第10部分(第1/7 頁)

She　was　distracted　as　the　evening　waned；　unaware　of　looks　of　concern

sent　her　way。　When　Lee　said；　〃I'm　takin'　off　now；　Chloe；〃　she　was

startled。　Her　head　came　up。　Unsure；　she　straightened。

〃I'm　sorry；〃　she　apologized　softly。　〃I'm　afraid　I　haven't　been　much

help。　We　haven't　even　gone　over　those　things　we　should　have。〃

〃No　problem。〃　He　smiled。　〃We'll　do　it　tomorrow。〃　Taking　his　cue　from　the

disquieted　look　in　her　eyes；　he　turned　to　Ross。　〃Are　you　staying　here

tonight？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃No。〃

They　spoke　at　the　same　time。　Chloe　hurried　on。　〃No；　Ross。　You　can't　stay

here。〃　She　was　determined。　〃There's　one　bedroom　and　one　bed；　and　I　need

it。〃

〃Why　don't　you　stay　with　me；　friend？〃　Lee　offered…and　for　the　second

time　that　evening；　Chloe　could　have　disowned　him。　She　wanted　Ross　to

leave。　Out　of　sight　was　out　of　mind。　Lee's　offer　only　plicated

things。

Naturally；　Ross　accepted　the　invitation。　〃No　imposition？〃

〃No　imposition。　The　sofa　in　the　living　room　opens　into　a　bed。　The　back

door　will　be　open。　Chloe　will　point　you　in　the　right　direction。〃　Before

she　could　protest；　Lee　reached　the　door。　〃Good　night；　folks。〃　He

grinned；　letting　himself　out　with　a　flourish。

With　a　steadying　breath；　Chloe　settled　deeper　into　her　high…backed

chair；　tucked　her　feet　under　her；　forced　her　fingers　to　relax　against

the　broad　wicker　arms；　and　looked　across　the　room　at　Ross。

He　spoke　softly。　〃You　really　do　look　like　a　princess　in　that　chair。

Those　peacock　markings　could　as　easily　be　a　crown　of　gold　as　a　swirl　of

wicker。　Are　you　fortable？〃　His　eyes　were　gleaming；　mocking。

〃No；〃　she　answered　honestly。　〃You　know　I'm　not。〃