第15部分(第3/7 頁)

d；　neither　one　fearful　of　offending　the

other。

The　blend　of　Ross　and　the　wine　put　Chloe　at　ease。　When　he　suggested　that

they　take　dessert　cheese　home　to　eat　with　fruit　overlooking　the　ocean；

she　was　all　for　it。　Unfortunately；　it　was　downright　chilly　when　they

emerged　from　Farmington　Court；　and　it　began　to　drizzle　during　the　drive

home。

〃So　much　for　a　gentle　evening　breeze；〃　Ross　grumbled　as　he　hustled　Chloe

up　the　front　steps　to　her　door　between　increasingly　large　drops　of　rain。

〃The　living　room　will　have　to　do。〃

〃That'll　be　fine。　I'm　in　the　mood　for　Debussy　anyway；　and　it　would　have

peted　with　the　surf。〃

He　smiled　at　her。　〃La　Mer？〃

〃I　had　another　of　his　works　in　mind。〃　Once　inside；　she　went　straight　to

the　shelves　below　the　stereo　unit；　where　she　kept　a　small　but　cherished

collection　of　works　of　the　masters。　With　pride　she　pulled　one　CD　from

the　lot。

Ross's　brow　shot　up。　〃L　Aprds…midi　dun　faune？〃　Again　his　accent　was

flawless。　〃I　haven't　listened　to　that　in　years！〃

〃I　always　called　it　Afternoon　of　a　Faun。　I　like　the　way　you　say　it；

though。　It　sounds　so　much　more　romantic。〃

〃It　is　a　romantic　piece。〃

Ignoring　the　note　of　caution　that　sounded　from　somewhere　in　the　back　of

her　mind；　she　took　out　the　CD。　The　entire　evening　had　been　romantic；　so

why　not　this？　If　she　was　enjoying　herself；　why　stop？

Ross　squatted　to　study　her　collection。　His　expression　was　all　male　and

distinctly　wicked　when　he　winked　back　over　his　shoulder。　〃You　have

Ravel。　Should　I　put　that　on？〃

She　had　seen　that　video；　too。　〃Debussy　will　be　fine；〃　she　said　without

batting　an　eyelash。

Richly　pictorial