第6部分(第5/7 頁)

　ten　years　older　than　we　are。　You

don't　really　think　he'd　be　interested；　do　you？〃

〃God；　Chloe；　you　are　a　stick…in…the…mud。　Of　course　he'll　be　interested。

Men　like　freshness。　And　we　are　rich　and　beauti…〃

〃I　know；　I　know；〃　Chloe　interrupted　the　litany；　feeling　a　sudden

surprising　disdain　for　her　sister's　arrogance。　So　often　the　arrogance

was　shared。　As　the　babies　of　the　family…and　twins；　at　that…they'd　been

reared　like　royalty。　For　the　first　time；　however；　Chloe　wondered　whether

men　like　this　stranger　were　attracted　to　royalty。　Was　being　rich　and

beautiful　and　sexy　all　that　mattered？　Something　told　her　that　this

divine…looking　man　would　seek　more；　something　in　his　gaze　as　he　slowly

turned　it　their　way。

〃Wow；〃　Crystal　whispered。　〃I'm　going　after　him。〃

〃Oh；　no。　It's　my　turn；〃　Chloe　whispered　back　with　matching

determination。　〃You　got　Roger。　This　one's　mine。〃

〃He　won't　want　a　stick…in…the…mud。　You　think　we're　too　young　for　him。〃

〃I've　changed　my　mind。　Besides；　he's　looking　at　me；　not　you。〃

Crystal　snorted。　〃Arbitrary　choice。　We　look　exactly　alike。〃

〃All　of　a　sudden　we　look　exactly　alike？〃　Chloe　choked。　〃What　about　that

'added　bit　of　spice'　you　claim　to　have？　What　about　your　last…born　'glow

of　vulnerability'？〃

Crystal　crinkled　her　nose。　〃He　can't　see　all　that　at　this　distance。〃

But　Chloe　was　vehement。　〃I　have　a　feeling　about　him。〃

〃You　always　have　feelings　about　people。　I'm　the　doer。　Remember？〃

〃Not　this　time。〃

〃Chloe　。。。〃　Crystal　warned　in　a　singsong　murmur。

〃Crystal　。。。〃　Chloe　warned　right　back。　〃We'll　toss　a　coin。　Heads；　I

win。〃

Crystal's　eyes　narrowed。　〃I'll　do　the　tossing。　You　a