第7部分(第7/7 頁)

oking　at

me　like　I'm　crazy。　You　know　what　I'm　talking　about。　I　know　what　I

experienced　that　night。　I'd　like　to　hear　what　you　did。〃

〃Oh；　Ross。〃　She　sighed　wearily。　〃I　don't　want　to　go　into　this。〃　She

caught　the　graceful　takeoff　of　a　tern　from　the　salt…soaked　beach。　〃It's

too　beautiful　here　to　rehash　the　past。〃

〃The　past　had　its　moments　of　beauty；　too。〃

Her　head　snapped　back；　but　the　warmth　of　his　gaze　cut　off　the　retort

that　might　have　e。　Suddenly　it　seemed　pointless　to　resist　his

request。　It　was　just　a　matter　of　choosing　the　right　words。　〃The　past　did

have　its　moments。　And；　yes；　they　were　beautiful。〃　There　was　a　soft

quality　in　her　voice　as　she　returned　to　that　night。

Ross　grasped　the　stone　on　either　side　of　him。　〃Had　you　planned　it　to

happen？　When　you　came　toward　me　from　across　that　room；　had　you　hoped

that　we'd　end　up　in　bed？〃

〃Beforehand？〃　She　looked　up　in　surprise。　〃No。　I'd　never　done　anything

like　that　before。　Oh；　we　dated　plenty　and　went　to　our　share　of　parties。

But　we　had　never；　that　is；　neither　of　us　had；　ah；　I　mean；　I　had　never。。

。〃

〃I　know。〃　He　rescued　her　from　her　floundering；　daring　to　touch　her　cheek

with　the　back　of　his　fingers。　Instinctively　she　tipped　her　face　toward

his　touch；　then　caught　herself　and　righted　her　head。

〃Were　you　sorry　you　did　it？〃　His　voice　was　low；　urgent。

〃No　。。。　Yes　。。。　I　don't　know；〃　she　finally　ended　in　a　whisper；　tugging

at