青帝小说

第3部分（第4页）

Ross　considered　that　for　a　minute；　then　held　up　his　hands。　In　gracious

defeat；　he　stepped　back。　She　put　the　key　in　the　ignition；　pumped　the　gas

pedal；　turned　the　key。　There　was　a　click；　but　nothing　happened。　She

repeated　the　sequence。　It　always　worked。　Granted；　her　small　blue　pact

had　seen　better　days；　but　it　had　always　started　for　her…until；　she

realized　as　she　turned　the　key　a　third　time；　this　afternoon。　She　had

heard　the　same　click　then；　had　run　back　into　the　house　and　brought　Lee

out　to　help。　They　had　figured　the　engine　was　flooded；　had　waited　and

won。　The　car　had　started。　But　Murphys　Law　said　that　it　wasnt　going　to

start　now。

〃Trouble？〃　Ross　bent　in　at　the　window　again。

〃Battery；　I　think。〃

He　opened　the　door。　〃Let　me　try。〃

She　slid　out。　With　an　ease　that　belied　his　awesome　length；　he　folded

himself　behind　the　wheel。　The　front　seat　was　already　back　to　allow　for

the　length　of　Chloes　own　long　legs；　and　even　then　he　gave　a

good…natured　grimace。　She　had　to　smile。　Getting　in　was　apparently　the

easy　part。　Maneuvering　now　that　he　was　there　was　the　challenge。

But　he　managed。　When　he　tried　the　ignition；　though；　he　had　no　better

luck　than　Chloe。　He　listened　to　that　impotent　click　once；　twice；　three

times。　Then　he　hoisted　himself　out　of　the　car　and　looked　under　the　hood。

〃Youre　right；〃　he　said；　straightening。　〃Its　the　battery。〃　He　slammed

the　hood　shut　and　brushed　his　palms　against　one　another。　〃It　looks　like

youll　have　to　stay。　I　dont　see　how　youll　get　someone　to　e　out　at

this　hour。〃

She　reached　for　her　bag。　〃I　have　triple…A。〃

〃Chloe。〃　He　sighed　softly。　〃This　isnt　a　bustling　metropolis。　By　the

time…〃

〃Do　you　have　jumper　cables？〃

〃No。〃　He　patted　his　pockets。　〃Not　anywhere　close　by。〃

〃In　your　car？〃

〃Its　a　rental。〃

Her　gaze　fell　to　the　pavement。　She　could　rant　and　rave　all　she　wanted；

but　it　seemed　she　had　little　choice。　〃I　suppose　Lee　could　change　that

early　appointment　for　me；〃　she　murmured　quietly；　then　looked　up。　〃And

you　think　your　inn　would　have　a　room？〃

His　gaze　was　steady。　〃Im　sure　it　would。〃

Not　one　to　belabor　a　no…win　situation；　Chloe　sighed。　〃Lead　on；　Ross。

Lead　on。〃