第7部分(第5/7 頁)

gain　we　differ　in　opinion。〃　He　sighed。　〃Look；

can　we　walk？　Your　house　seemed　pretty　crowded。　I'd　like　to　talk。〃

All　too　aware　of　a　tingling　inside；　she　shook　her　head；　then　tore　her

gaze　from　his　and　looked　out　to　sea。　〃It's　not　a　good　idea。〃

〃Just　talk？〃

〃Fine；　if　it　has　to　do　with　the　plex。　Anything　else　。。。〃

〃What　are　you　afraid　of？〃　he　asked。　〃I　see　the　same　fear　in　you　now　that

I　saw　two　weeks　ago。　What　is　it？〃

She　shot　him　a　chiding　look　that　said　You're　imagining　it；　I'm　not

afraid　of　a　thing。

〃Then　what　can　be　the　harm　in　talking？　What　can　be　so　awful　about

walking　along　the　beach　with　me　for　a　few　minutes？〃　He　tossed　his　dark

head　back　toward　the　house。　〃You　have　a　whole　crew　in　there　just　waiting

to　e　if　you　scream。〃

〃I　won't　scream。〃　She　spoke　softly；　blushed　lightly。　〃It's　not　my

style。〃

He　studied　her　for　what　seemed　an　eternity。　〃Maybe　that's　your　problem；〃

he　finally　decided。　〃You're　too　posed。　Maybe　you　need　a　good　yell　and

scream　to　let　it　all　out。〃

〃Let　what　all　out？〃

He　took　her　arm。　〃e　on。　Let's　take　a　walk。〃　He　pulled　her　gently　into

step　beside　him；　and　she　went　along。　After　all；　what　harm　could　e

from　a　walk　on　the　beach？

One　fast　glance　at　Ross　supplied　an　answer。　The　magism　was　there　in

all　its　force；　ing　from　him；　tugging　at　her。　If　only　they　had　never

met　before；　if　only　they　didn't　have　a　past；　there　might　have　been　hope。

〃What　if；〃　he　echoed　her　thoughts　with　uncanny　precision；　〃we　had　never

met　before？　Would　you　feel　differently？〃

〃Maybe。〃　She　clutched　the　ends　of　the　towel　that　circled　her　neck。

〃Would　you？〃　some　inner　voice　made　her　ask。