第15部分(第4/7 頁)

chords　filled　the　room。　Chloe　sank　into　a　corner　of　the

sofa；　put　her　head　back；　and　closed　her　eyes。　She　was　aware　of　movement

within　the　room；　but　concentrated　on　the　music　floating　softly　through

the　air　about　her。　She　was　dreaming；　wakened　only　by　the　warm　lips　that

kissed　her　bare　throat　once。　Her　eyes　flew　open。

〃e　sit　with　me　and　have　some　cheese。〃　He　took　her　hand　and　coaxed　her

to　the　floor　beside　a　plate　of　cheese　and　fruit。　She　slipped　off　her

high…heeled　sandals。

They　sat　in　front　of　the　sofa　and　chairs；　on　the　thick　cream…colored

area　rug　that　covered　the　hardwood　floor。　Chloe　was　the　keeper　of　the

edibles；　slicing　fruit　and　cheese；　stacking　a　piece　of　one　on　the　other

to　offer　Ross。　He　lounged　casually　on　an　elbow；　legs　stretched　and

crossed　as　he　kept　their　wineglasses　filled。

〃Are　you　trying　to　get　me　drunk？〃　she　teased。

〃What　fun　would　you　be　drunk？〃　He　paused。　〃Are　you　sure　you　don't　want

to　listen　to　Ravel？〃

〃Don't　you　like　Debussy？〃　she　asked　innocently。　Ross　simply　topped　off

her　wineglass。

In　the　hours　that　followed　they　talked　more。　Chloe　asked　Ross　about　his

childhood　and　discovered　that　he　had　both　a　sister　and　a　brother；　that

he　had　studied　the　violin　during　one　of　his　mother's　culture　binges；　and

that　he　had　been　expelled　from　school　for　a　day　after　tossing　a　water

bomb　from　a　second…story　building　and　soaking　kids　in　the　playground。

〃A　water　bomb？　Ross；　how　could　you？　That's　the　type　of　thing　the　girls

always　hated！〃

〃That's　why　I　did　it。〃

〃e　on；〃　she　chided；　her　eyes　half　closed；　〃a　ladies'　man　like　you？〃

〃Sure。　I　was　eight　at　the　time。　It　satisfied　my　nee