第3部分(第6/7 頁)

d。　When　he　tried　the　ignition；　though；　he　had　no　better

luck　than　Chloe。　He　listened　to　that　impotent　click　once；　twice；　three

times。　Then　he　hoisted　himself　out　of　the　car　and　looked　under　the　hood。

〃You're　right；〃　he　said；　straightening。　〃It's　the　battery。〃　He　slammed

the　hood　shut　and　brushed　his　palms　against　one　another。　〃It　looks　like

you'll　have　to　stay。　I　don't　see　how　you'll　get　someone　to　e　out　at

this　hour。〃

She　reached　for　her　bag。　〃I　have　triple…A。〃

〃Chloe。〃　He　sighed　softly。　〃This　isn't　a　bustling　metropolis。　By　the

time…〃

〃Do　you　have　jumper　cables？〃

〃No。〃　He　patted　his　pockets。　〃Not　anywhere　close　by。〃

〃In　your　car？〃

〃It's　a　rental。〃

Her　gaze　fell　to　the　pavement。　She　could　rant　and　rave　all　she　wanted；

but　it　seemed　she　had　little　choice。　〃I　suppose　Lee　could　change　that

early　appointment　for　me；〃　she　murmured　quietly；　then　looked　up。　〃And

you　think　your　inn　would　have　a　room？〃

His　gaze　was　steady。　〃I'm　sure　it　would。〃

Not　one　to　belabor　a　no…win　situation；　Chloe　sighed。　〃Lead　on；　Ross。

Lead　on。〃

Ross　led　her　to　a　late…model　rental　car　roomy　enough　for　both　pairs　of

long　legs　to　stretch　fortably。　Vibes　were　something　else。　Chloe

sensed　that　no　space　would　be　large　enough　for　the　ones　that　circuited

back　and　forth　during　the　short　drive　to　the　inn。

〃You　flew　in　just　for　tonight's　meeting？〃　she　asked；　seeking　to　ease　the

silence。　It　was　awkward；　given　the　intimacy　they　had　once　shared。

〃That's　right；〃　he　answered；　paying　close　attention　to　roads　that　were

now　dark　and　deserted。　〃From？〃

〃New　York。〃

〃Do　you　live　there？〃

〃Occasionally。〃

I