第11部分(第4/7 頁)

doing　in　our

house？〃

For　the　better　part　of　the　morning　Chloe　had　pushed　Ross　from　mind。　Now；

revived　by　the　work　that　she　loved；　she　was　able　to　chuckle　at　Josh's

reference。

〃He's　a　friend；〃　she　answered　simply。

〃You're　sure　about　that？〃

〃I'm　sure。　Go　on　out　and　get　your　coffee。　If　he　starts　to　snarl；　you　can

send　him　in　here。〃

Josh's　face　took　on　a　dubious　I…hope…you…know　…what…you're…doing　look。

Noheless；　he　drew　up　to　his　full　sixty…seven　inches；　squared　his

shoulders；　and　made　as　grand　an　exit　as　was　possible　for　someone　going

to　face　the　proverbial　giant。　With　a　helpless　grin；　Chloe　sat　back　in

her　chair；　elbows　on　its　arms；　fingers　fortably　laced。

So　Ross　had　decided　to　spend　the　morning　in　her　living　room。　She

wondered　if　he　was　bored；　maybe　annoyed　that　she　was　carrying　on　as

usual；　perhaps　growing　impatient。　Her　grin　turned　smug。

〃You　wanted　to　see　me？〃　His　deep　voice　rumbled　in　from　the　door。

Her　grin　remained。　〃Who；　me？〃

He　searched　the　room。　〃I　don't　see　anyone　else　in　here；　for　a　change。

They　may　not　technically　live　here；　but　they　run　in　and　out　all　day；

don't　they？〃

〃It's　an　open　office；　you　might　say。〃

〃I　do　say。　Say；　when　will　you　be　done？〃

〃Done？〃　she　echoed　innocently；　then　gestured　toward　the　desktop。　〃Lord

knows。　I　have　two　reports　to　look　through　yet。　And　Josh　will　be　back。

Here　he　is。〃　His　timing　was　perfect。　〃Josh；　meet　Ross。〃　As　the　two　shook

hands；　Chloe　stared　at　the　appalling　discrepancy　in　their　heights。　No

wonder　Josh　had　been　intimidated；　not　only　did　Ross　tower　over　him；　but

their　respective　physiques　were　about　as　alike　as　night　and　day。