第8部分(第6/7 頁)

e　something　to　say。〃

〃You…umph！〃　The　breath　was　forced　from　her　by　a　squeeze　to　her　middle。

She　didn't　try　to　speak　again。

〃Better；〃　he　said。　〃Now；　listen。　I　realize　that　you　need　time；　and　I'll

give　you　that。　But　I'm　not　leaving。　Not　this　time。　I　want　to　get　to　know

you；　and　I　want　you　to　get　to　know　me。　We　blew　it　on　that　score　last

time。　But　yesterday　was　one　thing；　today's　another；　and　they're

different；　Chloe；　they're　different。〃

She　liked　the　sound　of　that。　Didn't　know　if　she　believed　it。　But　it　was

fine　for　the　moment。　Same　thing　with　sitting　against　one　another　this

way；　looking　out　over　the　last　of　the　sunset's　flaming　rays。　Ross

provided　support。　And　heat。　She　was　acutely　aware　of　his　long　legs；　his

strong　arms；　his　broad　chest；　his　warm　breath。　She　might　not　have　a

right　to　do　it；　but　she　savored　the　peace　of　the　moment。

So　maybe　today　was　different。　Certainly　they　were　eleven　years　older；

maybe　even　worlds　wiser。　But　Crystal　had　been　an　intrinsic　part　of　her

life。　To　forget　her　would　be　wrong。　It　was　more　a　matter　of　acceptance。

Could　she　accept　the　past　and　learn　to　live　with　it？

〃Well？〃　Ross's　baritone　hummed　by　her　ear。

〃Well；　what？〃　She　had　reached　her　saturation　point　and　couldn't　agonize

anymore。　He　nudged　her　ribs。　〃Don't　you　have　anything　to　say　for

yourself。？〃

Her　long　pause　was　nearly　as　effective　as　the　sigh　that　followed　it。　〃I

can　speak　now？〃

〃Speak。〃

〃That's　a　beautiful　sunset；〃　she　mused　aloud。　〃It's　a　treat　at　this　time

of　year；　all　warm　and　golden。　Do　you　have　any　idea　what　would　happen　if

the　ozone　layer　were　to　be　destroyed　by　the　haphazard　release　of　fr