第5部分(第3/7 頁)

　seat。

Chloe　tried　to　control　her　thoughts　by　speaking　first。　〃You've　e　a

long　way　in　the　business　world　since　I　saw　you　last；　Ross。　How　did　you

manage　it？〃

He　smiled。　〃You　mean；　how　did　I　manage　the　transformation　from'far　out'

to　'far　in'？　The　fact　is；　I　never　was　all　that　'far　out。'　I　went　my　own

way　for　a　while。　I　avoided　money。　I　grew　a　beard　because　there　wasn't

modern　plumbing　where　I　was　in　Africa；　and　I　didn't　want　to　have　to

shave　at　dawn　by　the　riverside。　I　wore　jeans　because　they　were

fortable；　same　with　loose　shirts。　I'd　grown　up　in　a　world　of　rigid

discipline。　I　wanted　my　freedom。〃

〃〃Rigid　discipline'？〃　She　realized　again　how　little　she　knew　of　Ross。

He　eyed　her　with　something　akin　to　amusement。　〃Y'know；　considering　you

slept　with　the　man　the　first　time　you　met　him　。。　。〃

〃That's　not　fair；〃　she　argued。　〃When　we　were　together；　I　couldn't　think

straight。〃

〃History　repeats　itself；〃　he　drawled；　referring　to　what　had　happened

moments　earlier　with　a　mischievous　grin。

Chloe　didn't　like　being　ribbed。　〃You　didn't　know　any　more　about　me　that

night。〃　But　rather　than　turning　the　tables；　she　was　more　deeply

incriminated。

〃Neither　of　us　did　much　talking；　did　we？〃　Ross　asked；　clearly　enjoying

himself　She　shook　her　head。　The　only　talking　they'd　done　had　been　in

soft　moans　and　caresses。　The　attraction　between　them　had　been

overpowering。　〃I　want　you　to　know　that　I　don't　do　that　as　a　rule。　I

mean；　I　don't　make　a　habit　of…〃

〃…jumping　into　bed　with　every　guy　that　es　along？　I　know　that；　Chloe。〃

He　smiled　gently。　〃I　told　you　that　we　had　something　special。　Do　you

think　I　sleep　with　every