第12部分(第7/7 頁)

ng　more　lovely　than　that　feeling　of

seclusion　you　get　in　a　small　cabin　tucked　into　a　neat　cleft；　with

stretches　and　stretches　of　piggybacked　hills　to　keep　the　world　at　bay。〃

〃Then　you've　never　been　on　the　beach　on　a　foggy　morning；〃　Chloe　returned

softly。　〃It's　like　being　in　a　gentle　white　cocoon；　with　the　solace　of

knowing　that　humanity　is　near；　yet　out　of　sight　and　sound　for　as　long　as

the　mist　should　choose。〃

〃You　like　New　England。〃

〃do。〃

〃You'll　be　staying　here？〃

〃I　will。〃

He　sighed　good…naturedly。　〃Then　we'd　better　get　you　to　the　market　or　you

won't　make　it　through　the　week；　much　less　the　winter。〃

On　that　fortable　note；　they　left　the　restaurant；　spending　leisurely

moments　wandering　along　the　breakwater　before　returning　to　the　bike。

〃I'll　drive　this　time；〃　Ross　said　with　an　arched　brow　and　a　palm　out　for

the　keys。　Chloe　was　only　too　glad　to　relinquish　the　responsibility。

Seated　fortably　behind　Ross；　she　was　more　in　control　of　her　emotions。

What　she　hadn't　counted　on　was　the　broad　expanse　of　his　back；　the　sense

of　contentment　that　flowed　through　her　as　the　wind　rushed　freely　through

her　hair；　the　gentle　fatigue　that　a　night　of　little　sleep；　a　morning　of

busy　work；　and　a　frill　stomach　had　induced。　Indifference　had　no　place

here。　Without　a　care　to　the　wisdom　of　the　move；　she　wrapped　her　arms

about　his　middle　and　laid　her　cheek　against　his　back。

It　was　heaven；　pure　and　simple。　She　didn't　have　a　care