第13部分(第2/7 頁)

where　he　began　to　unload　and　store　the　groceries　as　though　the

place　were　his。　〃I　want　to　make　a　few　phone　calls。〃　He　glanced　at　his

watch。　〃Then　wash　the　car；　catch　the　end　of　the　Giants　game；　shower　and

shave；　and　take　you　out　to　dinner。〃

His　recitation　was　so　nonchalant　that　Chloe　would　have　guessed　he　spent

every　October　Saturday　this　way；　at　least　as　far　as　the　first　part　went。

As　for　taking　her　out　to　dinner；　it　had　certainly　never　happened　before。

〃It's　unnecessary；〃　she　said。

〃Which　part…the　calls；　the　car；　the　game；　or　the　shower？〃

〃The　dinner！　Lunch　was　enough　to　even　us　up。　There's　no　need　for

anything　more。〃

A　muscle　worked　in　Ross's　jaw。　〃It's　not　tit…foretat；　Chloe。　I'd　like　to

take　you　out　to　dinner。〃

〃I　appreciate　the　thought；　but…〃

〃No　buts。　We're　going　out　for　dinner。　Period。〃

〃What　if　I　have　other　plans？〃

He　arched　a　dark　brow。　〃Do　you？〃

〃I　could　just　as　well；〃　she　hedged；　〃for　the　way　you　just　assume　I'm

free。〃

〃Well；　are　you？〃

It　wasn't　that　she　didn't　want　to　go　to　dinner　with　Ross。　On　the

contrary。　She　liked　being　with　him。　She　just　didn't　want　to　get　used　to

it。

〃Chloe？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　sighing。　〃I'm　free。〃

：〃Good。　Say；　about　eight？〃

；：But…〃

Eight　it　is。　And　Chloe？〃

She　felt　totally　helpless。　〃What？〃

〃How　about　if　we　dress　up？〃

〃Dress　up？　I　haven't　'dressed　up'　in　months。　Things　here　are　very

casual。　There's　nowhere…〃

〃There　is；〃　he　argued　gently。　〃Leave　that　to　me。〃

Chloe　lowered　her　eyes　and　studied　the　floor；　then　slowly　shook　her

head。　〃Ross；　I'd　really　rather…〃

〃For　old　times'　sake？〃　he　dared　ask。　〃T