669小说网

第20部分（第2页）

Indeed；　he　seemed　all　business。　There　was　no　wele　kiss；　no　hug；　not

even　in　the　privacy　of　the　cab；　and　she　wasnt　plaining。　She　had　felt

a　jolt　seeing　him　back　at　the　train；　and　felt　tingles　even　now。　She

needed　all　the　time　she　could　get　to　regain　full　control。

The　Hansen　Corporation　was　every　bit　as　impressive　as　she　had　known　it

would　be。　Ross　Stephenson　wasnt　one　to　do　things　halfway。　As　she　toured

offices　that　consumed　three　full　floors；　no　one　she　saw　was　idle。

Her　guide　was　one　of　the　vice　presidents；　a　soft…spoken　man　whom　she

instantly　liked。　Ross　himself　had　disappeared　with　a　soft　apology

shortly　after　they　arrived。　She　saw　nothing　of　him　until　late　afternoon；

when　he　materialized　in　the　drafting　room；　where　she　was　admiring　the

architects　plans　for　a　museum　and　theater　plex　in　Des　Moines。

〃What　do　you　think？〃

Delight　lit　her　face。　〃Its　wonderful；　Ross。　You　have　a　brilliant

architect。　From　the　looks　of　the　plans；　this　museum　will　be　a　drawing

card　for　all　of　Iowa。〃

His　smile　held　satisfaction。　〃Thats　what　were　hoping。　Any

suggestions？〃

She　grinned。　〃You　mean；　will　I　now　go　on　and　pick　the　thing　to　bits　on

the　geological　score？〃

〃Something　like　that。〃

〃I　have　no　way　of　knowing　about　this　particular　project。　Looking　at　the

designs；　I　can　mention　potential　sources　of　worry…drain　pipes；　for

instance…but　unless　I　know　something　about　the　land　there；　I　cant　offer

constructive　criticism。〃

When　Ross　put　his　lips　by　her　ear；　she　realized　that　it　was　the　nearest

hed　e　since　she　arrived。　The　warmth　of　his　skin　by　her　cheek　sent　a

tingle　through　her。　〃Thank　God　for　that；〃　he　said　in　a　stage　whisper；

though　they　were　alone　in　the　room。　He　straightened。　〃The　days　pretty

much　over。　Lets　get　going。〃

Chloe　gathered　her　things。　It　had　been　an　unexpectedly　pleasant　and

interesting　afternoon。　If　each　of　her　days　here　were　like　it；　she　might

survive　after　all。

But　something　hung　heavy　in　a　half…hidden　corner　of　her　mind。　It　had　New

Orleans　written　all　over　it。　After　New　York；　there　would　be　Rhode

Island；　then　Alabama。　Should　she　do　New　Orleans　after　that？　Would　it

solve　anything？　Would　it　change　her　feelings　for　Ross？