669小说网

第6部分（第1页）

Without　waiting　for　her　response　he　went　on；　his　voice　low　but

relentless；　his　gaze　intense。　He　put　his　hands　on　the　table。　〃When　was

the　last　time　you　saw　a　flower　child？　Hmm？　Theyve　vanished。　Disbanded。

Lost　the　war。〃　The　pause　he　took　was　for　a　deep　breath。　〃Well；　I　havent

lost。　Im　working　from　within　to　change　things。　Did　that　ever　occur　to

you；　Chloe？　Youve　been　so　quick　to　label　me　first　one　way；　then　the

other。　Did　it　ever　occur　to　you　that　your　impression　wasnt　even　skin

deep；　that　theres　a　me　under　it　all？〃

It　was　a　while　before　Chloe　was　able　to　speak。　She　certainly　didnt　know

Ross。　This　speech　presented　a　new　side　of　him。　And　he　was　right。

〃Im　sorry；〃　she　said。　〃It　was　wrong　of　me　to　do　that。　Im　not　always

that　way。〃　She　tried　a　smile　in　apology。　To　her　relief；　it　seemed　to

work。　His　features　relaxed。

〃Only　with　me；　eh？〃　He　inhaled　deeply　and　stood　tall；　holding　his　breath

for　a　minute　while　his　head　fell　back；　then　releasing　it　as　his　eyes　met

hers。

She　felt　suitably　contrite　and　suddenly　drained。　〃You　have　a　knack　for

bringing　out　my　extremes。　I　guess　Im　just　tired。　Its　late。〃　A　glance

at　the　bold　face　of　Rosss　watch　told　her　exactly　how　late。　〃Oh；　Lord！

Its　two　in　the　morning！〃　She　caught　her　breath；　looked　at　the　ceiling；

and　whispered；　〃Do　you　think　weve　woken　anyone　up？〃

Rosss　chiding　was　gentle。　〃No　need　to　whisper　now。　If　our　yelling

didnt　wake　em；　nothing　will。〃　He　took　the　two　empty　coffee　cups　and

brought　them　to　the　sink。

Chloe　wiped　off　the　table。　〃If　it　hadnt　been　for　that　battery；　Id　have

been　back　home　in　bed　by　now。〃

〃Instead；〃　he　teased；　〃weve　had　a　chance　to　get　reacquainted。　Urn；

acquainted。〃

Chloe　stopped　wiping　and　straightened。　Getting　acquainted　was　one　thing；

but　where　did　they　go　from　there？　The　physical　attraction　that　had　been

rekindled　with　a　vengeance　earlier；　weighed　heavily　on　her　now。

〃Uh…uh；　Chloe。〃　He　came　up　behind　her。　〃Just　relax。〃　She　looked　back；

wondering　how　he　knew。　〃I　can　feel　it　in　the　air…that　whatever…it　is

that　disturbs　you。〃　He　took　the　cloth　from　her　and　tossed　it　into　the

sink。　〃I　wont　pounce。　Ill　just　walk　you　to　your　room。〃

That　was　exactly　what　he　did。　He　halted　on　the　threshold。　〃The　manager

said　hed　leave　plenty　of　towels。　I　wish　I　could　offer　you　something