第5部分(第5/7 頁)

　one　from　the　old　days。〃

Chloe　smiled。　〃Sorry。　It　just　slipped　out。　I　can't　remember　the　last

time　I　said　that。〃

〃Maybe　way　back　in　the　time　of　you　and　me？〃　He　stared　at　her；　then　gazed

pensively　at　the　table。　When　he　raised　a　hand　and　rubbed　the　muscles　at

the　back　of　his　neck；　Chloe　followed　the　movement。　She　half…wished　she

could　do　it　for　him；　but　dangerous　was　a　mild　word　for　that　type　of

thing。　Once；　danger　had　been　a　challenge。　Now　she　wanted　no　part　of　it。

Ross's　confession　broke　into　her　thoughts。　〃I　may　have　been　pretty

antiestablishment；　at　that。　There　was　a　certain　amount　of　rebellion　in

me　against　routine　and　schedules　and　expectations。　I　guess　I　wasn't　much

different　from　the　average　flower　child；　except　that　I　knew　I'd　be

returning　to　the　fold　before　long。　I　saw　that　period　for　what　it　was…a

time　in　my　life　when　I　could　stretch　my　legs。〃

Chloe　chuckled。　Her　smoky　gaze　fell　to　the　floor；　where　a　pair　of

wellshod　feet；　ankles　crossed；　extended　well　beyond　her　side　of　the

table。　〃An　awesome　task。〃　She　quirked　a　brow。　〃So　how　did　you　bee　a

successful　businessman？　You　obviously　didn't　go　into　partnership　with

your　dad。　But　you've　e　a　long　way　in　eleven　years。　President　of　the

Hansen　Corporation。〃　She　shook　her　head　in　amazement。

〃I　had　a　mentor；　like　you　did；〃　he　explained。　〃I　worked　for　him　through

business　school；　then　after。　The　business　did　well。　I　gradually　acquired

stock。　When　Sherman　died　two　years　ago　he　left　me　shares　enough　to　make

me　the　majority　holder。〃

〃Was　the　Rye　Beach　plex　your　idea？〃

〃Actually；　no。　It　was　the　baby　of　one　of　the　other　vice　presidents。

Sherman　seeme