第20部分(第5/7 頁)

n　the　past　their　relationship　had

been　shaped　by　physical　attraction。　Now　Ross　seemed　either　immune；　or

holding　his　interest　in　check。

Whichever；　she　was　grateful。　Living　with　him；　working　with　him　could

have　been　a　nightmare。　As　it　was；　she　was　aware　of　the　fact　that　he

would　be　sleeping　one　short　flight　away。　More　than　once　that　night　she

held　her　breath；　hearing　a　sound；　wondering　if　he　was　making　the　climb。

Her　bedroom　door　remained　closed；　and　when　she　fell　asleep；　she　slept

well。

It　was　good。　Thursday　and　Friday　were　packed　with　work；　long　hours　spent

huddled　with　the　masterminds　of　the　Rye　Beach　plex。　They　were

amenable　to　her　suggestions；　often　mildly　questioning；　sometimes

strongly　doubting；　but　always　ready　to　listen。　Ross　was　absent　during

most　of　the　work；　dropping　in　to　check　on　the　progress；　but　otherwise

yielding　to　the　men　beneath　him。

Chloe　asked　him　about　it　Friday　evening。　〃I　thought　you'd　be　more

fortable　if　I　kept　my　distance　at　the　office；〃　he　said。

〃But　aren't　you　concerned　about　the　project？　For　all　you　know　the

revised　plans　may　be　unacceptable　to　you　personally。〃

〃I　doubt　that；〃　he　replied；　smiling　fortably。　〃I　trust　you。　And　I

trust　the　men　you're　working　with。　They　know　what　I　want。〃　He　paused；

eyes　changing；　voice　lowering。　〃So　do　you。〃

Her　throat　grew　tight。　It　was　the　first　thing　he　had　done　that　was　at

all　suggestive。　For　that　reason；　she　indulged　him　the　lapse。　And　because

the　lapse　was　brief；　she　let　him　bribe　her　to　stay　in　New　York　until

Sunday　with　a　pair　of　choice　tickets　to　the　Big　Apple's　newest　hit

musical。

〃How　did　you　ever　get　seats？〃　she　ask