第8部分(第3/7 頁)

　anywhere　he　looked。

〃The　only　way　the　hurt　will　stop；〃　he　chided　gently；　〃is　for　you　to　put

the　past　behind　you。〃

Her　eyes　filled　with　tears。　〃Do　you　think　I　haven't　tried？　Do　you　think

I've　spent　the　past　eleven　years　purposely　living　with　a　ghost？〃

**skip**〃Maybe　not；　but　you've　done　it。　You　haven't　resolved　a　thing　in　the

eleven　years；　if　that　hurt　in　your　eyes　is　for　real。　It's　your

punishment；　isn't　it？　Your　punishment　for　living。〃

She　shook　her　head　and　whispered；　〃No。　That's　not　true！〃

〃Not　true？〃　he　echoed　in　a　voice　strangely　mellow。　〃Answer　me　one　thing；

Chloe。　Have　you　been　with　another　man　since　we　were　together？〃

〃That's　none　of　your　bus…〃

〃It　is　so。〃　He　took　her　face　in　his　hands；　correctly　anticipating　her

attempt　to　look　away。　His　touch　was　gentle　but　firm。　〃I　was　the　first。

It's　my　brand　that　shaped　you。　How　many　others　were　there？〃

〃That's　vulgar！〃　she　cried。

〃Maybe。　Answer　the　question。〃

〃I　won't。　Are　you　jealous；　jealous　and　guilt…ridden？　Well；　I　don't　need

either　of　those　traits　in　the　man　in　my　life。　I'm　doing　just　fine

withoutwithout…〃　Her　limbs　trembled。

Ross　drew　her　against　him；　pressing　her　cheek　to　his　chest；　wrapping　his

arms　around　her　back。　〃Without　love？〃　he　asked；　so　softly　that　she　might

not　have　heard　him　had　the　word　not　been　on　the　tip　of　her　tongue。

Incapable　of　speech　for　the　moment；　she　simply　breathed　in　the　scent

that　was　all　male；　all　Ross。　His　heart　beat　steadily　by　her　ear；

gradually　coaxing　her　own　to　slow。　His　arms　enveloped　her　and　lent　her

strength。

〃I　tried。〃　She　spoke；　unsteadily　at　first。　〃I　dated。　I　still　do。〃　It　was

easier