669小说网

第13部分（第2页）

A　muscle　worked　in　Rosss　jaw。　〃Its　not　tit…foretat；　Chloe。　Id　like　to

take　you　out　to　dinner。〃

〃I　appreciate　the　thought；　but…〃

〃No　buts。　Were　going　out　for　dinner。　Period。〃

〃What　if　I　have　other　plans？〃

He　arched　a　dark　brow。　〃Do　you？〃

〃I　could　just　as　well；〃　she　hedged；　〃for　the　way　you　just　assume　Im

free。〃

〃Well；　are　you？〃

It　wasnt　that　she　didnt　want　to　go　to　dinner　with　Ross。　On　the

contrary。　She　liked　being　with　him。　She　just　didnt　want　to　get　used　to

it。

〃Chloe？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　sighing。　〃Im　free。〃

：〃Good。　Say；　about　eight？〃

；：But…〃

Eight　it　is。　And　Chloe？〃

She　felt　totally　helpless。　〃What？〃

〃How　about　if　we　dress　up？〃

〃Dress　up？　I　havent　dressed　up　in　months。　Things　here　are　very

casual。　Theres　nowhere…〃

〃There　is；〃　he　argued　gently。　〃Leave　that　to　me。〃

Chloe　lowered　her　eyes　and　studied　the　floor；　then　slowly　shook　her

head。　〃Ross；　Id　really　rather…〃

〃For　old　times　sake？〃　he　dared　ask。　〃Today　we　played　far　out。

Tonight；　lets　play　in。　e　on。　How　about　it？　Just　this　once？〃

The　odd　note　of　pleading　in　his　voice　brought　Chloes　head　slowly　up。　He

looked　so　innocent；　so　hopeful；　that　she　couldnt　turn　him　down。　〃Just

this　once；〃　she　gave　in　softly；　forcing　the　semblance　of　a　smile　to

；Minerable　lips。

There　was　no　semblance　of　anything　in　Rosss　smile。　It　was　blatantly

broad　and　open；　relieved　and　pleased。　It　warmed　her；　reassured　her；

amused　her。　And　it　most　definitely　excited　her。

That　terrified　her。

Before　she　could　back　out；　though；　he　said；　〃Its　a　date。　See　you　at

eight。〃

He　turned　and　made　for　the　phone；　leaving　Chloe　to　gather　the　pieces　of

her　fast…splintering　resolve　and　struggle　with　makeshift　repairs　before

evening　rolled　around。