第3部分(第4/7 頁)

with　him　could　be　a　total　trauma。

She　glanced　at　the　auditorium　clock。　〃My　Lord；　it's　nearly　twelve。　I

have　to　run。〃　Straightening　the　shoulder　strap　of　her　pocketbook　and

hugging　the　large　folder　to　her　breast；　she　went　to　the　stage　steps。

Ross　followed。　Under　the　guise　of　worry　at　the　lateness　of　the　hour；　she

quickened　her　step。　He　kept　stride　easily。

：〃You're　not　driving　back　tonight；　are　you？〃

〃am。〃

〃All　the　way　to　。。。　？〃

〃Little　pton。〃

〃That　has　to　be　a　good　two…　to　three…hour　drive。　Wouldn't　you　do　better

to　get　an　early　start　in　the　morning？〃

〃Can't　do。　I　have　an　early　appointment　in　the　morning。〃　Her　voice

sounded　breathy。　It　was　the　rush；　she　told　herself。

For　long　moments；　Ross　said　nothing。　They　reached　the　front　door。　He

held　it；　she　passed　through。　In　silence　they　crossed　the　lawn　that

separated　the　high　school　from　the　parking　lot。

〃I　admire　you；　Chloe；〃　he　said；　sounding　sincere。　〃Your　work　is

interesting。　You　obviously　enjoy　it。〃

〃I　do；〃　she　agreed。　Relieved　to　be　at　her　car；　she　fished　in　her　purse

for　her　keys。　The　sooner　she　was　back　at　that　work；　back　in　the　security

of　her　seafront　home；　the　sooner　she　could　turn　the　past　off　again。

Slipping　in　behind　the　wheel；　she　rolled　her　window　down　to　let　in　the

cool　night　air。　With　escape　imminent；　she　grew　bolder；　looking　up　at

Ross　as　he　leaned　over　with　his　fingers　curved　on　the　lowered　window。

How　handsome　he　was；　she　mused。　She　had　been　powerfully　attracted　to　him

then；　she　still　was。　〃It　was　nice　seeing　you；　Ross。〃

〃You　won't　change　your　mind　and　stay　over？　I'm　at　the　Wayward　Sailor；　an

inn　just　down　the　road