rekindled(英文版)-第17章

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〃No。　No。　I'm　game。　Don't　forget…of　the　two　of　us；　I'm　the　original
hippie。〃

Chloe　drove　with　Ross　straddling　the　seat　behind　her；　and　it　was　totally
traumatic。　He　was　near；　so　near。　His　arms　were　locked　about　her　waist；
his　body　tucked　against　hers。　Even　the　October　breeze　whipping　by　did
nothing　to　relieve　the　intimacy　of　the　trip。　When　he　spoke；　it　was　a
nibble　at　her　ear。　A　nibble？　Had　he　really　done　that@r　was　it　a　product
of　her　overworked　imagination？

Indifference。　Uh…huh。

The　road　they　traveled　was　one　she　covered　daily。　Its　sides　were　edged
with　maples　and　oaks；　grown　ripe　and　mellow　now；　on　the　verge　of
bursting　into　autumn　flame。　Fields　sprawled　to　the　right；　wooded
pastureland　to　the　left。　Ahead　undulated　a　path　to　Sakon　Point；　the
very　tip　of　the　finger　of　land　on　which　Little　pton　sat　just　across
the　bay　from　Newport。

If　Ross　was　aware　of　the　havoc　his　nearness　wreaked　on　her；　he　kept　his
smugness　in　check。　Once；　in　a　gesture　of　soft　intimacy；　he　released　her
waist　to　gather　her　hair　together　in　his　hands；　twist　the　long　fall
once；　and　tuck　it　inside　the　back　of　her　shirt。

〃The　better　to　see　the　town；〃　he　murmured　wickedly。　He　had　to　know　that
her　neck　tingled　from　the　touch　of　those　fingers；　her　ear　from　the　brush
of　his　breath；　so　much　so　that　she　was　oblivious　to　much　of　their
surroundings。　When　at　last　they　reached　the　wharf；　with　its　graceful
fleet　of　pleasure　craft；　she　was　almost　sorry。　The　intimacy　had　been
nice。　She　was　strangely　torn。

Not　so　Ross。　〃Ah！　There's　a　place　that　looks　like　it'll　fit　the　bill。
Can　we　eat　there？〃

The　ultimate　humiliation　had　to　be　being　bested　by　a　restaurant。
Apparently　the　way　to　a　man's　heart　was　through　his　stomach　after　all。
But　then；　Chloe　wanted　no　part　of　Ross's　heart。　The　restaurant　could
have　him。

She　smiled；　pleased　to　have　so　neatly　talked　herself　sane。　〃If　you're
really　hungry；　this　is　the　place　to　be。〃

Ross　was　really　hungry。　He　was　game　to　sample　most　anything　and
everything；　from　clam　fritters　to　little　necks　on　the　half　shell　to
swordfish　puffs；　a　specially　of　the　house。

Chloe　savored　his　enthusiasm；　taking　pride　in　pointing　out　the　small
groups　of　local　fishermen　on　the　pier　arduously　scraping　barnacles　off
tall…stacked　lobster　traps。　The　bright　yellow　of　their　rubber　overalls
was　a　bit　of　sunshine　stolen　from　the　sky；　adding　a　spark　to　the
otherwise　sleepy　air　of　the　harbor。　It　was；　all　in　all；　a　peaceful
lunch；　filled　with　good　food；　thirst…quenching　beer；　and　conversation
that　stuck　to　the　more　general；　less　personal　topic　of　travels；　foreign
ports；　and　favorite　hideaways。

〃The　ocean　is　beautiful；〃　Ross　admitted　at　one　point；　〃but　I　still
prefer　the　mountains。　There's　nothing　more　lovely　than　that　feeling　of
seclusion　you　get　in　a　small　cabin　tucked　into　a　neat　cleft；　with
stretches　and　stretches　of　piggybacked　hills　to　keep　the　world　at　bay。〃

〃Then　you've　never　been　on　the　beach　on　a　foggy　morning；〃　Chloe　returned
softly。　〃It's　like　being　in　a　gentle　white　cocoon；　with　the　solace　of
knowing　that　humanity　is　near；　yet　out　of　sight　and　sound　for　as　long　as
the　mist　should　choose。〃

〃You　like　New　England。〃

〃do。〃

〃You'll　be　staying　here？〃

〃I　will。〃

He　sighed　good…naturedly。　〃Then　we'd　better　get　you　to　the　market　or　you
won't　make　it　through　the　week；　much　less　the　winter。〃

On　that　fortable　note；　they　left　the　restaurant；　spending　leisurely
moments　wandering　along　the　breakwater　before　returning　to　the　bike。

〃I'll　drive　this　time；〃　Ross　said　with　an　arched　brow　and　a　palm　out　for
the　keys。　Chloe　was　only　too　glad　to　relinquish　the　responsibility。
Seated　fortably　behind　Ross；　she　was　more　in　control　of　her　emotions。

What　she　hadn't　counted　on　was　the　broad　expanse　of　his　back；　the　sense
of　contentment　that　flowed　through　her　as　the　wind　rushed　freely　through
her　hair；　the　gentle　fatigue　that　a　night　of　little　sleep；　a　morning　of
busy　work；　and　a　frill　stomach　had　induced。　Indifference　had　no　place
here。　Without　a　care　to　the　wisdom　of　the　move；　she　wrapped　her　arms
about　his　middle　and　laid　her　cheek　against　his　back。

It　was　heaven；　pure　and　simple。　She　didn't　have　a　care　in　the　world。
Ross　was　at　the　helm；　petent　and　strong。　Over　the　wind　that　sailed　by
came　the　steady　beat　of　his　heart；　steadying　her　in　turn。　She　didn't
know　what　it　was　about　this　particular　man　that　affected　her　so　deeply；
nor　did　she　care　just　then。　It　was　enough　to　enjoy　the　respite　from
responsibility　and　to　give　herself　up　to　his　care；　if　only　for　the　brief
ride　home。

The　brief　ride　home；　however；　grew　longer　and　longer。　Peering　around
Ross's　shoulder；　Chloe　saw　that　they　were　on　a　different　road　entirely。
〃Do　you　know　where　we　are？〃　she　called。

〃Roughly。　Where's　your　market？〃

He　followed　her　pointing　finger；　turning　this　way；　then　that；　until　the
town　mon　came　into　view。　Typically　New　England；　it　had　a
white　steepled　church　at　its　hub　and　a　variety　of　rural　shops　and
boutiques。　Chloe　found　everything　she　needed　at　the　grocery　store；
reluctantly　took　Ross's　suggestion　that　the　plants　be　saved　for　another
trip；　then　climbed　behind　him　onto　the　bike　to　return　to　the　house。　Not
one　wrong　turn　later　she　was　on　her　own　front　steps。

The　moment　of　reckoning　was　at　hand。　〃Will　you　be　returning　to　New　York
now？〃　she　asked。

He　had　finished　stowing　the　bike　in　its　proper　spot　and　advanced　on　her
with　a　grin。　Relieving　her　of　the　large　brown　bag　she'd　been　carrying；
he　took　her　elbow　and　guided　her　toward　the　house。　〃Not　yet。〃

〃You're　going　back　to　Lee's？〃

〃Not　yet。〃

〃Then　what　are　you　going　to　do？〃

He　held　the　door　open　for　her　to　pass；　and　followed　her　into　the
kitchen；　where　he　began　to　unload　and　store　the　groceries　as　though　the
place　were　his。　〃I　want　to　make　a　few　phone　calls。〃　He　glanced　at　his
watch。　〃Then　wash　the　car；　catch　the　end　of　the　Giants　game；　shower　and
shave；　and　take　you　out　to　dinner。〃

His　recitation　was　so　nonchalant　that　Chloe　would　have　guessed　he　spent
every　October　Saturday　this　way；　at　least　as　far　as　the　first　part　went。
As　for　taking　her　out　to　dinner；　it　had　certainly　never　happened　before。

〃It's　unnecessary；〃　she　said。

〃Which　part…the　calls；　the　car；　the　game；　or　the　shower？〃

〃The　dinner！　Lunch　was　enough　to　even　us　up。　There's　no　need　for
anything　more。〃

A　muscle　worked　in　Ross's　jaw。　〃It's　not　tit…foretat；　Chloe。　I'd　like　to
take　you　out　to　dinner。〃

〃I　appreciate　the　thought；　but…〃

〃No　buts。　We're　going　out　for　dinner。　Period。〃

〃What　if　I　have　other　plans？〃

He　arched　a　dark　brow。　〃Do　you？〃

〃I　could　just　as　well；〃　she　hedged；　〃for　the　way　you　just　assume　I'm
free。〃

〃Well；　are　you？〃

It　wasn't　that　she　didn't　want　to　go　to　dinner　with　Ross。　On　the
contrary。　She　liked　being　with　him。　She　just　didn't　want　to　get　used　to
it。

〃Chloe？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　sighing。　〃I'm　free。〃

：〃Good。　Say；　about　eight？〃

；：But…〃

Eight　it　is。　And　Chloe？〃

She　felt　totally　helpless。　〃What？〃

〃How　about　if　we　dress　up？〃

〃Dress　up？　I　haven't　'dressed　up'　in　months。　Things　here　are　very
casual。　There's　nowhere…〃

〃There　is；〃　he　argued　gently。　〃Leave　that　to　me。〃

Chloe　lowered　her　eyes　and　studied　the　floor；　then　slowly　shook　her
head。　〃Ross；　I'd　really　rather…〃

〃For　old　times'　sake？〃　he　dared　ask。　〃Today　we　played　'far　out。'
Tonight；　let's　play　in。'　e　on。　How　about　it？　Just　this　once？〃

The　odd　note　of　pleading　in　his　voice　brought　Chloe's　head　slowly　up。　He
looked　so　innocent；　so　hopeful；　that　she　couldn't　turn　him　down。　〃Just
this　once；〃　she　gave　in　softly；　forcing　the　semblance　of　a　smile　to
；Minerable　lips。

There　was　no　semblance　of　anything　in　Ross's　smile。　It　was　blatantly
broad　and　open；　relieved　and　pleased。　It　warmed　her；　reassured　her；
amused　her。　And　it　most　definitely　excited　her。

That　terrified　her。

Before　she　could　back　out；　though；　he　said；　〃It's　a　date。　See　you　at
eight。〃

He　turned　and　made　for　the　phone；　leaving　Chloe　to　gather　the　pieces　of
her　fast…splintering　resolve　and　struggle　with　makeshift　repairs　before
evening　rolled　around。

It　wasn't　an　easy　task。　Ross　seemed　to　be　everywhere　she　turned。　He　used
her　office　to　make　his　calls