rekindled(英文版)-第7部分

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at　least　once　before　her　death　such　a　short　time　later。

The　long　ponytail　bobbed　against　her　neck　as　Chloe　jogged　on　the　beach。
Indian　summer　had　e　to　Rhode　Island；　bringing　bright　sun　and　a　heat
that　was　unusual　for　mid…October。　She　wasn't　about　to　plain；　though。
All　too　soon　her　daily　run　would　require　a　sweat　suit；　hat；　and　gloves。
Now　she　delighted　in　the　freedom　of　shorts　and　tank　top；　which　allowed
her　arms　and　legs　to　breathe。　The　sweat　that　dotted　her　brow　trickled
across　her　temple　and　down　along　her　hairline。　It　glistened　on　her　skin；
adding　glow。

It　had　been　two　weeks　since　she　had　seen　Ross　Stephenson；　two　weeks
since　his　presence　had　stunned　her。　He　had　a　way　of　doing　that；　she
mused；　as　she　dodged　a　piece　of　driftwood　that　had　washed　up　on　the
beach。　The　slap　of　her　sneakers　on　the　wet　sand　evened　out。

Eleven　years　before；　Ross　had　scored　a　coup；　conquering　her　mind　and
body　within　hours。　Their　encounter　two　weeks　ago　had　been　under　vastly
different　circumstances；　but　it　was　nearly　as　devastating。

The　physical　attraction　between　them　hadn't　diminished。　If　anything；　it
was　more　awesome　than　before；　if　her　recollection　of　that　kiss　in　the
Wayward　Sailor's　kitchen　was　correct。　He　had　to　have　known　how　he　would
affect　her；　which　made　his　disappearance　the　next　morning　all　the　more
unforgivable。

Chloe　hadn't　known　what　to　expect…whether　Ross　would　wake　her　or　meet
her　downstairs　for　breakfast。　She　had　assumed　that；　at　the　very　least；
he　would　drive　her　back　to　her　car。　But　a　maid　had　awakened　her　at
seven；　putting　a　pot　of　fresh　coffee　and　a　plate　of　sweet　rolls　on　the
small　stand　by　her　bed　before　scurrying　back　out；　and　when　Chloe　reached
the　front　desk；　she　learned　that　Ross　had　already　checked　out。

She　was　immediately　disappointed；　then　annoyed　with　herself　It　was
better　this　way。　She　was　too　vulnerable；　if　the　previous　night's　kiss
meant　anything。　Ross　made　her　feel　beautiful　things；　things　she　didn't
deserve。

She　was　alive。　That　was　enough。　She　reasoned　that　it　was　far　better　that
he　should　be　gone　from　her　life。

When　the　day　manager　had　handed　her　Ross's　note；　though；　she　was　livid。
〃Chloe；〃　he　had　scrawled　in　a　bold　hand；　〃Had　to　leave　to　catch　the
early　plane。　Your　car　is　taken　care　of　Someone　from　the　inn　will　take
you　there。〃　It　was　signed；　〃Love；　Ross。〃　and　was　punctuated　with　a
period　as　a　statement　of　fact。

He　had　no　business　doing　that；　had　no　business　using　the　word　love　so
blithely。　But　that　was　the　least　of　it。　It　seemed　that　he　had　paid　her
tab　at　the　inn　and　the　cost　of　a　new　battery　and　its　installation。

She　ran　on　down　the　beach；　struggling　to　forget　about　Ross；　to　push　him
from　mind；　to　focus　on　work。　But　he　remained；　along　with　her　wounded
pride。　She　had　stewed　all　the　way　from　Rye　to　Little　pton　that
morning。　On　arriving　home；　she　had　gotten　the　address　of　the　Hansen
Corporation　and　sent　a　check　out　in　the　mail　that　same　day；　with　a　note
that　was　much　less　personal　than　his。

〃Enclosed　is　a　check　to　cover　the　expenses　I　incurred　last　night　and
this　morning。　Chloe　Macdaniel。〃　She　hadn't　asked　him　to　take　care　of
her。　She　didn't　need　him　to　take　care　of　her。　She　didn't　want　to　feel
beholden　to　him　in　any　way；　shape；　or　form；　because　one　thing　was　clear。
She　had　picked　herself　up　after　Crystal's　death　and　built　a　new　life。
She　wasn't　letting　anything　threaten　it。

With　firm　resolve　she　made　a　gentle　semicircle　and　jogged　more　slowly
back　toward　where　she　had　left　her　towel　on　the　rocks　at　the　sea　side　of
her　home。

As　she　approached；　though；　it　wasn't　the　house　that　caught　her　eye　but
the　tall　figure　that　moved　away　from　it　and　began　to　walk　to　the　beach。
She　stopped　short。

He　was　dressed　in　casual　navy　slacks　and　a　plaid　shirt　that　was
unbuttoned　at　the　neck　and　rolled　to　the　elbows。　His　dark　hair　tumbled
in　disarray　across　his　brow。　Even　from　a　distance　he　looked　threatening
in　a　divine　kind　of　way。

He　must　have　been　watching　for　her；　must　have　stood　by　the　living　room
window　until　she　had　e　into　sight。　If　Lee　hadn't　been　there　to　answer
the　door；　he　might　have　left。　Now　she　was　caught…and　annoyed。

Tipping　up　a　defiant　chin；　she　began　walking。　Ross　made　no　move　to　meet
her　halfway；　just　watched　and　waited；　but　his　stance　suggested　an
annoyance　of　his　own；　along　with　a　touch　of　the　imperious。　Despite　his
casual　clothes；　he　looked　formal。

She　came　to　a　halt　before　him；　nodded；　and　offered　a　polite　〃Ross〃　in
greeting；　before　shifting　beyond　him　to　retrieve　her　towel。

〃What　in　the　hell　did　you　do　it　for；　Chloe？〃　He　was　annoyed；　all　right。

〃Do　what？〃　She　straightened　slowly。

His　eyes　bore　into　her。　〃Send　that　check。　You　didn't　lose　a　minute；　did
you？　You　must　have　had　it　in　the　mail　that　same　afternoon。〃

〃Shouldn't　I　have？〃

〃No。　There　was　no　need。〃

〃I　thought　there　was。　You　had　no　cause　to　pick　up　the　check；　either　for
the　inn　or　the　battery。　I'm　not　helpless。　I　can　take　care　of　myself！〃

A　muscle　worked　in　his　jaw。　〃Then　it　was　a　matter　of　principle？〃

〃Principle？　I　wasn't　thinking　about　principle。　I　simply　saw　it　as　my
responsibility。　It　was　kind　of　you　to　offer　to　pay；　but　I　feel　more
fortable　this　way。　I　wanted　to　take　care　of　it　myself〃

〃Ah。　The　independent　woman。　So　that's　how　you　intend　to　live　the　rest　of
your　life？〃　he　challenged；　and　drawled；　〃All　by　yourself。？〃

Chloe　was　startled　by　the　turn　of　the　conversation。　〃This　is　crazy；〃　she
said。　〃You　show　up　here；　out　of　the　blue；　without　so　much　as　a　civil
hello；　and　start　criticizing　me？　I　don't　have　to　defend　my　lifestyle　to
you　or　anyone　else！〃　She　turned　away；　then　turned　right　back；　confused。
〃Why　are　you　here；　Ross？　Did　you　e　all　the　way　from　Park　Avenue　to
call　me　out　for　repaying　your　loan？　Little　pton　is　on　the　way　to
nowhere。　We're　at　the　tip　of　a　peninsula。　So　don't　tell　me　you　were　just
passing　through。〃

〃No。〃　His　features　had　begun　to　relax；　though　his　eyes　remained　clear
and　direct。　〃I　wanted　to　see　you。〃

Chloe　could　deal　with　the　angry　Ross　more　easily　than　she　could　with　the
gentler　one。　Unfortable　now；　she　bent　for　her　towel　and　straightened
holding　it　tight。　〃You　could　have　called　if　you　wanted　to　discuss　the
Rye　Beach　plex。　Nothing　much　will　happen　until　the　referendum　in
November。　Unless；　of　course；　you　alter　your　proposal。〃　Satisfied　with
her　minor　dig；　she　began　to　mop　her　face　and　neck。　Ross　ignored　the
barb。　〃I'm　not　here　on　business。　I　came　to　see　you。〃

〃That's　a　mistake；〃　she　whispered；　hearing　pain；　feeling　pain。　He
replied　as　softly。　〃Then　again　we　differ　in　opinion。〃　He　sighed。　〃Look；
can　we　walk？　Your　house　seemed　pretty　crowded。　I'd　like　to　talk。〃

All　too　aware　of　a　tingling　inside；　she　shook　her　head；　then　tore　her
gaze　from　his　and　looked　out　to　sea。　〃It's　not　a　good　idea。〃

〃Just　talk？〃

〃Fine；　if　it　has　to　do　with　the　plex。　Anything　else　。。。〃

〃What　are　you　afraid　of？〃　he　asked。　〃I　see　the　same　fear　in　you　now　that
I　saw　two　weeks　ago。　What　is　it？〃

She　shot　him　a　chiding　look　that　said　You're　imagining　it；　I'm　not
afraid　of　a　thing。

〃Then　what　can　be　the　harm　in　talking？　What　can　be　so　awful　about
walking　along　the　beach　with　me　for　a　few　minutes？〃　He　tossed　his　dark
head　back　toward　the　house。　〃You　have　a　whole　crew　in　there　just　waiting
to　e　if　you　scream。〃

〃I　won't　scream。〃　She　spoke　softly；　blushed　lightly。　〃It's　not　my
style。〃

He　studied　her　for　what　seemed　an　eternity。　〃Maybe　that's　your　problem；〃
he　finally　decided。　〃You're　too　posed。　Maybe　you　need　a　good　yell　and
scream　to　let　it　all　out。〃

〃Let　what　all　out？〃

He　took　her　arm。　〃e　on。　Let's　take　a　walk。〃　He　pulled　her　gently　into
step　beside　him；　and　she　went　along。　After　all；　what　harm　could　e
from　a　walk　on　the　beach？

One　fast　glance　at　Ross　supplied　an　answer。　The　magism　was　there　in
all　its　force；　ing　from　him；　tugging　at　her。　If　only　they　had　never
met　before；　if　only　they　didn't　have　a　past；　there　might　have　been　hope。

〃What　if；〃　he　echoed　her　thoughts　with　uncanny　precision；　〃we　had　never
met　before？　Would　you　feel　differently？〃

〃Maybe。〃　She　clutched　the　ends　of　the　towel　that　circled　her　neck。
〃Would　you？〃　some　inner　voice　made　her　ask。

〃No。〃　There　was　no　hesitancy　in　his　response。　〃I　saw　a　woman　two　weeks
ago　who　interested　me。　I　would　be　here　regardless。　It's　just。。　。〃

As　Chloe　waited　for　his　voice　to　pick　up　again；　their　paths　crisscrossed
her　earlier　footprints。　Ross　easily　measured　his　pace　to　hers。　〃It's
just　what？〃　she　prodded。

He　stopped　walking。　She　went　a　step　farther；　then　turned　to　face　him。　He
frowned；　seeming　deliberative。　〃It's　just　that　after　what　happened
eleven　years　ago；　I　feel　even　more　justified。。　。〃

Her　voice　rose；　as　it　often　did　when　she　was　distressed。　〃Are　you　saying
you　feel　guilty　so　long　after　the　fact？　Is　that　why　you've　e？　To　ease
some　long…harbored　guilt？　Where　were　you　then？〃　she　cried。　〃Where　were
you　when　I…〃

She　cut　herself　off。　For　the　very　first　time　she　wondered　what　might
have　happened　had　Ross　been　with　her　at　the　time　of　Crystal's　death。　It
had　been　late　Saturday　night；　two　days　after　Thanksgiving；　when　she　and
Crystal　argued；　Crystal　raced　off　in　her　car；　the　accident　happened。　By
that　time　Ross　was　on　his　way　back　to　Africa。　What　if　he　had　been　with
her　through　the　ordeal？　Would　things　have　been　different？

But　he　hadn't　been　with　her。　There　was　no　changing　that　fact。　She　had
survived。　She　had　survived。　Not　Crystal；　though。

When　she　closed　her　eyes　for　a　moment　in　search　of　posure；　Ross　took
her　arm　and　said　a　quick；　〃Over　there。　Those　rocks。　You　should　sit
down。〃

〃I'm　all　right…〃

〃Then　I　want　to　sit　down！　Indulge　me！〃　He　led　her　to　a　jagged
outcropping　of　rocks。　When　they　were　seated　on　side　by　side　boulders；　he
said；　〃Okay。　Why　don't　you　tell　me　about　that　night…and　stop　looking　at
me　like　I'm　crazy。　You　know　what　I'm　talking　about。　I　know　what　I
experienced　that　night。　I'd　like　to　hear　what　you　did。〃

〃Oh；　Ross。〃　She　sighed　wearily。　〃I　don't　want　to　go　into　this。〃　She
caught　the　graceful　takeoff　of　a　tern　from　the　salt…soaked　beach。　〃It's
too　beautiful　here　to　rehash　the　past。〃

〃The　past　had　its　moments　of　beauty；　too。〃

Her　head　snapped　back；　but　the　warmth　of　his　gaze　cut　off　the　retort
that　might　have　e。　Suddenly　it　seemed　pointless　to　resist　his
request。　It　was　just　a　matter　of　choosing　the　right　words。　〃The　past　did
have　its　moments。　And；　yes；　they　were　beautiful。〃　There　was　a　soft
quality　in　her　voice　as　she　returned　to　that　night。

Ross　grasped　the　stone　on　either　side　of　him。　〃Had　you　planned　it　to
happen？　When　you　came　toward　me　from　across　that　room；　had　you　hoped
that　we'd　end　up　in　bed？〃

〃Beforehand？〃　She　looked　up　in　surprise。　〃No。　I'd　never　done　anything
like　that　before。　Oh；　we　dated　plenty　and　went　to　our　share　of　parties。
But　we　had　never；　that　is；　neither　of　us　had；　ah；　I　mean；　I　had　never。。
。〃

〃I　know。〃　He　rescued　her　from　her　floundering；　daring　to　touch　her　cheek
with　the　back　of　his　fingers。　Instinctively　she　tipped　her　face　toward
his　touch；　then　caught　herself　and　righted　her　head。

〃Were　you　sorry　you　did　it？〃　His　voice　was　low；　urgent。

〃No　。。。　Yes　。。。　I　don't　know；〃　she　finally　ended　in　a　whisper；　tugging
at