669小说网

第3部分（第2页）

listening　to　questions；　offering　answers。　She　stood　at　one　side　of　the

stage　with　her　followers；　Ross　stood　at　the　other　side　with　his。　She

gained　strength　with　each　new　question；　so　that　when　the　last　of　the

locals　left；　she　felt　more　herself…felt　more　herself；　that　is；　until　she

realized　that　she　and　Ross　were　alone。

He　showed　no　sign　of　sharing　either　her　awkwardness　or　her　apprehension。

Rather；　he　smiled　at　her；　looking　older　and　wiser　perhaps；　but　no　less

alive。　The　air　between　them　hummed；　just　as　it　had　eleven　years　before。

Looking　at　him；　Chloe　grappled　with　a　world　of　inner　demons；　but　the

past　was　better　left　alone。　She　was　determined　to　make　this　reunion　as

brief　as　possible。

〃How　are　you；　Chloe？〃　he　asked；　crossing　the　stage　to　where　she　stood。

He　was　that　much　taller　than　she　was。　She　had　to　tip　up　her　head。　〃Fine。

And　you？〃

〃Not　bad。　Youre　looking　well。〃　He　gave　her　a　warm　once…over。　〃Very

different。〃　Humor　tugged　at　the　corners　of　his　lips。

〃So　are　you。〃　Even　in　spite　of　an　inner　trembling；　she　could　appreciate

the　humor。　〃When　I　last　saw　you；　you　were　distinctly　antiestablishment。

This　is　a　switch。〃

His　stance　was　a　casual　one；　the　hand　in　his　pocket　not　only　emphasizing

the　solid　wall　of　his　chest　but　pulling　the　fabric　of　his　trousers

across　his　thigh　in　a　way　that　showed　the　strength　of　seemingly　endless

legs。

〃Not　entirely。　Its　just　that　now　I　save　my　jeans　for　free…time　wear　and

my　boots　for　cold　weather。〃

So　he；　too；　remembered　what　he　had　worn　that　night。　〃And　the　peasant

shirt？〃　she　asked　softly。

He　laughed。　〃The　peasant　shirt　was　replaced　for　a　while　by　a　dashiki；

but　Im　afraid　the　modern　me　is　addicted　to　ordinary　sports　shirts　and

sweaters。〃

〃Conventional；〃　she　murmured　with　a　faltering　smile；　teasing　him　as　much

as　she　dared。　It　was　hard　to　remain　indifferent　to　this　man。　She　felt

the　strain。

〃Sadly　so；〃　he　agreed　without　any　sadness。　〃But　look　at　you。　Youve　done

a　turnaround。　Last　time　I　saw　you；　your　hair　was　curled；　you　wore

makeup；　higher　heels；　and　more　daring　clothes。　You　also　talked　New

Orleans。　Whered　the　accent　go？〃

Chloe　drew　in　a　long　breath。　〃It　faded。　Ive　lived　up　north　for　too

long。　Time　does　different　things　to　each　of　us；　I　guess。〃