第9部分(第2/7 頁)

ack　of　malice　that　Lee　relaxed　a　little。

〃I　intend　to　take　that　statement　at　its　most　positive；　friend。　This

little　lady　is　very　near　and　dear　to　me。〃　He　threw　a　protective　arm

about　Chloe's　shoulder；　drawing　her　to　him　with　his　customary

possessiveness。　She　had　always　liked　that；　and　did　even　more　so　now。　His

presence　made　her　feel　less　vulnerable。　She　chuckled　when　Lee　added；

〃Are　you　friend　or　foe？〃

〃Friend；　by　all　means；〃　Ross　replied。

〃Then　I　take　it　you're　not　here　on　business；〃　Lee　concluded。　〃And　you

can't　be　passing　through。〃

Chloe　laughed　this　time。　〃I've　been　through　all　that　with　him；　Lee。　He

knows　precisely　where　he　is。〃

Lee　glanced　her　way。　〃Sounds　ominous。〃　He　looked　at　Ross。　〃How　long　are

you　in　for？〃

〃I　was　hoping　to　spend　the　weekend　here；〃　Ross　answered　with　a　calm　that

had　the　opposite　effect　on　Chloe。　Her　stomach　was　suddenly　filled　with

butterflies。　They　fluttered　wildly　when　those　amber　eyes　turned　to　her。

〃If　Chloe　is　free。〃

Chloe　didn't　know　whether　Lee　sensed　her　internal　turmoil；　but　she　was

eternally　grateful　for　the　arm　that　tightened　around　her　shoulders。

〃You'll　have　a　fight　on　your　hands；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　a　prior　claim　on

her。　Your　big　corporation　may　be　able　to　do　without　you　for　the　weekend；

but　our　small　one　isn't　so　generous。〃　Looking　down　at　her；　he　said；

〃There　were　several　calls　for　you。　Alabama　called　again　on　that　toxic

waste　burning　problem。　I　told　them　you'd　have　an　answer　for　them　by

Monday。〃

Chloe　nodded；　sighing　her　uncertainty　on　the　Alabama　matter。　〃And　the

other　calls？〃

〃Derry　Township　called　on　the　lecture　series　at　the　munity