669小说网

第14部分（第4页）

But　she　wasnt。　At　some　point　Ross　had　ceased　to　be　a　part　of　the　past。

There　was　only　the　candlelit　present。　She　looked　over　the　flickering

flame　and　met　his　gaze。

〃Do　you　like　it？〃　he　asked；　endearingly　eager。

She　smiled。　〃I　do。〃

〃I　asked　the　maitre　d　to　bring　a　bottle　of　Chassagne　de　Montrachet。〃

If　his　fluency　in　French　amazed　her；　his　knowledge　of　fine　wines　was　no

less　astonishing。　Fine　wines　were　something　she　did　know　something

about；　a　legacy　of　her　fathers　acclaimed　cellar。　Unable　to　resist；　she

grinned。　〃So　thats　how　the　Army　sedates　its　brats。　Fine　wine。　And　here

I　felt　so　sorry　for　you。　Im　sure　the　Chassagne　de　Montrachet　will　be

superb。〃

Ross　laughed。　〃The　Army　had　nothing　to　do　with　it。　I　developed　a　taste

for　wine　after　I　left　the　Peace　Corps。　I　have　several　treasured　bottles

at　home…a　Mouton…Rothschild；　a　Chateau　Lafite…Rothschfld。　My　favorite　is

a　1959　Ceteaux　du　Layon　from　the　Loire　Valley。〃

〃Whoa。　Very　impressive。　What　other　goodies　do　you　have　up　your　sleeve？〃

His　right　hand　flew　to　his　left　cuff；　one　long　finger　making　a　pretense

of　searching。　The　search　was　forgotten　when　the　maitre　d　reappeared；

wine　in　hand；　to　present　the　bottle　to　Ross。

While　he　studied　the　wine；　Chloe　studied　him。　It　was　a　luxury　that　the

drive　through　the　night　hadnt　offered。　Now　she　drank　in　his　good　looks

with　as　much　reverence　as　he　gave　to　his　wine。

He　looked　wonderful。　His　suit　was　the　gray…blue　tweed　she　had　seen　on　the

bed。　Same　with　his　white　shirt　and　crimson…ormavy　tie。　She　blushed　as

she　recalled　the　other　items　shed　seen；　then　pushed　those　aside　and

focused　on　the　chiseled　features　before　her。　They　were　strong；　yet

relaxed；　and　exuded　confidence。　The　darkness　of　his　hair　and　the

sun…touched　hue　of　his　skin　contrasted　with　his　shirt　at　neck　and

wrists；　adding　a　crispness　to　his　appearance　that　was　enhanced　by　the

fine　cut　of　the　obviously　handtailored　fabric。　He　was　the　epitome　of　the

man　of　the　world…suave；　assured；　experienced；　and　content。　To　all

outward　appearances　he　held　the　world　in　his　palm。

Was　he　vulnerable　in　any　way？

〃Why　the　frown；　princess？〃　He　leaned　forward　to　exclude　the　maitre　d；

who　worked　at　uncorking　the　wine。

〃Im　not　frowning。〃　But　she　was。　She　felt　it。　〃I　was　wondering　。。。〃