第9部分(第6/7 頁)

john；　too？〃

She　might　have　choked　if　she'd　been　eating。　But　she　recovered　quickly；

shook　her　head；　and　muttered　a　soft　〃Incorrigible。。　。〃　as　she　pulled　the

screen　open。　She　took　refuge　in　the　kitchen；　where　her　loyal　protector；

Lee；　was　waiting。

And　he　filled　that　role　repeatedly　throughout　the　evening；　taking　over

for　her　when　she　was　distracted。　He　was　an　able　conversationalist；　a

gracious　host。　She　trembled　to　think　what　would　have　happened　had　she

and　Ross　been　alone　in　the　house。　She　was　too　vulnerable；　too

susceptible　where　Ross　was　concerned。　If　she　hadn't　known　it　before；　she

learned　it　that　evening。

It　started　before　dinner；　when　she　left　the　two　men　and　went　off　to

shower。　She　put　on　a　pair　of　jeans　and　a　western…style　blouse　that　had

breast　pockets　and　a　decoratively　stitched　yoke。　Her　intent　was　to　be

cool　and　at　ease。　The　finished　product；　though；　spoke　of　homespun

femininity。　Had　it　been　the　pale　pink　of　the　blouse；　she　later　asked

herself。？　Or　the　way　the　seasoned　denims　outlined　her　hips？　Whatever；

she　caught　Ross's　attention。　Her　first　step　into　the　living　room；　where

the　men　were　nursing　drinks　while　the　steaks　grilled；　brought　Ross's

eyes　her　way　for　a　perusal　that　set　her　pulse　hammering。　Where　Chloe's

peace　of　mind　was　concerned；　it　was　downhill　from　there。　She　wanted　to

tune　him　out；　but　she　couldn't。

The　talk　centered　on　business　matters。　Sitting　quietly　in　a　peacock

chair；　Chloe　learned　that　Ross's　headquarters　were　indeed　in　New　York；

but　that　there　were　corporate　branches　in　the　South　and　in　the　West。

She　tried　to　imagine　it。　〃You　must　live　out　of　a　suitcase　a　good　deal