第10部分(第4/7 頁)

ing　her　from　the

world。

Lost　in　silent　self…reproach　Chloe　was　unaware　that　he　had　moved　away

and　returned　to　the　sofa。　He　was　waiting；　listening；　when　she　finally

raised　her　head。

〃Why　are　you　doing　this　to　me？〃　she　pleaded　softly。　〃Why　can't　you　just

leave　me　alone？〃

He　frowned。　〃Funny；　I've　asked　myself　the　same　question　a　dozen　times　in

the　last　two　weeks。〃　He　studied　his　knuckles；　seeming　to　struggle。　〃It's

like　for　the　first　time　in　years；　I　care。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　she　asked　falteringly。

〃You　asked　me　what　I've　done　with　myself　during　the　past　years。〃　He　gave

a　snort　of　disgust。　〃I　haven't　been　quite　as　noble　as　you。　There　have

been　women　over　the　years。〃

She　had　assumed　that；　and　felt　no　resentment。　There　was　a　certain　solace

in　the　knowledge　that　when　all　was　said　and　done；　he　was　still　attracted

to　her。　After　all；　he　was　magnificent。　More　than　one　of　those　women　must

have　tried　to　tie　him　down。

〃Didn't　you　find　anyone　special？〃　she　asked　quietly。

Ross　ore　than　others。　But；　no；　there

was　no　one　special。　No　one　who　meant　enough　to　tempt　me　to　change　my

lifestyle。　I'm　on　the　road　all　the　time。　I　do　own　an　old　brownstone　in

Manhattan；　but　I　doubt　if　I　spend　a　total　of　three　months　a　year　there。

Hotel　rooms；　friends'　apartments；　rented　suites…that's　been　home　for　the

past　few　years。〃

〃It　served　your　purpose。〃

〃Yes。〃　The　amber　eyes　that　held　hers　pierced　her　heart。　They　said　much

more；　all　of　it　silent；　all　of　it　mind　bending。　In　the　insanity　of　a

fleeting　instant；　she　wanted　。。。　she　wanted　。。。　What　did　she　want？

Ross　sighed。　〃I　am　a　successful　businessman。〃　It　was