青帝小说

第3部分（第5页）

Ross　led　her　to　a　late…model　rental　car　roomy　enough　for　both　pairs　of

long　legs　to　stretch　fortably。　Vibes　were　something　else。　Chloe

sensed　that　no　space　would　be　large　enough　for　the　ones　that　circuited

back　and　forth　during　the　short　drive　to　the　inn。

〃You　flew　in　just　for　tonights　meeting？〃　she　asked；　seeking　to　ease　the

silence。　It　was　awkward；　given　the　intimacy　they　had　once　shared。

〃Thats　right；〃　he　answered；　paying　close　attention　to　roads　that　were

now　dark　and　deserted。　〃From？〃

〃New　York。〃

〃Do　you　live　there？〃

〃Occasionally。〃

It　was　an　odd　answer。　When　he　failed　to　elaborate；　Chloe　tried　again。

〃Have　you　had　to　e　here　often？〃

〃More　often　than　Id　anticipated。　This　project　has　created　something　of

a　stir。〃　If　the　glance　he　shot　her　was　accusatory；　she　accepted　it　as

fair　game　and　took　no　offense。　She　believed　in　her　cause。

〃From　what　Felix　Hart　implied；　you　move　around　a　lot；〃　she　said。

〃I　always　did。〃

It　was　a　direct　reference　to　the　past。　Then；　he　had　been　in　the　Peace

Corps　on　leave　for　Thanksgiving；　the　world　traveler　ing　stateside　for

a　visit。　There　had　been　an　air　of　excitement　about　him。

He　still　had　it。　His　profile　was　strong；　lean；　preoccupied　in　ways　that

suggested　big　business　in　far　places。　She　looked　away；　focusing　on　the

view　outside　her　window；　trying　to　ignore　a　silence　that　she　could　feel

and　taste。　She　was　relieved　when　the　Wayward　Sailor　came　into　view。

Ross　turned　to　her　as　soon　as　the　car　stopped。　His　features　had

softened。　His　tone　was　solicitous。　〃Why　dont　you　wait　here？　Ill　make

the　arrangements　and　find　out　where　we　can　get　a　bite　to　eat。　You　are

hungry；　arent　you？〃

She　smiled　awkwardly。　〃I　havent　had　anything　since　lunch。〃

〃No　wonder　youre　pale。〃　He　touched　her　cheek。　〃Stay　put。　Ill　be　right

back。〃

She　sat　quietly；　trying　to　think　of　anything　but　Ross。　Just　when　she　was

on　the　verge　of　declaring　defeat；　he　loped　back　down　the　steps　of　the

charmingly　ancient　house。　〃Any　luck？〃　sh