第14部分(第6/7 頁)

he　studied　the　wine；　Chloe　studied　him。　It　was　a　luxury　that　the

drive　through　the　night　hadn't　offered。　Now　she　drank　in　his　good　looks

with　as　much　reverence　as　he　gave　to　his　wine。

He　looked　wonderful。　His　suit　was　the　gray…blue　tweed　she　had　seen　on　the

bed。　Same　with　his　white　shirt　and　crimson…ormavy　tie。　She　blushed　as

she　recalled　the　other　items　she'd　seen；　then　pushed　those　aside　and

focused　on　the　chiseled　features　before　her。　They　were　strong；　yet

relaxed；　and　exuded　confidence。　The　darkness　of　his　hair　and　the

sun…touched　hue　of　his　skin　contrasted　with　his　shirt　at　neck　and

wrists；　adding　a　crispness　to　his　appearance　that　was　enhanced　by　the

fine　cut　of　the　obviously　handtailored　fabric。　He　was　the　epitome　of　the

man　of　the　world…suave；　assured；　experienced；　and　content。　To　all

outward　appearances　he　held　the　world　in　his　palm。

Was　he　vulnerable　in　any　way？

〃Why　the　frown；　princess？〃　He　leaned　forward　to　exclude　the　maitre　d'；

who　worked　at　uncorking　the　wine。

〃I'm　not　frowning。〃　But　she　was。　She　felt　it。　〃I　was　wondering　。。。〃

When　the　maitre　d'　poured　a　sip　of　wine　into　Ross's　glass　and　waited；

Chloe　held　the　thought。

Ross　lifted　the　long…stemmed　goblet；　inhaled　the　scent；　took　the　pale

liquid　into　his　mouth；　patiently　let　his　taste　buds　warm　it；　finally

swallowed。　〃Excellent；〃　he　plimented　the　very　pleased　maitre　d'。

Without　further　fanfare　the　goblets；　first　Chloe's；　then　Ross's；　were

filled。

〃What　were　you　wondering？〃　Ross　asked　the　instant　they　were　alone　again。

〃Whether　you're　happy。　Are　you　content　with　your　life？〃

〃For　the　most　part。　There　are　still　things　I　want。〃　The