第3部分(第5/7 頁)

。　I'm　sure　they　have　another　vacancy；　since　the

height　of　the　season　is　past。　We　could　grab　a　snack　somewhere　and　talk。〃

Chloe　would　have　liked　nothing　better。　She　knew　nothing　about　the　Ross

Stephenson　who　was　a　successful　businessman。　Instinct　told　her　that　time

spent　with　him　would　be　interesting。　It　would　also　be　downright

dangerous；　even　devastating。

She　sighed。　〃That　would　be　nice；　but　I　have　to　get　back。　I　feel　wide

awake　for　driving。　I'd　just　as　soon　put　the　miles　behind　me。　Besides；　I

have　that　appointment。〃

Ross　considered　that　for　a　minute；　then　held　up　his　hands。　In　gracious

defeat；　he　stepped　back。　She　put　the　key　in　the　ignition；　pumped　the　gas

pedal；　turned　the　key。　There　was　a　click；　but　nothing　happened。　She

repeated　the　sequence。　It　always　worked。　Granted；　her　small　blue　pact

had　seen　better　days；　but　it　had　always　started　for　her…until；　she

realized　as　she　turned　the　key　a　third　time；　this　afternoon。　She　had

heard　the　same　click　then；　had　run　back　into　the　house　and　brought　Lee

out　to　help。　They　had　figured　the　engine　was　flooded；　had　waited　and

won。　The　car　had　started。　But　Murphy's　Law　said　that　it　wasn't　going　to

start　now。

〃Trouble？〃　Ross　bent　in　at　the　window　again。

〃Battery；　I　think。〃

He　opened　the　door。　〃Let　me　try。〃

She　slid　out。　With　an　ease　that　belied　his　awesome　length；　he　folded

himself　behind　the　wheel。　The　front　seat　was　already　back　to　allow　for

the　length　of　Chloe's　own　long　legs；　and　even　then　he　gave　a

good…natured　grimace。　She　had　to　smile。　Getting　in　was　apparently　the

easy　part。　Maneuvering　now　that　he　was　there　was　the　challenge。

But　he　manage