669小说网

第9部分（第1页）

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　moments　antagonism。　She　was　relieved　when　Ross　extended　his

hand。　It　was　met　by　an　equally　large　one　of　Lees。

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　Rosss　dark　hair　had　faint　wisps　of　gray

at　the　sideburns；　Lees　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　Lees　that　stretched　from　ear　to　ear；　much

as　Rosss　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　Chloes　taste　in　men　hasnt　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　Chloes　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　youre　not　here　on　business；〃　Lee　concluded。　〃And　you

cant　be　passing　through。〃

Chloe　laughed　this　time。　〃Ive　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？〃