第12部分(第4/7 頁)

　only　when　they　reached　the　front　door　that　she　felt　an　odd

sense　of　adventure。　Eyes　alight；　she　turned　back　to　Ross。　〃I　have　an

idea。　Let's　take　the　bike。〃

〃I　have　a　better　idea；〃　he　countered；　pulling　the　neck　of　his　turtleneck

away　from　his　skin。　〃Let's　change　into　cooler　things。　I　hadn't　expected

it　would　get　so　warm。〃

Assuming　that　his　clothes　were　still　at　Lee's　house；　she　felt　generous。

〃Okay。　You　go　back　and　change。　I'll　just　sit　here　and…hey！　What　are　you

doing？〃

It　was　pretty　obvious；　actually。　With　a　fast　tug　he　freed　his　sweater

from　his　jeans；　crisscrossed　his　arms；　and　smoothly　whipped　the　black

turtleneck　over　his　head　and　off。　Never；　ever；　would　Chloe　forget　that

moment　when；　muscles　stretched；　his　chest　came　into　view。

Lightly　bronzed；　with　a　liberal　hazing　of　hair　that　tapered　toward　his

navel；　it　was　a　solid　wall　of　hard；　glorious　flesh。　Her　mouth　went　dry。

She　could　only　stare。

〃My　bags　are　right　here；〃　he　replied；　retrieving　a　soft　leather　duffel

from　beside　the　sofa。　Long　arms　pulled　at　the　duffel's　zipper。　Deft

fingers　exchanged　the　sweater　for　a　lighter；　short…sleeved　jersey。　He

quickly　drew　it　over　his　head。　Once　more　Chloe　trembled　as　that　body

stretched；　flexed；　then　settled　back　down；　mercifully　covered　again。

Ross　grinned。　〃There。　Easy　enough。　Do　you　need　to　change　or　anything？

Are　you　cool　enough？〃

Chloe　didn't　think　she　would　ever　be　cool　enough　again。　〃Uh；　I'm　fine。〃

She　cleared　her　throat　awkwardly；　turning　and　escaping　to　the　wide　open

spaces　without　any　further　attempt　at　wit。　And　she　had　suggested　taking

the　bike！　They　would　be　better　off　swimming。　They　mi