第7部分(第3/7 頁)

She　had　picked　herself　up　after　Crystal's　death　and　built　a　new　life。

She　wasn't　letting　anything　threaten　it。

With　firm　resolve　she　made　a　gentle　semicircle　and　jogged　more　slowly

back　toward　where　she　had　left　her　towel　on　the　rocks　at　the　sea　side　of

her　home。

As　she　approached；　though；　it　wasn't　the　house　that　caught　her　eye　but

the　tall　figure　that　moved　away　from　it　and　began　to　walk　to　the　beach。

She　stopped　short。

He　was　dressed　in　casual　navy　slacks　and　a　plaid　shirt　that　was

unbuttoned　at　the　neck　and　rolled　to　the　elbows。　His　dark　hair　tumbled

in　disarray　across　his　brow。　Even　from　a　distance　he　looked　threatening

in　a　divine　kind　of　way。

He　must　have　been　watching　for　her；　must　have　stood　by　the　living　room

window　until　she　had　e　into　sight。　If　Lee　hadn't　been　there　to　answer

the　door；　he　might　have　left。　Now　she　was　caught…and　annoyed。

Tipping　up　a　defiant　chin；　she　began　walking。　Ross　made　no　move　to　meet

her　halfway；　just　watched　and　waited；　but　his　stance　suggested　an

annoyance　of　his　own；　along　with　a　touch　of　the　imperious。　Despite　his

casual　clothes；　he　looked　formal。

She　came　to　a　halt　before　him；　nodded；　and　offered　a　polite　〃Ross〃　in

greeting；　before　shifting　beyond　him　to　retrieve　her　towel。

〃What　in　the　hell　did　you　do　it　for；　Chloe？〃　He　was　annoyed；　all　right。

〃Do　what？〃　She　straightened　slowly。

His　eyes　bore　into　her。　〃Send　that　check。　You　didn't　lose　a　minute；　did

you？　You　must　have　had　it　in　the　mail　that　same　afternoon。〃

〃Shouldn't　I　have？〃

〃No。　There　was　no　need。〃

〃I　thought　there　was。　You　had　no　cause　to　pick　up　the　check；　either　for

the　inn　o