第14部分(第7/7 頁)

　directness　of

his　gaze　should　have　tipped　her　off。

But　she　was　too　curious　to　see。　The　softness　of　her　voice　spread　to　her

lips；　now　moist　with　wine。　〃What　things？〃

〃You　hit　on　them　yesterday；　actually。　I　want　a　wife　and　children。〃

〃But　you've　waited　this　long。〃

〃Not　by　choice。〃

〃Then　why？〃

His　crooked　grin　did　stranger　things　inside　her　than　even　the　wine；　with

its　gentle　warming　touch。　〃I'm　not　totally　different　from　that　man　back

in　New　Orleans。　I'm　an　idealist　at　heart。　I　always　will　be。　I　have　a

certain　image　of　what　love　should　be　like。　If　I　can't　have　it　that　way；

I'd　rather　not　have　it　at　all。〃

Chloe　looked　down。　What　was　love？　What　would　she　have　wanted　from　it　had

she　allowed　it　into　her　life？　She　watched　Ross's　fingers；　curling

absently　around　his　goblet's　stern。　At　that　moment；　love　would　have

meant　reaching　out　to　touch　them；　to　thread　hers　through　them。

Burying　her　hand　in　her　lap；　she　said；　〃Tell　me　about　that　image；　Ross。

In　its　most　ideal　form；　what　should　love　be　like？〃

He　stared　at　her；　his　eyes　a　pensive　gold。　He　seemed　to　weigh　and

balance；　to　sift　through　both　sides　of　a　private　debate　as　the　quiet

sounds　of　the　restaurant　drifted　by。

Chloe　waited；　sipping　wine；　buoyed　by　it。　Her　thoughts　wandered；　but　not

in　debate。　There　was　nothing　to　debate。　Ross　Stephenson　was　even　more

appealing　than　he　had　been　in　her　mem