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gargantuan offerings of turkey； stuffing； salads and vegetables and
fruit molds； pies and cakes and other goodies； not to mention the
pany of aunts and uncles and cousins galore。 Later that night； she
and Crystal had dropped in at Sandra's house； where a party had been in
progress。
Sandra had been their best friend through carefree high school years。
They hadn't seen her since September when she had left to go to college
in New York； where her older brother lived。
Ross was that brother's friend。 From the moment Chloe set foot into the
Brownings' living room her eye was drawn to him。 He had seemed to
represent all the things she had never knowrmonconformity； independence；
singularity。 Even in a crowd； he stood out。 Sandra had said he was in
the Peace Corps； stationed in Africa。 He was tall and breathtakingly
attractive in a wholly new and exciting way for Chloe。 〃Gorgeous； isn't
he？〃 Crystal had whispered in the ear of her twin。
〃I'll say。 What do you think he's doing here？〃
〃That's a dumb question。 He's visiting the Brownings like we are。〃
They stood with their heads together； both pairs of eyes glued to Ross。
Chloe asked； 〃Do you think he has a girl？〃
〃A guy like that？ Girls； plural。 He's oozing virility…or hadn't you
noticed？〃
〃I noticed；〃 Chloe drawled。 〃Think he'll notice us？〃
〃Why not？ We're rich and beautiful and sexy…〃
〃 …and young。〃
Crystal bristled。 〃What's that got to do with anything？〃
〃If he's Sammy's friend； Crystal； he's ten years older than we are。 You
don't really think he'd be interested； do you？〃
〃God； Chloe； you are a stick…in…the…mud。 Of course he'll be interested。
Men like freshness。 And we are rich and beauti…〃
〃I know； I know；〃 Chloe interrupted the litany； feeling a sudden
surprising disdain for her sister's arrogance。 So often the arrogance
was shared。 As the babies of the family…and twins； at that…they'd been
reared like royalty。 For the first time； however； Chloe wondered whether
men like this stranger were attracted to royalty。 Was being rich and
beautiful and sexy all that mattered？ Something told her that this
divine…looking man would seek more； something in his gaze as he slowly
turned it their way。
〃Wow；〃 Crystal whispered。 〃I'm going after him。〃
〃Oh； no。 It's my turn；〃 Chloe whispered back with matching
determination。 〃You got Roger。 This one's mine。〃
〃He won't want a stick…in…the…mud。 You think we're too young for him。〃
〃I've changed my mind。 Besides； he's looking at me； not you。〃
Crystal snorted。 〃Arbitrary choice。 We look exactly alike。〃
〃All of a sudden we look exactly alike？〃 Chloe choked。 〃What about that
'added bit of spice' you claim to have？ What about your last…born 'glow
of vulnerability'？〃
Crystal crinkled her nose。 〃He can't see all that at this distance。〃
But Chloe was vehement。 〃I have a feeling about him。〃
〃You always have feelings about people。 I'm the doer。 Remember？〃
〃Not this time。〃
〃Chloe 。。。〃 Crystal warned in a singsong murmur。
〃Crystal 。。。〃 Chloe warned right back。 〃We'll toss a coin。 Heads； I
win。〃
Crystal's eyes narrowed。 〃I'll do the tossing。 You always seem to win。〃
It was true。 While Crystal； with her heightened impishness and
propensity for instigating trouble； was often at the fore in their
mischief…making； Chloe invariably won the toss of the coin。 And with
good reason。 As the more levelheaded of the two； she was expected to be
the one to produce the coin。 It came from a secret fold in her wallet
and served no other purpose than this。 It would never have passed for
currency。 It had two heads。 But Crystal never knew that； not even when
she did the tossing herself。
And so； with the keenest of amber eyes pulling her forward； Chloe had
approached the mysterious man of the love generation。 Initial silence
had given way to the exchange of smiles； then names。 There was brief
small talk； amid a riot of steamy looks。 The party had paled。 Forgetting
their friends； they had wandered onto the patio； then taken refuge by
the pool。 Later they had moved on to the sloping lawn of Sandra's
parents' estate。
Chloe shifted slowly in the tub。 The heat of the water had dissipated；
but was replaced by the heat of her body as she remembered。 It had been
warm that night。 The crescent moon had been brilliant； repeated in the
white smile that split Ross's dark beard when he looked down at her。
〃You're a vision； Chloe；〃 he whispered； sharing her fascination。 〃Are
you real？〃
〃I'm real；〃 she whispered back and was suddenly； uncharacteristically
tongue…tied。
But further words were unnecessary。 The guest house where Ross was
staying was on a far corner of the estate。 He took her there； pausing
along the way to kiss her； to assure her with a protective embrace that
he wouldn't hurt her； and he hadn't。 He had been a masterful lover； so
very gentle undressing her； so very subtle baring his potentially
frightening body； so very patient as he coaxed her to heights of desire；
then tender when he took her virginity。 When tenderness gave way to
driving passion； she rose with him； reveling in an ecstasy she had never
known before。
Ross's lovemaking had been a magical experience。 She would always
cherish it。
She stirred in the tub； suspended between the world of memories and the
present。 In a final indulgence； she submerged her hand and touched the
skin Ross had touched； traced the curves he had traced。 Thoughts of him
were fresh and near。 She sighed in delight。
Then her back slipped on the porcelain。 With a jerk； she sat up； but not
before her hair got wet。 Hissing her annoyance； she reached for a towel
to wrap around her head； then soaped herself quickly and climbed out。 A
lovely trip into the past had ended in frustration。 Satisfaction would
not be forthing。 Nor would there be a respite from the guilt she
still felt。
For the guilt was only in part related to the act of loving Ross。 Its
other part was Crystal。 Crystal…her twin。 Crystal…her alter ego。
Crystal…who had never known that same joy； but should have； should have
at least once before her death such a short time later。
The long ponytail bobbed against her neck as Chloe j