第14部分(第2/7 頁)

　the　bottommost　step；

sanity　had　frilly　returned。　Swearing　softly；　she　traipsed　through　the

kitchen　and　stood　on　the　back　porch　looking　out　on　the　beach。　But　the

tide　within　her　was　high。　No　amount　of　cooling　breeze　could　stern　it。

He　had　to　leave。　It　was　as　simple　as　that。　Indifference　was　a　pipe

dream。　He　stirred　her　too　much。

Having　him　around　today　was　a　taste　of　what　it　might　be　like　to　have　him

around　all　the　time。　She　wanted　to　say　she　had　hated　it；　but　she

couldn't。　There　had　been　something　nice　about　waking　to　find　a　man　in

her　kitchen　cooking　her　breakfast；　something　nice　about　knowing　that　he

was　patiently　waiting　for　her　to　finish　work；　something　nice　about　going

marketing　with　him；　even　about　finding　him　in　her　shower。　It　had　been

nice。　But　would　any　man　fit　the　bill？

With　a　sigh；　she　shook　her　head。　It　had　to　be　Ross。　Always　Ross。

〃It's　all　yours；　princess！〃　he　called。

Chloe　looked　up　in　surprise　to　find　the　horizon　pink…orange　in　advance

of　sunset。　Back　over　her　shoulder；　Ross　stood　at　the　kitchen　door；

silhouetted　by　the　light　inside。

〃Be　right　there；〃　she　called；　looking　at　the　sunset　again；　gathering

posure。　When　she　felt　in　control；　she　returned　to　the　house。　She

caught　a　trace　of　cologne　when　she　moved　past　him；　but　moved　steadily　on

until　she　was　safe　in　her　room。

Promptly　at　eight　she　descended　the　stairs；　wearing　a　pale　blue　sheath

of　lightweight　wool　appropriate　to　the　fast…cooling　night　air。　Its　lines

were　simple；　it　was　nipped　in　at　the　waist　and　wrists；　lightly　flared　at

the　sleeves　and　skirt；　and　deeply　slashed　into　a　vee　at　the　throat。

She　worried　about　that　low