第13部分(第1/7 頁)

about　his　middle　and　laid　her　cheek　against　his　back。

It　was　heaven；　pure　and　simple。　She　didn't　have　a　care　in　the　world。

Ross　was　at　the　helm；　petent　and　strong。　Over　the　wind　that　sailed　by

came　the　steady　beat　of　his　heart；　steadying　her　in　turn。　She　didn't

know　what　it　was　about　this　particular　man　that　affected　her　so　deeply；

nor　did　she　care　just　then。　It　was　enough　to　enjoy　the　respite　from

responsibility　and　to　give　herself　up　to　his　care；　if　only　for　the　brief

ride　home。

The　brief　ride　home；　however；　grew　longer　and　longer。　Peering　around

Ross's　shoulder；　Chloe　saw　that　they　were　on　a　different　road　entirely。

〃Do　you　know　where　we　are？〃　she　called。

〃Roughly。　Where's　your　market？〃

He　followed　her　pointing　finger；　turning　this　way；　then　that；　until　the

town　mon　came　into　view。　Typically　New　England；　it　had　a

white　steepled　church　at　its　hub　and　a　variety　of　rural　shops　and

boutiques。　Chloe　found　everything　she　needed　at　the　grocery　store；

reluctantly　took　Ross's　suggestion　that　the　plants　be　saved　for　another

trip；　then　climbed　behind　him　onto　the　bike　to　return　to　the　house。　Not

one　wrong　turn　later　she　was　on　her　own　front　steps。

The　moment　of　reckoning　was　at　hand。　〃Will　you　be　returning　to　New　York

now？〃　she　asked。

He　had　finished　stowing　the　bike　in　its　proper　spot　and　advanced　on　her

with　a　grin。　Relieving　her　of　the　large　brown　bag　she'd　been　carrying；

he　took　her　elbow　and　guided　her　toward　the　house。　〃Not　yet。〃

〃You're　going　back　to　Lee's？〃

〃Not　yet。〃

〃Then　what　are　you　going　to　do？〃

He　held　the　door　open　for　her　to　pass；　and　followed　her　into　the

kitchen；