第20部分(第4/7 頁)

Ross　led　her　up　the　front　stairs　to　the　tall　oak　door；　turned　the　key　in

the　lock；　and　let　them　in。　Once　inside　the　gracious　hall；　he　took　her

coat。　〃There　are　three　floors　here。　I　sleep　on　the　second。　You　can　have

the　third　all　to　yourself。　I'm　not　suggesting　that　you　sleep　with　me；

only　that　you　stay　here。　It'll　be　more　convenient。〃

Chloe　recalled　what　he　had　said　on　the　phone　about　needing　her　near　him。

Separate　bedrooms？　On　separate　floors？

Remembering　Rye　Beach　and　feeling　suddenly　lighter；　she　said；　〃Okay。

I'll　take　the　penthouse。〃　She　had　taken　the　penthouse　in　Rye　Beach；　too。

They　shared　that　past；　and　a　grin　of　remembrance　now。

〃e；〃　he　said　warmly。　〃I'll　show　you　around。〃

From　first　to　second　to　third　floor　they　went；　examining　furniture；

artwork；　and　memorabilia　from　his　travels。　No　room　in　the　house　would

have　won　a　designer's　award；　yet　every　room　had　a　warmth　that　reached

out　to　Chloe　and　made　her　feel　at　home。

Ross；　too；　made　her　feel　at　home。　He　put　no　pressure　on　her；　so　she　put

none　on　herself　They　ate　at　a　nearby　restaurant；　then　returned　for　a

quiet　evening　of　reading。　When　Chloe　excused　herself　shortly　after

eleven；　he　bid　her　good　night　with　a　noticeable　lack　of　lechery。

〃You'll　find　an　extra　blanket　in　the　closet。　If　you　want　more　towels

check　the　cupboard　in　the　bathroom。〃　He　looked　up　from　his　papers；　but

didn't　rise。

〃I'll　be　fine。〃　She　smiled。　〃Good　night。〃

〃Good　night。　Sleep　well。〃

One　glance　back　as　she　left　the　room　told　her　that　he　had　returned　to

his　papers。　She　took　the　stairs　slowly；　one　flight　to　the　next。　This　was

a　side　of　Ross　she　had　never　seen。　I