第9部分(第5/7 頁)

　are　the　matches？　The　pilot　light　is　out　on

the　broiler。　I　can't　get　it　lit。〃

Ross　leaned　close　and　murmured；　〃And　here　I　thought　he　was　the　one　who

always　came　to　your　rescue。〃

She　turned　to　defend　Lee；　only　to　find　Ross's　lips　a　breath　from　hers。

His　eyes　were　glowing；　his　body　warm　though　the　heat　of　the　day　was

gone；　and　her　mouth　was　suddenly　dry。　〃I　think　I'd　better　give　him　a

hand。　Pray　we're　not　out　of　matches。〃

Her　response　was　meant　as　humor；　because　she　wasn't　telling　Ross　the

truth。　Oh；　yes；　Lee　was　a　willing　handyman；　able　in　nine　cases　out　of

ten。　But　they　had　a　running　gag　over　that　tenth。　Chloe　was　convinced；

and　had　told　Lee　as　much；　that　his　occasional　flub　was　intentional；　his

way　of　reminding　her　that　he　needed　her；　too。　He　never　denied　it。　And

Chloe　always　indulged　him。　Emotionally；　he　gave　her　so　much。　She　liked

giving　a　little　some　of　that　back。

Without　further　pause；　she　ran　up　the　steps。　It　was　only　when　she

reached　the　top　and　started　for　the　door　that　Ross　caught　her　hand。　He

pressed　something　into　it。　She　looked　down　at　a　book　of　matches。

〃You　smoke？〃

〃Actually；〃　he　said　with　a　wry　twist　of　his　lips；　〃I　carry　matches

around　with　me　just　in　case　a　pilot　light　goes　out。〃

：；Do　you　smoke？〃

〃Through　my　eyes；　when　I'm　angry。〃

〃Ross；　do　you？〃

〃Smoke？　No。〃

She　sighed。　〃That's　good。　This　is　a　nonsmoking　house。　If　you　wanted　to

smoke　you'd　have　to　sneak　one　in　the　john；　or　stay　out　here　with　the

chipmunks。〃

〃That's　some　choice。　Good　thing　I　don't　have　to　make　it。　As　it　happens；〃

he　informed　her；　〃my　only　vice　is　sex。　Do　we　have　to　sneak　that　in　the