第15部分(第6/7 頁)

　to

play。　Debussy　had　long　since　given　way　to　Grieg　and　Tehaikovsky。

Given　the　wine；　the　song；　and　the　man；　Chloe　was　mellow。　So　she　had　no

problem　when　Ross　said；　〃You　and　Crystal　were　identical；　weren't　you？〃

〃Technically；　but　there　were　differences　we　could　see。〃

His　breath　rustied　the　hair　at　her　temple。　〃Were　you　inseparable　as

kids？〃

〃Pretty　much。　Since　the　guys　were　a　lot　older　than　we　were；　there　were

only　the　two　of　us　around　the　house。〃

〃You　had　a　built…in　playmate。〃

〃Uh…huh。　It　was　fun。　She　was　the　more　adventurous。　I　was　the　more

conservative。〃

〃But　you　were　the　one　who　approached　me　that　night；　not　Crystal。　I

always　wondered　why。〃

Chloe　tipped　her　head　back　to　look　at　him。　〃We　argued　about　who　you　were

looking　at。　I　thought　it　was　me。　Crystal　said　you　wouldn't　see　the

difference。〃　She　paused。　〃Who　were　you　looking　at；　Ross？　Me；　or

Crystal？〃

His　lips　curved　gently；　tickling　her　nose　for　an　instant。　〃You　both

looked　the　same。〃

〃We　did　not。　e　on；　which　one　was　it？〃　Her　teasing　was　gentle；　but　she

needed　to　know。

Ross　raised　his　eyes。　〃Ah；　let　me　think。　There　was　one　with　dark　hair

curled　to　the　left；　and　one　with　dark　hair　curled　to…〃

She　pinched　his　ribs。　〃I'm　serious！　Or　were　you　just　interested　in　any

pretty　girl？〃

He　sobered　then。　〃I　wanted　you；　Chloe。　I　saw　the　difference。　Your　sister

was　just　as　lovely；　but　you　had　something　more。　I　can't　quite　explain

it。〃

He　didn't　have　to。　Knowing　that　he　had　chosen　her　was　enough　to　ease

part　of　that　guilt　she　had　felt　over　the　years。

He　tightened　his　arms。　〃Okay；　princess。　Now　you　tell　me。　Why　were　you