第19部分(第7/7 頁)

behind

my　back　to　box　me　in。　Why　didn't　you　call　me　directly？〃

〃I　mentioned　it　to　you　last　weekend。　You　refused。　I　may　be　many　things；

but　I'm　not　a　glutton　for　punishment。　That's　your　specially。〃　Chloe

gasped；　but　he　went　on。　〃I　had　no　intention　of　calling　you　this　morning

to　rehash　what　I　said　yesterday。　There　seemed　to　be　more　effective　ways

of　convincing　you…〃

〃…forcing　me　。。。〃

。。。 convincing　you　to　work　with　me。　It　makes　good　sense。　You're　the

one　familiar　with　the　Rye　Beach　proposal　and　its　problems。　To　bring　in

someone　else　would　be　a　waste　of　time。　As　for　the　other…〃

〃The　other　is　Lee's　affair；〃　she　cut　in。　〃He's　handling　any　account　with

the　Hansen　Corporation。　If　you　want　to　work　with　him；　be　my　guest。　I　can

vouch　for　his　credentials　and　his　skill；　but　I　won't　be　involved。〃

〃Then　why　are　you　upset？〃　he　asked　a　little　too　calmly。　〃If　Lee　will　be

doing　the　dealing；　it　won't　affect　you。〃

〃Fat　chance；〃　she　murmured　not　quite　softly　enough。

Ah；　ah；　princess。　Let's　have　none　of　that。　If　you're　into　soft

murmurings；　use　them　to　talk　about　love。〃

〃Ross。〃

〃I　love　you。〃

〃So　you've　said。〃　She　tried　to　sound　indifferent；　but　her　tone　was　more

of　a　plea。

F　〃I　mean　it。　That's　why　I'm　doing　all　this。〃

〃What？〃　she　cried　in　a　facetious　show　of　emotion。　〃Don't　you　value　my

brilliance；　my　experience；　or　my　expertise　in　the　field！〃

〃Depends　on　what　field　you're　referrin