669小说网

第14部分（第3页）

Ross　smiled。　〃Since　were　dining　in　style；　Ill　try　not　to　paw　through

the　pitd。〃　He　tossed　his　head　toward　the　door。　〃Lets　go。〃

The　drive　to　the　farm　took　them　in　a　large　U；　from　one　fingertip　of

land；　back　to　the　mainland；　then　out　to　the　other　fingertip。　Their

conversation　was　light；　in　contrast　to　the　heavy　darkness　that　had

fallen。　Even　the　moon　had　disappeared　behind　gathering　clouds。

Chloe　was　vitally　aware　of　Ross。　His　strapping　presence　filled　the　car

and　her　senses；　adding　to　her　excitement。

Farmington　Court　was　on　the　outskirts　of　Newport。　Without　any　help　from

Chloe；　Ross　found　the　place　with　ease。

〃How　did　you　find　out　about　the　Court？〃　she　asked　when　the　farm　appeared

on　a　gentle　rise　ahead。　〃Not　many　people　know　about　the　dining　room

here。　Not　many　outsiders；　that　is。　Its　a　well…kept　secret。〃

His　smile　reflected　the　bright　lights　of　the　house。　〃Maybe　its　supposed

to　be　a　secret；　but　its　slowly　creeping　out　anyway。　I　had　a

remendation　from　a　friend　in　New　York　whos　been　here。〃　He　paused；

then　confessed；　〃Im　not　a　total　stranger　to　Newport。　Little　pton；

yes。　Newport；　no。　I　was　here　last　summer。〃

〃You　were？〃　she　asked　cautiously。

He　nodded。　〃I　spent　several　days　here　sailing　with　friends。〃

〃I　didnt　know　you　sailed。〃

〃Theres　plenty　you　dont　know　about　me。〃　With　a　flick　of　his　wrist；　he

turned　the　car　into　a　space　in　the　graveled　lot。　He　slid　from　behind　the

wheel；　rounded　the　car；　and　helped　her　out。

She　learned　something　else　about　him　when　they　passed　through　the　door

of　the　sprawling　seaside　estate。　Not　only　did　he　greet　the　maitre　d　by

name；　but　he　spoke　in　fluent　French。　Along　with　her　Southern　accent；

Chloe　had　long　since　lost　what　little　French　she　picked　up　as　a　child　in

New　Orleans。　She　remained　silent；　enjoying　the　smooth；　romantic　sound。

Following　several　moments　of　low　conversation　during　which　both　men

seemed　equally　at　ease；　the　maitre　dishowed　Ross　and　Chloe　to　the

smallest　of　the　three　rooms　that　had　been　converted　for　public　dining。

It　was　exquisitely　decorated　in　Colonial　style；　with　a　smattering　of　the

English；　a　dab　of　the　French；　and　a　triumphant　dose　of　pure　Americana。

This　particular　room　held　only　three　tables；　each　set　for　two。　Theirs

was　in　a　far　corner；　lit　softly　by　a　candle。　It　was　an　intimate　setting；

one　Chloe　would　have　wished　to　avoid　had　she　been　thinking　clearly。