第15部分(第2/7 頁)

dignity。　〃I　want　to　enjoy　myself　tonight。　Please？〃

Ross　stared　first　at　her；　then　at　the　tablecloth；　then　at　the　far　wall。

When　his　gaze　finally　returned　she　saw　a　glint　of　humor。　〃When　you　look

at　me　like　that；　I'd　do　anything！〃

〃Anything？〃　She　clutched　at　that。

〃Anything。〃

〃Then　tell　me　about　the　Picasso　exhibit。　You　saw　it　when　it　was　in　New

York；　didn't　you？　Was　it　as　spectacular　as　the　reviews　claimed？〃

〃Every　bit。〃

She　waited　for　him　to　say　more；　but　he　simply　stared　at　her。

〃Go　on；　Ross。　Tell　me　about　it。〃

His　gaze　narrowed。　〃I'm　not　giving　up；　Chloe。　We'll　get　back　to　that

other　conversation　sooner　or　later。　For　now　I'll　humor　you。〃

〃I'm　waiting；〃　she　sang　brightly；　making　light　of　his　threat。　〃The

exhibit？〃

The　evening　passed　more　quickly　than　she　could　have　dreamed。　Not　only

did　they　discuss　Picasso；　but　they　delved　into　politics；　Wall　Street；

and　the　National　Football　League　as　well。　For　Chloe；　the　Chiteaubriand

Bouquetre　with　B6arnaise　Sauce　was　incidental；　as　was　the　mellow　red

wine　that　flowed　with　the　appearance　of　the　beef。　Her　attention　was　on

Ross　and　Ross　alone。

When　was　it　that　she　had　vowed　indifference？　That　morning？　What　a　fool

she　had　been　to　think　she　could　remain　indifferent　to　Ross　for　long。　She

knew　her　eyes　were　sparkling　and　her　cheeks　flushed；　and　she　couldn't

seem　to　stop　smiling。　Indifferent？　Fat　chance。　Even　aside　from　the

physical；　she　found　him　to　be　the　most　interesting；　well…informed；

articulate　man　she　had　ever　known。　Though　they　didn't　agree　on

everything；　he　respected　Chloe's　right　to　her　own　opinion。　It　made

conversation　free　and　relaxe