃Something　like　that。〃

〃I　have　no　way　of　knowing　about　this　particular　project。　Looking　at　the

designs；　I　can　mention　potential　sources　of　worry…drain　pipes；　for

instance…but　unless　I　know　something　about　the　land　there；　I　can't　offer

constructive　criticism。〃

When　Ross　put　his　lips　by　her　ear；　she　realized　that　it　was　the　nearest

he'd　e　since　she　arrived。　The　warmth　of　his　skin　by　her　cheek　sent　a

tingle　through　her。　〃Thank　God　for　that；〃　he　said　in　a　stage　whisper；

though　they　were　alone　in　the　room。　He　straightened。　〃The　day's　pretty

much　over。　Let's　get　going。〃

Chloe　gathered　her　things。　It　had　been　an　unexpectedly　pleasant　and

interesting　afternoon。　If　each　of　her　days　here　were　like　it；　she　might

survive　after　all。

But　something　hung　heavy　in　a　half…hidden　corner　of　her　mind。　It　had　New

Orleans　written　all　over　it。　After　New　York；　there　would　be　Rhode

Island；　then　Alabama。　Should　she　do　New　Orleans　after　that？　Would　it

solve　anything？　Would　it　change　her　feelings　for　Ross？

No　doubt；　she　did　love　him。　Walking　down　a　long　corridor　with　him　now；

she　felt　like　a　princess。　He　ruled　the　place；　but　he　was　gentle　and

caring。　He　loved　her。　Was　she　worthy　of　that？

They　were　silent　during　the　cab　ride　to　Ross's　brownstone。　〃You'll　be

staying　here；〃　he　told　her　calmly；　breaking　what　was　almost　a　truce。

〃Ohhhh；　no；〃　she　balked；　but　followed　him　out　of　the　cab。　〃I'll　go　to　a

hotel。　The　city　is　frill　of　them。　You　can　go　inside　and　make　a　call　to

book　the　room　that　should　have　been　booked　on　Monday。〃