第2部分(第4/7 頁)

in　detail；　using　statistics　where

applicable。　By　the　time　she　finished　and　opened　the　floor　to　questions；

she　felt　that　her　arguments　had　been　well　received。　She　answered　the

questions　posed　with　the　same　patience　and　care；　the　same　genuine

concern　for　the　environment。

〃Great　presentation；〃　Howard　said　when　she　returned　to　her　seat。

She　smiled　modestly。　〃I　only　hope　I've　acplished　our　objective。　What

happens　now？〃

〃You　endure　brief　speeches　by　Brad　and　myself。　Try　to　stay　awake。〃

She　gave　an　of…course…l…will　chuckle；　but　with　her　own　job　done；　her

mind　wandered。　While　Felix　introduced　Bradbury　Huff；　she　glanced　at

Ross。　Folded　fortably　into　his　seat；　he　appeared　to　be　listening

intently　to　his　advocate；　the　state　representative。

The　years　had　been　kind　to　Ross。　While　his　dark　brown　hair　had　a　touch

of　gray　at　the　sideburns；　it　fell　over　his　forehead　with　vibrance　and

class。　There　was　strength　in　his　unhearded　jaw；　which　flexed　as　he

listened。　The　crow's　feet　at　the　corners　of　his　eyes　were　etched　into　a

light　tan　that　spoke　of　a　life　of　sun　and　smiles。　He　was　perfectly　at

ease；　maddeningly　confident；　and　devastatingly　handsome。

He　blinked　once；　turned　his　head；　and　met　her　gaze　and；　in　that　instant；

time　stopped。　In　the　next；　it　reversed；　speeding　Chloe　back　over　the

years　to　the　first　time　she'd　seen　him。　It　had　been　a　beautiful

Thanksgiving　night　in　New　Orleans；　the　moment　as　clear　to　her　as　if　it

had　been　yesterday。　She　had　been　with　Crystal　then。　Crystal。　She　still

missed　her　sister　with　the　kind　of　pain　that　ate　at　a　person　from　the

inside　out。

Howard　covered　her　tight　fist　with　his　han