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was staring down at her。
Breaking into a smile； he said； 〃I wanted to see if it would work。〃
〃See if what would work？〃
〃If I could wake you up by willing it。 I've been sending brain waves。〃
〃Brain waves didn't wake me。〃 She yawned。 〃I'd have woken anyway。〃
He stretched and grimaced。 〃I feel well used。〃
〃That's one way to put it；〃 she said； but she was thinking ahead。 How
not to？ Morning was here。
She rolled away； but he rolled her right back and held her in place with
an arm on either side。 〃Don't。 After last night you can't turn away。〃
〃Can't？〃
〃Won't。 Let's talk；〃 he said gently and sat up。 His eyes wandered to her
hair； which was spread on the pillow； then the sheets； which bunched at
her navel。 He looked at everything in between as though it were
priceless。 At last； in a deep voice； he said； 〃I love you； Chloe。〃
She reached to cover his mouth； not ready for that； but he caught her
hand and pinned it to the pillow。 Leaning down； he gave her a long；
silencing kiss。 When his mouth left hers again； he said； 〃I love you and
want to marry you。〃
She shook her head。
〃I do；〃 he insisted。
Her heart ached。 She wasn't ready； wasn't ready at all。 〃Last night we
made love。 Saying 'i love you' is something else entirely。〃
Ross didn't budge。 〃Argue as much as you want； but you won't change
this。 I love you。 I wish I could say that I loved you eleven years
ago…it would all sound romantic。 I wanted you then。 I knew that there
was something in you…deep in you…that intrigued me。 But I didn't get to
know you。 A few hours is too short a time。〃
〃It's hardly been much more than that now；〃 she protested。
〃It's been more than two weeks。〃
〃It's been less than two days。〃
〃Tell me you didn't think of me。〃
She recalled those long hours after New Hampshire。 〃I can't。 I thought
of you。 But in order to love a person you have to spend time with that
person。〃
〃You're clutching at straws。 I love you。 If you were honest with
yourself； you'd tell me that you love me； too。〃
That was what she feared most。 There was no place in her life for that
kind of love。 〃You don't know what I feel。〃
〃I know what I felt last night。 You couldn't have faked your reactions。
Sorry； Chloe； but you responded out of love。 That's all there is to it。〃
〃No。 Not all。〃 She needed time。 She knew what she had to say。
〃'responded to you out of need。 Call it lust or physical desire； but
don't call it love。〃
〃You're afraid；〃 he announced。
There was a deathly silence。 The air pulsed between them。
〃You're afraid to let go of the past；〃 he went on。 〃It's so much a part
of you that you're terrified to live without it。〃
〃That's not true；〃 she cried。
〃Then why don't you try？ You did it for a night…why not for a week？
A month？ A year？〃 He softened。 〃I'm not asking you to renounce your
past； just to accept it and move on。〃 He paused； suddenly a shade
unsure。 〃You did enjoy last night； didn't you？〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 she breathed so quickly that her words stopped dead for lack
of a follow…up。
His smile filled the gap。 It was a full； warm curve of the firm lips
that had given her such pleasure through the night。 His gaze dropped to
her breasts； then her bare middle。 When he bent to kiss her navel； she
clutched his hair。 But to push him away？ Or to hold him there？ Lord； she
didn't know。
After a night of beauty； the morning was dreary and dark。 After a night
of clear…cut emotions； the new day's emotions were muddy and dense。 She
needed time； needed space。 Turning her face into the pillow； she let her
hands slowly slide from his hair。
〃I want you to work for me； Chloe。〃
Her eyes shot back to his。 〃Work for you？ How can I do that？ I have my
own business。〃
He brushed a tendril of hair from her cheek。 〃I mean； I want to retain
your firm。〃
She was startled。 She hadn't considered this twist。 〃For what？〃
〃They cater our board meetings；〃 he drawled facetiously。 〃e on； you
know what you do。 I'd like to hire ESE as a geological consultant；
starting with a set of revised plans for the Rye Beach plex。〃
Business； then？ Suddenly self…conscious； Chloe drew the sheet to her
armpits and sat up。 She forced a feeble smile。 〃So it's bribery now？
You'd try to hook my business； then slowly reel me in？〃
〃If necessary。〃 His grin came and went。 〃I've toyed with the idea all
week。 It was what I wanted to discuss when I arrived Friday。 What do you
think？ Will you do it？〃
〃No。
〃Why not？ It's a good business move。〃
〃Actually；〃 she thought aloud； 〃you're right。 It is a good business
move。 I'll do it； but only if Lee handle the work。〃
〃I don't want Lee。〃
She had never doubted it。 〃That's why I can't do this。 Can you imagine
us trying to work together？ After last night？ I'm not sure how much work
we'd get done。〃
He sighed。 〃At least you don't deny that。〃
〃I never did。 I just don't know how much more there is to it than that。〃
But she lied。 Making love with Ross was as close； as deep； as merged as
she had ever been with another person； and that included Crystal； which
was saying a lot。 She would always be attracted to Ross； would always
feel that special connection。
Sadly； she slipped out of bed and stood at the window。 She felt as
lonely； as dismal as the day。 Was the pain of separating from Ross worth
the joy of being with him？ Was the pain her punishment for
self…indulgence？
She heard his footsteps behind her and sighed when he circled her waist
and drew her back against him。 For another minute； no more； she would
savor it。 Another minute； that was all。 〃I have to leave this morning；〃
he said softly。 〃This morning？〃
〃I have a date in New York。〃
〃A date。〃 That stopped her。 〃Business or pleasure？〃
〃Pleasure。〃
She turned。 〃You just told me you loved me。〃
〃I love her； too。〃
The mischief in his eyes tipped her off。 〃Your mom。〃
〃Smart girl；〃 he said with a smile。 Chloe was inordinately pleased。 〃I
didn't realize she lived in New York。〃
〃She doesn't。 She's visiting。〃
〃And you left her for the weekend？〃
〃With pleasure。〃 And he showed no sign of guilt。 〃My mother has never
been the easiest woman to get along with。 And the f