第7部分(第1/7 頁)

at　least　once　before　her　death　such　a　short　time　later。

The　long　ponytail　bobbed　against　her　neck　as　Chloe　jogged　on　the　beach。

Indian　summer　had　e　to　Rhode　Island；　bringing　bright　sun　and　a　heat

that　was　unusual　for　mid…October。　She　wasn't　about　to　plain；　though。

All　too　soon　her　daily　run　would　require　a　sweat　suit；　hat；　and　gloves。

Now　she　delighted　in　the　freedom　of　shorts　and　tank　top；　which　allowed

her　arms　and　legs　to　breathe。　The　sweat　that　dotted　her　brow　trickled

across　her　temple　and　down　along　her　hairline。　It　glistened　on　her　skin；

adding　glow。

It　had　been　two　weeks　since　she　had　seen　Ross　Stephenson；　two　weeks

since　his　presence　had　stunned　her。　He　had　a　way　of　doing　that；　she

mused；　as　she　dodged　a　piece　of　driftwood　that　had　washed　up　on　the

beach。　The　slap　of　her　sneakers　on　the　wet　sand　evened　out。

Eleven　years　before；　Ross　had　scored　a　coup；　conquering　her　mind　and

body　within　hours。　Their　encounter　two　weeks　ago　had　been　under　vastly

different　circumstances；　but　it　was　nearly　as　devastating。

The　physical　attraction　between　them　hadn't　diminished。　If　anything；　it

was　more　awesome　than　before；　if　her　recollection　of　that　kiss　in　the

Wayward　Sailor's　kitchen　was　correct。　He　had　to　have　known　how　he　would

affect　her；　which　made　his　disappearance　the　next　morning　all　the　more

unforgivable。

Chloe　hadn't　known　what　to　expect…whether　Ross　would　wake　her　or　meet

her　downstairs　for　breakfast。　She　had　assumed　that；　at　the　very　least；

he　would　drive　her　back　to　her　car。　But　a　maid　had　awakened　her　at

seven；　putting　a　pot　of　fresh　coffee　and　a　plate　of　sweet　rolls　on　the

small　stand　by　h