按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
She smiled sadly。 〃You don't understand。〃
〃No。 I don't。〃 He sighed。 〃What say we drop it for a while？〃 At her nod；
he added a final thought。 〃But promise me that if you want to talk；
you'll e to me？ I have broad shoulders。〃
She stood and gave him a hug。 〃Thanks； Lee。 I appreciate that。〃
Stepping back； she looked up at him。 Funny； he was warm and strong and
in his way as good…looking as Ross； but she felt no desire； no great
inner spark。
Lee held out a hand。 〃Friends？〃
She met his hand。 〃Friends。〃
〃And we'll accept the offer from Stephenson？〃
She yanked her hand back。 〃No。 Yes。 I don't know。〃 She strode toward the
door。 〃Do what you want！〃
How to go from high to low in seconds； she mused； as she returned to her
office and settled in at the desk。 Ross was forcing her hand； totally
determined。 What was it he had said about love being wanting and wanting
until one would do nearly anything？
She did have options。 She could stand firm and refuse to have anything
to do with Ross； send someone to New York in her place for the Rye Beach
negotiations； systematically shuttle retainer work to another member of
the firm。
Another option was more dangerous。 She could go to New York and do his
work； remaining neutral。 Did she have a chance in hell of doing that？
Lee's words returned with frightening clarity。 Did she love Ross enough
to fight herself…and her past…for him？ Could she go back to New Orleans
and face the ghosts； finally put them to rest？
She hit emotional overload with that last thought。 Too much had happened
too fast。 She couldn't think about it anymore。 There was work to be
done…if she was to be enroute to New York by Wednesday。
With a long steadying breath； she sorted through the papers before her。
There were people to call； meetings to set up； reports to plan out
before she left； and the rush was for the best。 Her mind would be
filled。 Worrying was useless。 Only time would give her the answers she
needed。
Unfortunately； Ross wasn't as patient； but he received a different Chloe
on the phone that afternoon； a more subdued one。 She recognized his
voice immediately； had been half expecting to hear it。 Its sound sent a
ripple through her； but it died quickly。 She was exhausted。
〃How are you？〃 he asked。
〃I'm fine。〃
〃It's good to hear your voice。 I miss you。〃
〃You've been gone barely twenty…four hours。〃
〃You've been counting； have you？〃
She hadn't。 Well； maybe she had。 But she wasn't about to admit it。 〃I'm
counting now。 I have five different reports to go through this
afternoon； not to mention phone calls； proposals； and what…have…you。 It
seems I have a rush job in New York。 Some snotty executive thinks his
work is the only thing that counts。〃
〃I can see you got up on the wrong side of the bed。 Bad morning？〃
〃Busy。〃
〃Anything interesting？〃
〃Uh…huh。〃
He sighed。 〃Ah。 We're pulling teeth again。〃
〃No。 There's just nothing I feel like discussing。〃 With you； she might
have added。 He had intruded on her life far too much。
〃You sound down。〃 He sounded concerned。 〃Is something wrong？〃
〃I'll be fine。〃 But she wondered。 Much as she fought it； the sound of
Ross's voice affected her。
〃What is it； Chloe？ Please tell me。 Something's bothering you。 I can
hear it in your voice。 Your spirit's gone。〃 He paused。 When she said
nothing； he said； 〃I'm driving up。〃
〃No！ I'm okay。 Really。 I'm tired。 That's all。〃
：〃You have no idea what I feel when I hear that pain in your voice。〃
〃Then why did you do it？〃 she blurted out。
The silence was long and heavy。 Then he sighed。 〃You've； ah； figured out
my messages？〃
〃You could say that。 What I'd like to know is why you had to go behind
my back to box me in。 Why didn't you call me directly？〃
〃I mentioned it to you last weekend。 You refused。 I may be many things；
but I'm not a glutton for punishment。 That's your specially。〃 Chloe
gasped； but he went on。 〃I had no intention of calling you this morning
to rehash what I said yesterday。 There seemed to be more effective ways
of convincing you…〃
〃…forcing me 。。。〃
。。。 convincing you to work with me。 It makes good sense。 You're the
one familiar with the Rye Beach proposal and its problems。 To bring in
someone else would be a waste of time。 As for the other…〃
〃The other is Lee's affair；〃 she cut in。 〃He's handling any account with
the Hansen Corporation。 If you want to work with him； be my guest。 I can
vouch for his credentials and his skill； but I won't be involved。〃
〃Then why are you upset？〃 he asked a little too calmly。 〃If Lee will be
doing the dealing； it won't affect you。〃
〃Fat chance；〃 she murmured not quite softly enough。
Ah； ah； princess。 Let's have none of that。 If you're into soft
murmurings； use them to talk about love。〃
〃Ross。〃
〃I love you。〃
〃So you've said。〃 She tried to sound indifferent； but her tone was more
of a plea。
F 〃I mean it。 That's why I'm doing all this。〃
〃What？〃 she cried in a facetious show of emotion。 〃Don't you value my
brilliance； my experience； or my expertise in the field！〃
〃Depends on what field you're referring to；〃 he drawled。 〃In the field
of passion…〃
〃That wasn't the one I was talking about； and you know it。 Why do you
twist my words； Ross？ Do you like upsetting me？〃
He was suddenly sober。 〃No。 I'm trying to good you into facing your
feelings。 I love you； Chloe。 I want to have you near me； so I
manipulated your cooperation。 You may not be ready to admit that you
need me as much as I need you； but I have no pride。 I need you； and I'm
not giving you up。 Not yet； at any rate。〃
Chloe listened sadly。 He sounded honest and sincere。 Maybe he did need
her。 But what about her needs？ 〃You're rushing me； Ross。 I don't know
whether I'm ing or going。 Please； give me time？〃
〃You have till Wednesday。 I've made arrangements for you to take the
nine…fifty train from Providence。〃
〃The train？ I'd rather drive。 It's more convenient。〃
〃I don't want you driving into the city。 Leave your car in Providence。
Your ticket will be held there for you and I'll be at the station
waiting。〃
〃Ross…〃
〃It's settled。〃
Her lips turned down。 〃That's what I like about you。 You're so
democratic。〃 He said a gentle 〃I love you； too；〃 before hanging up。
Ross was indeed waiting at the station when her train pulled in。 She had
barely stepped onto the platform when he was beside her。 He took her bag
and her arm in one smooth move。 〃Have a good trip？〃 he asked； glancing
down as he guided her along。
〃It was fine。〃 And she had to admit that there was something fine about
being met like this； something that went beyond mere convenience。 New
York was New York； always a little intimidating。 Ross's protectiveness
felt good； though she wasn't about to tell him that。 〃Where are we
going？〃 she asked when he hustled her to a cab； then gave the driver the
same Park Avenue address to which she had sent her check。
〃I thought you'd like to see Hansen's corporate headquarters。 The team
working on the Rye Beach plex won't be meeting until tomorrow； but
you might feel more fortable seeing the layout before you get bogged
down in work。 I have things to take care of while we're there。〃
Indeed； he seemed all business。 There was no wele kiss； no hug； not
even in the privacy of the cab； and she wasn't plaining。 She had felt
a jolt seeing him back at the train； and felt tingles even now。 She
needed all the time she could get to regain full control。
The Hansen Corporation was every bit as impressive as she had known it
would be。 Ross Stephenson wasn't one to do things halfway。 As she toured
offices that consumed three full floors； no one she saw was idle。
Her guide was one of the vice presidents； a soft…spoken man whom she
instantly liked。 Ross himself had disappeared with a soft apology
shortly after they arrived。 She saw nothing of him until late afternoon；
when he materialized in the drafting room； where she was admiring the
architect's plans for a museum and theater plex in Des Moines。
〃What do you think？〃
Delight lit her face。 〃It's wonderful； Ross。 You have a brilliant
architect。 From the looks of the plans； this museum will be a drawing
card for all of Iowa。〃
His smile held satisfaction。 〃That's what we're hoping。 Any
suggestions？〃
She grinned。 〃You mean； will I now go on and pick the thing to bits on
the geological score？〃
〃Something like that。〃
〃I have no way of knowing about this particular project。 Looking at the
designs； I can mention potential sources of worry…drain pipes； for
instance…but unless I know something about the land there； I can't offer
constructive criticism。〃
When Ross put his lips by her ear； she realized that it was the nearest
he'd e since she arrived。 The warmth of his skin by her cheek sent a
tingle through her。 〃Thank God for that；〃 he said in a stage whisper；
though they were alone in the room。 He straightened。 〃The day's pretty
much over。 Let's get going。〃
Chloe gathered her things。 It had been an unexpectedly pleasant and
interesting afternoon。 If each of her days here were like it； she might
survive after all。
But something hung heavy in a half…hidden corner of her mind。 It had New
Orleans written all over it。 After New York； there would be Rhode
Island； then Alabama。 Should she do New Orleans after that？ Would it
solve anything？ Would it change her feelings for Ross？
No doubt； she did love him。 Walking down a long corridor with him now；
she felt like a princess。 He ruled the place； but he was gentle and
caring。 He loved her。 Was she worthy of that？
They were silent during the cab ride to Ross's brownstone。 〃You'll be
staying here；〃 he told her calmly； breaking what was almost a truce。
〃Ohhhh； no；〃 she balked； but followed him out of the cab。 〃I'll go to a
hotel。 The city is frill of them。 You can go inside and make a call to
book the room that should have been booked on Monday。〃
Ross led her up the front stairs to the tall oak door； turned the key in
the lock； and let them in。 Once inside the gracious hall； he took her
coat。 〃There are three floors here。 I sleep on the second。 You can have
the third all to yourself。 I'm not suggesting that you sleep with me；
only that you stay here。 It'll be more convenient。〃
Chloe recalled what he had said on the phone about needing her near him。
Separate bedrooms？ On separate floors？
Remembering Rye Beach and feeling suddenly lighter； she said； 〃Okay。
I'll take the penthouse。〃 She had taken the penthouse in Rye Beach； too。
They shared that past； and a grin of remembrance now。
〃e；〃 he said warmly。 〃I'll show you around。〃
From first to second to third floor they went； examining furniture；
artwork； and memorabilia from his travels。 No room in the house would
have won a designer's award； yet every room had a warmth that reached
out to Chloe and made her feel at home。
Ross； too； made her feel at home。 He put no pressure on her； so she put
none on herself They ate at a nearby restaurant； then returned for a
quiet evening of reading。 When Chloe excused herself shortly after
eleven； he bid her good night with a noticeable lack of lechery。
〃You'll find an extra blanket in the closet。 If you want more towels
check the cupboard in the bathroom。〃 He looked up from his papers； but
didn't rise。
〃I'll be fine。〃 She smiled。 〃Good night。〃
〃Good night。 Sleep well。〃
One glance back as she left the room told her that he had returned to
his papers。 She took the stairs slowly； one flight to the next。 This was
a side of Ross she had never seen。 In the past their relationship had
been shaped by physical attraction。 Now Ross seemed either immune； or
holding his interest in check。
Whichever； she was grateful。 Living with him； working with him could
have been a nightmare。 As it was； she was aware of the fact that he
would be sleeping one short flight away。 More than once that night she
held her breath； hearing a sound； wondering if he was making the climb。
Her bedroom door remained closed； and when she fell asleep； she slept
well。
It was good。 Thursday and Friday were packed with work； long hours spent
huddled with the masterminds of the Rye Beach plex。 They were
amenable to her suggestions； often mildly q