第19部分(第4/7 頁)

and。

〃But　a　man　like　Ross　deserves　more　than　I　can　give　him。〃

Lee　tossed　a　hand　in　the　air。　〃That's　a　bunch　of　crap；　and　you　know　it。

If　you　want　him；　you　can　work　out　the　kinks　that　hang　you　up。〃　He　rose

and　went　to　the　window；　stared　out；　turned　back。　〃Damn　it；　Chloe；　you

have　so　much　going　for　you。　Are　you　going　to　sit　back　and　let　some　great

mystery　from　the　past　ruin　your　future？　I　thought　you　were　a　doer！　You

wouldn't　be　where　you　are　today　if　you　didn't　believe　in　working　for

what　you　believe　in。〃

Chloe　couldn't　say　a　thing。　Lee　had　never　talked　to　her　this　way　before。

If　another　man　had　said　what　he　had；　she　would　have　ignored　him。　But　she

couldn't　ignore　Lee。　She　respected　his　opinion　too　much。

The　horrified　look　on　his　face　said　that　he　hadn't　planned　the　outburst。

He　softened。　〃Hey；　I'm　sorry。　I　came　across　a　little　too　strong。〃　He

paused。　〃But　I　meant　what　I　said。　Either　you　can　let　it　continue　to　get

you　down　or　you　can　fight　it。〃　He　thrust　the　long　fingers　of　one　hand

through　his　hair。　〃rich；　I　don't　even　know　what　it　is。　But　I　believe

that　you　can　overe　whatever。　I　don't　know　what　you　were　before；

Chloe；　but　you're　a　strong　woman　now。　Don't　let　a　good　thing　escape。〃

She　smiled　sadly。　〃You　don't　understand。〃

〃No。　I　don't。〃　He　sighed。　〃What　say　we　drop　it　for　a　while？〃　At　her　nod；

he　added　a　final　thought。　〃But　promise　me　that　if　you　want　to　talk；

you'll　e　to　me？　I　have　broad　shoulders。〃

She　stood　and　gave　him　a　hug。　〃Thanks；　Lee。　I　appreciate　that。〃

Stepping　back；　she　looked　up　at　him。　Funny；　he　was　warm　and　strong　and

in　his　way　as　good…looking　as　Ross；　but　she　felt　no　desire；　no　gre