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you're my princess。〃 With a groan； he pressed her to him。 She felt his
desire as she tried to deny her own； but that same coil of need gnawed
within her。 She was on the verge of losing control。
〃No！〃 Her scream echoed back through her with such force that only
Ross's arms kept her standing。 As she sagged against him； he eased down
onto the sand； turning her to sit with her back to his chest； her knees
bent and bounded by his。 He said nothing； just held her； his arms
wrapped around her middle。
Chloe couldn't have moved if she'd tried。 Drained by emotional strain；
she closed her eyes and breathed in deeply of the slow…cooling air。
When Ross spoke long moments later； she was surprised to hear humor in
his voice。 〃Not bad for a novice。〃
〃What？〃
〃That scream。 For someone who says she doesn't do that kind of thing；
you sure let loose！〃
She let out a breath and grinned； feeling oddly calm。 〃I guess I did。
You have a way of doing the weirdest things to me。〃
〃I certainly hope so；〃 he drawled。
〃 Ross…〃
〃Shh。 I've heard enough from you for a while。 I want you to listen。〃
〃But…〃
〃Shh！ I have something to say。〃
〃You…umph！〃 The breath was forced from her by a squeeze to her middle。
She didn't try to speak again。
〃Better；〃 he said。 〃Now； listen。 I realize that you need time； and I'll
give you that。 But I'm not leaving。 Not this time。 I want to get to know
you； and I want you to get to know me。 We blew it on that score last
time。 But yesterday was one thing； today's another； and they're
different； Chloe； they're different。〃
She liked the sound of that。 Didn't know if she believed it。 But it was
fine for the moment。 Same thing with sitting against one another this
way； looking out over the last of the sunset's flaming rays。 Ross
provided support。 And heat。 She was acutely aware of his long legs； his
strong arms； his broad chest； his warm breath。 She might not have a
right to do it； but she savored the peace of the moment。
So maybe today was different。 Certainly they were eleven years older；
maybe even worlds wiser。 But Crystal had been an intrinsic part of her
life。 To forget her would be wrong。 It was more a matter of acceptance。
Could she accept the past and learn to live with it？
〃Well？〃 Ross's baritone hummed by her ear。
〃Well； what？〃 She had reached her saturation point and couldn't agonize
anymore。 He nudged her ribs。 〃Don't you have anything to say for
yourself。？〃
Her long pause was nearly as effective as the sigh that followed it。 〃I
can speak now？〃
〃Speak。〃
〃That's a beautiful sunset；〃 she mused aloud。 〃It's a treat at this time
of year； all warm and golden。 Do you have any idea what would happen if
the ozone layer were to be destroyed by the haphazard release of freon
gas？〃
〃Chlo 。。。 eee。〃
Before Ross could respond； a call of concern came from far down the
beach。
〃It's Lee；〃 Chloe explained as her partner loped toward where she and
Ross sat。 Ross made no move to hold her back when she slid from his grip
and jumped to her feet。
The timing couldn't have been better。 With those legs framing hers and
the strength of that body a serious temptation； her diversion into
envitonmental quandaries would have been temporary at best。 Lee's
appearance was a godsend。
Aware that Ross had risen beside her； Chloe kept her eyes on the
approaching figure。 〃You met Lee at the house； didn't you？〃 she asked。
〃No；〃 he said with something of a grunt。 〃Another character let me in
and directed me to you。 Is this some kind of mune you live in？〃
Lee's booming call spared Chloe from having to answer。 〃Is everything
all right； Chloe？〃 He covered the last of the distance at a more
cautious walk； making no effort to disguise his wariness of an equally
wary Ross。 〃It's getting dark。 I was beginning to worry。〃
Chloe absently clutched her left wrist； a habit dating back to the days
when she wore a watch。 Her fingers easily circled the bone。 〃Oh； my。 I'm
sorry。 I lost track of the time。 We were going to…〃 Suddenly aware that
the two men were staring at each other； she interrupted the thought and
said； 〃Lee； this is Ross Stephenson。 We knew each other a long time ago。
Ross heads the corporation responsible for the Rye Beach proposal。〃 She
looked at Ross。 〃This is Lee Haight。 Lee and I co…own ESE。〃
For a brief instant； she pictured the two men squaring off； and there
was that moment's antagonism。 She was relieved when Ross extended his
hand。 It was met by an equally large one of Lee's。
Chloe was struck by those hands； but they were only the start。 The
physical similarities between the two men； each of whom had been
instrumental in shaping her life； was amazing。 Both were tall and lean；
both had athletic builds。 While Ross's dark hair had faint wisps of gray
at the sideburns； Lee's highlights were more auburn； but both men were
tanned and inordinately good…looking。 Only their dress differentiated
their approaches to life。 Whereas Ross was the image of the casual male
of the more traditional school； Lee was； in appearance； reminiscent of
that earlier； more nonconformist phase through which the other had
passed。 While Ross wore slacks； Lee wore denim。 While Ross wore a sports
shirt； Lee wore a T…shirt emblazoned with an apt MAN。 Ross wore well kept
loafers； Lee had on a pair of battered running shoes。 And then there was
that neatly trimmed beard of Lee's that stretched from ear to ear； much
as Ross's had on the night Chloe had met him。
It had never occurred to her to pare the two men before； but on all
counts the likeness was astounding。
Apparently Ross saw it； too。 He grinned slowly； almost slyly。 〃It looks
like Chloe's taste in men hasn't changed all that much； after all；〃 he
said； with such a lack of malice that Lee relaxed a little。
〃I intend to take that statement at its most positive； friend。 This
little lady is very near and dear to me。〃 He threw a protective arm
about Chloe's shoulder； drawing her to him with his customary
possessiveness。 She had always liked that； and did even more so now。 His
presence made her feel less vulnerable。 She chuckled when Lee added；
〃Are you friend or foe？〃
〃Friend； by all means；〃 Ross replied。
〃Then I take it you're not here on business；〃 Lee concluded。 〃And you
can't be passing through。〃
Chloe laughed this time。 〃I've been through all that with him； Lee。 He
knows precisely where he is。〃
Lee glanced her way。 〃Sounds ominous。〃 He looked at Ross。 〃How long are
you in for？〃
〃I was hoping to spend the weekend here；〃 Ross answered with a calm that
had the opposite effect on Chloe。 Her stomach was suddenly filled with
butterflies。 They fluttered wildly when those amber eyes turned to her。
〃If Chloe is free。〃
Chloe didn't know whether Lee sensed her internal turmoil； but she was
eternally grateful for the arm that tightened around her shoulders。
〃You'll have a fight on your hands；〃 he said。 〃I have a prior claim on
her。 Your big corporation may be able to do without you for the weekend；
but our small one isn't so generous。〃 Looking down at her； he said；
〃There were several calls for you。 Alabama called again on that toxic
waste burning problem。 I told them you'd have an answer for them by
Monday。〃
Chloe nodded； sighing her uncertainty on the Alabama matter。 〃And the
other calls？〃
〃Derry Township called on the lecture series at the munity college。
They want to know when the printed material will be ready to be copied。
Jay called from Pittsburgh to say that he should be back on Sunday； and
Debbie will have the statistics on the sinkhole study for you to see
tomorrow。〃
〃Whoa。 She sure got that together fast。〃 She told Ross； 〃Debbie is the
newest member of the firm。 She just got her degree。 Her working
knowledge of puters is much better than Lee's or mine。〃 She frowned。
〃Boy； would I like to take more courses。〃
〃Why don't you？〃 Ross asked。
〃No time。 Lee and I have worked our butts off trying to make ESE a
functioning enterprise。〃 She shot a look at her partner。 〃I think we're
finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel。〃
His grimace took her by surprise。 Instead of agreement； she saw sudden
doubt。 〃That's another point of discussion for the weekend；〃 Lee
informed her softly； squeezing her arm a final time before releasing
her。 〃But； hey； it's getting dark。 Let's carry on inside。 Want to stay
for dinner； Ross？〃
Chloe bent to retie a shoelace that needed no retying。 She didn't want
Ross staying for dinner。 She wanted to return to her life； and that
meant having him leave and stay gone。 Naturally； he had other ideas。
〃That would be fine；〃 he said with gratitude。
But Chloe sensed something in him。 As the three of them walked back down
the beach to her house； she saw the tension on Ross's face。 His eyes met
hers； and she was again grateful for Lee's presence。
Then Lee turned traitorous。 With a grin； he said； 〃There's some great
wine in the cellar； Chloe。 The steaks are already on the counter。 Why
don't you take another one from the freezer？ I'll meet you in the
kitchen。〃
And he loped off。
Before she could follow； Ross wrapped a hand around her long ponytail
and held her in place。
〃What was that all about？〃 he asked with a scowl。 〃You told me you lived
alone。〃
She stared straight ahead； looking after Lee。 〃I do。〃
Ross moved closer。 His head lowered to hers。 〃Then why is that fellow so
damned at home in your house？ He sounds like he's the live…in
chef…between the wine and the steaks。 What other services does he
perform？〃
She didn't like his implication。 Still staring at the house； she said；
〃He's good enough to bring the trash to the dump once a week and put
They had reached the base of the field stone steps that led to Chloe's
back porch。 Ross paused on the first step。 〃And those others I saw here
this afternoon。 Who were they？〃
：〃Workers on our various projects。〃
〃Partners in the firm？〃
She shook her head。 〃We hire part…time people。 They're mostly students；
master's candidates from local schools like URI and Brown。〃
The pale blue of dusk was quickly giving way to the darker purples of
evening in a star…filled sky。 Only the spill of pale gold light from the
kitchen window lit Ross's features now。 It left his lines more
clear…cut； his profile more distinct and dramatic。 Chloe was intrigued。
〃I admire you for your dedication；〃 he said。
She continued to study him。 〃Do I hear wistfulness？〃
His chuckle was suspiciously poignant。 〃Maybe。 There are times…at which；
that's a whole other thing。〃
When she would have pursued it； Lee's shout jarred her。 〃Chloe！〃 Her
head whipped around。 〃Where are the matches？ The pilot light is out on
the broiler。 I can't get it lit。〃
Ross leaned close and murmured； 〃And here I thought he was the one who
always came to your rescue。〃
She turned to defend Lee； only to find Ross's lips a breath from hers。
His eyes were glowing； his body warm though the heat of the day was
gone； and her mouth was suddenly dry。 〃I think I'd better give him a
hand。 Pray we're not out of matches。〃
Her response was meant as humor； because she wasn't telling Ross the
truth。 Oh； yes； Lee was a willing handyman； able in nine cases out of
ten。 But they had a running gag over that tenth。 Chloe was convinced；
and had told Lee as much； that his occasional flub was intentional； his
way of reminding her that he needed her； too。 He never denied it。 And
Chloe always indulged him。 Emotionally； he gave her so much。 She liked
giving a little some of that back。
Without further pause； she ran up the steps。 It was only when she
reached the top and started for the door that Ross caught her hand。 He
pressed something into it。 She looked down at a book of matches。
〃You smoke？〃
〃Actually；〃 he said with a wry twist of his lips； 〃I carry matches
around with me just in case a pilot light goes out。〃
：；Do you smoke？〃
〃Through my eyes； when I'm angry。〃
〃Ross； do you？〃
〃Smoke？ No。〃
She sighed。 〃That's good。 This is a nonsmoking house。 If you wanted to
smoke you'd have to sneak one in the john； or stay out here with the
chipmunks。〃
〃That's some choice。 Good thing I don't have to make it。 As it happens；〃
he informed her； 〃my only vice is sex。 Do we h