rekindled(英文版)-第9章

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raised　her　head。

〃Why　are　you　doing　this　to　me？〃　she　pleaded　softly。　〃Why　can't　you　just
leave　me　alone？〃

He　frowned。　〃Funny；　I've　asked　myself　the　same　question　a　dozen　times　in
the　last　two　weeks。〃　He　studied　his　knuckles；　seeming　to　struggle。　〃It's
like　for　the　first　time　in　years；　I　care。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　she　asked　falteringly。

〃You　asked　me　what　I've　done　with　myself　during　the　past　years。〃　He　gave
a　snort　of　disgust。　〃I　haven't　been　quite　as　noble　as　you。　There　have
been　women　over　the　years。〃

She　had　assumed　that；　and　felt　no　resentment。　There　was　a　certain　solace
in　the　knowledge　that　when　all　was　said　and　done；　he　was　still　attracted
to　her。　After　all；　he　was　magnificent。　More　than　one　of　those　women　must
have　tried　to　tie　him　down。

〃Didn't　you　find　anyone　special？〃　she　asked　quietly。

Ross　ore　than　others。　But；　no；　there
was　no　one　special。　No　one　who　meant　enough　to　tempt　me　to　change　my
lifestyle。　I'm　on　the　road　all　the　time。　I　do　own　an　old　brownstone　in
Manhattan；　but　I　doubt　if　I　spend　a　total　of　three　months　a　year　there。
Hotel　rooms；　friends'　apartments；　rented　suites…that's　been　home　for　the
past　few　years。〃

〃It　served　your　purpose。〃

〃Yes。〃　The　amber　eyes　that　held　hers　pierced　her　heart。　They　said　much
more；　all　of　it　silent；　all　of　it　mind　bending。　In　the　insanity　of　a
fleeting　instant；　she　wanted　。。。　she　wanted　。。。　What　did　she　want？

Ross　sighed。　〃I　am　a　successful　businessman。〃　It　was　a　statement　of
fact；　devoid　of　arrogance。　〃But　that's　not　enough。〃

She　followed　his　thoughts。　〃I　can't　help　you；　Ross。〃

〃Can't？　〃

〃Won't。　If　you're　looking　for　a　wife　and　a　family；　a　home　in　the
country；　maybe　a　few　dogs　and　horses；　even　sheep；　you'll　have　to　look
elsewhere。　I　can't　be　anything　but　this。〃

His　gaze　sharpened。　〃Did　I　mention　those　things？　Or　are　they　what　you
wanted　once？　Haven't　you　ever　wished　for　a　husband　who　loves　you；
children；　pets；　friends；　property？　What　do　you　want　from　life？〃

〃What　I　have　right　now。　I　don't　want　to　look　back；　and　I　won't　look
ahead。　I　like　this　life。　I'm　content。〃

〃Are　you？〃　he　challenged。　〃Don't　you　ever　stop　to　wonder　what　it　might
have　been　like…〃

〃No；〃　Chloe　said　with　force　and　pushed　herself　out　of　the　chair。　〃I
didn't　ask　you　to　e　here；　Ross。　I　didn't　ask　you　to　stay。　As　of　right
now〃…she　pointed　at　the　floor　for　emphasis…〃I　don't　care　what　you　do；
but　don't　expect　to　change　the　way　I　see　the　world　and　my　life。　I've
done　just　fine　on　my　own　for　the　past　eleven　years。　I　plan　to　do　it　a
while　longer。〃　Her　hand　was　shaking。　She　jammed　it　into　the　back　pocket
of　her　jeans。　〃I'm　going　to　bed。　Let　yourself　out。〃　With　a　whirl　that
sent　her　hair　flaring　out　behind；　she　strode　from　the　room；　ran　up　the
stairs　to　her　room；　and　firmly　closed　the　door。

Trembling　uncontrollably；　she　collapsed　onto　the　bed　and　stared　at　the
ceiling。　Her　ragged　breathing　was　the　only　sound　that　broke　the　night's
quiet…that；　and　the　opening　and　closing　of　the　front　door　when　Ross　left
the　house。

For　what　seemed　like　hours　she　agonized；　locked　in　silent　battle　with　a
horde　of　private　ghosts。　If　only　she　had　never　seen　Ross　again。　To　be
free；　once　more；　of　this　gnawing　at　mind　and　body。

But　she　had　seen　him　again　and；　if　he　stuck　to　his　plan；　would　see　more
of　him　before　he　left。　There　was　only　one　solution；　as　she　saw　it。
Indifference。　What　man　would　put　up　with　that　for　long？　Indifference。　It
would　turn　him　off；　wouldn't　it？　Surely　then　he　would　leave　her　in
peace。

She　awoke　the　next　morning　on　an　optimistic　note；　showered；　dressed；　and
sailed　downstairs　for　breakfast。　It　was　with　momentary　dismay　that　she
found　her　kitchen　in　use…until　she　recalled　the　night's　resolve；　tilted
up　her　chin；　and　advanced。

〃Ah；〃　she　said　as　she　helped　herself　to　a　cup　of　the　coffee　he　had
brewed；　〃　you've　made　yourself　at　home。〃

His　grin　was　as　bright　as　the　morning　sun　that　slanted　across　the　porch
beyond　the　screen。　〃It's　a　luxury。　I'm　enjoying　it。　It's　not　every　day
that　I　get　to　putter　around　a　cozy　kitchen；　much　less　wait　on　a
princess。〃

〃Flattery　will　get　you　nowhere。〃　She　hoped；　prayed　it　was　so。　By　way　of
diversion；　she　eyed　the　stove。　〃Bacon；　eggs；　home　fries？　You're　going　to
eat　all　that？〃

〃With　your　help。〃

〃Ohhhh；　no。　After　a　breakfast　like　that　I'd　barely　be　able　to　keep　my
eyes　open。　I　have　too　many　things　to　do…〃

〃…for　which　you　need　energy。　And；　anyway；〃　he　called　over　his　shoulder
as　he　turned　the　bacon；　〃if　you　don't　eat　breakfasts　like　this；　why　such
a　full　stock　of　goodies？　Lee's　refrigerator　was　bare。〃

〃So　that's　it；　huh？〃　she　asked；　eyes　narrowing。　〃You're　starved　and　my
old　buddy　Lee　couldn't　help　you　out？〃　She　chuckled。　〃Lee　eats　out。　A
lot。〃

〃Here？〃

〃Do　you　see　him　here　now？〃　she　shot　back。

〃haven't　seen　him　today；　period。　He's　not　upstairs；　is　he？〃

Shaking　her　head；　she　turned　toward　the　large　bay　window；　whose　broad
seat　was　her　favorite　perch。　〃That　doesn't　deserve　an　answer。〃

Sipping　her　coffee；　she　spoke　absently。　〃As　for　the　state　of　my　ice　box；
I　eat　in。　A　lot。　Eggs　make　terrific　dinner　omelets；　bacon　a　great　BLT；
and　potatoes　are　most　definitely　to　be　baked；　then　scooped；　mashed　with
a　little　Parmesan　cheese　and　cream；　restuffed；　dotted　with　butter；　and
broiled　until　delicately　browned　on　top。〃

The　silence　that　followed　her　recitation　was　enough　to　get　her　to　look
back。　Ross's　expression　was　one　of　amused　astonishment。　〃You　must　have
memorized　the　cookbook。〃

〃No。　I　just　happen　to　like　my　potatoes　that　way；　and　I　do　it　a　lot。〃

Ross　leaned　back　against　the　counter；　arms　folded　across　his　chest。
〃Would　you　make　them　like　that　for　me　some　time…maybe　with　a　few　lamb
chops；　some　fresh　broccoli；　a　little　wine？〃

He　looked　dangerous；　newly　showered　and　wearing　jeans　and　a　black
turtleneck　sweater。　But　Chloe　had　taken　a　vow　of　indifference。　He's　just
a　friend；　she　told　herself；　no　different　from　Lee。　Calmly　enough；　she
said；　〃I　make　a　meal　of　the　potatoes。　If　you'd　like　to　do　up　the　rest；
be　my　guest。〃　She　settled　on　the　window　seat　and　looked　out　at　the
beach。　〃It's　another　beautiful　day。〃

〃Uh…huh。〃　His　voice　was　muffled。　He　had　turned　back　to　his　cooking。　Chlo
soon　he　was　addressing　her　again。　〃Sleep　well？〃

〃Not　bad。〃　Once　she　had　fallen　asleep。　〃How　about　you？〃

He　had　turned　to　reach　for　plates　from　the　cupboard。　〃About　the　same。〃

It　was　an　odd　choice　of　words；　she　mused；　unless　she　was　so　transparent
that　he　could　see　her　thoughts。　If　there　was　smugness　on　his　face；
though；　she　couldn't　see　it。　He　was　cooking。　All　she　saw　was　his　back。
There　was　a　full　head　of　thick　and　vibrant　dark　hair；　a　torso　whose
firmness　was　shown　off　by　the　snug　fit　of　his　sweater；　a　pair　of　lean
denim　hips　and　long；　sturdy　legs；　not　to　mention　well…worn　leather
boots。

She　took　a　deep；　steadying　breath。　If　he　had　dressed　to　kill　on　purpose；
she　could　resist。　She　wasn't　buying　what　he　had　to　offer。　She　wasn't。

〃All　set？〃　Grinning；　he　placed　two　brimming　plates　on　the　table。　When
she　gaped　at　hers　in　dismay；　he　added　a　gentle；　〃Don't　worry。　Whatever
you　can't　finish；　I　will。〃

She　pushed　away　from　the　window　seat　with　a　grimace。　〃You'd　better　get
started　then。　I'm　nearly　finished。〃　She　held　up　her　drained　coffee　cup。
〃This　is　all　I　usually　have；　with　a　slice　of　toast　or　a　muffin。〃　Still；
she　took　a　seat　opposite　him。　She　stared　at　the　plate；　decided　that　the
eggs　looked　pretty　good；　and　took　a　bite。

〃Do　the　people　you　work　with　know　about　your　past？〃

Her　eyes　flew　to　his；　warning；　then　haunted。　She　gave　him　a　wan　smile。
〃You　make　it　sound　lurid。〃　She　pushed　home　fries　around　her　plate。　〃They
know　where　I　e　from…some　even　know　that　I　had　a　sister。　Lee　knows
most　of　the　story。　But　the　lovely　thing　about　my　life　here　is　that　the
people　I　know　see　me　for　what　I　am　today。　It's　easier　not　having　to
constantly　contend　with　the　past。〃

Ross　seemed　puzzled。　〃Why　do　you　assume　you'd　have　to　do　that　anywhere？
It's　been　eleven　years；　Chloe。　The　world　goes　on。　People　accept　change。
You　seem　to　be　the　only　one　who　can't　move　on。〃

Chloe　set　down　her　fork。　She　took　an　angry　breath。　〃I　look　in　the
mirror。〃

rooted　in　the　present。　There　were　reports　to　read；　studies　to　review；
proposals　to　consider。　The　more　she　worked；　the　better　she　felt。　For　the
first　time　since　having　done　the　lab　work　earlier　that　week；　she　studied
the　sediment　analysis　of　samples　taken　along　an　increasingly　unstable
portion　of　the　Cape　Cod　National　Seashore。

〃Problems？〃　This　from　Debbie　Walker；　who　popped　her　head　in　shortly
after　eleven。

〃Hi；　Deb。　e　on　in。〃　She　smiled　at　her　petite；　sandy…haired　associate。
〃It's　the　Cape　analysis。　I　was　just　studying　the　results　of　the　work　I
did　last　week。　I　have　the　grain　sizes　of　the　sand　pretty　much　divided　by
sections。　Boy；　they　really　botched　it。〃

〃〃They'　being　the　people　who　put　that　parking　lot　so　close　to　the
cliff。？〃

Chloe　sighed。　〃It's　begun　to　erode　already；　and　the　locals　want　to　sue。
According　to　my　calculations；　they　have　a　case。〃

〃Will　you　be　called　in　to　testify？〃

〃I'm　not　sure。　I　have　to　work　this　report　up　into　some　kind　of　written
form。　Depending　on　what　happens　when　they　read　it；　whether　or　not　the
matter　can　be　settled　first；　it　may　not　make　it　to　court。〃　She　sat　back。
〃It's　a　shame　that　we　seem　to　learn　things　after　the　fact。　If　only　those
developers　had　gotten　a　geologist　to　advise　them　at　the　start。〃

Debbie　smiled。　〃You　make　a　good　crusader。　I　wish　I　could　present　my　case
as　well　as　you　do。〃

〃I　wish　I　could　handle　those　puters　as　well　as　you　do；〃　Chloe
returned。　〃e　on。　Let's　take　a　look　at　your　statistics。〃

They　spent　the　next　half　hour　reviewing　the　work　Debbie　had　done。
Between　them；　they　came　up　with　a　plan　of　attack　on　both　the　sinkhole　in
question　and　the　people　in　a　position　to　do　something　about　it。　Suitably
buoyed；　and　with　her　work　cut　out　for　her；　Debbie　left。　She　was　replaced
moments　later　by　a　slightly　groggy…looking　Josh　Anderson。

Chloe　grinned。　〃Late　night　last　night？〃

〃Don't　you　know　it；〃　Josh　murmured。　〃But　I　have　to　discuss　this
curriculum　guide　with　you。　If　the　preliminaries　are　all　right；　I'd　like
to　work　out　more　of　the　details。〃

Chloe's　arched　brow　spoke　volumes；　as　did　the　slow　perusal　she　gave　the
casually　disheveled　graduate　student。　〃You're　up　to　it？〃　With　great
effort　she　stifled　a　broader　grin。　Josh　was　a　favorite　of　hers。　Several
years　her　junior；　he　was　working　toward　his　degree　at　Brown。　This　was
his　second　year　working　part…time　at　ESE。

His　proposed　high…school　geology　curriculum　was　as　fine　as　any　she　could
have　hoped　ESE　would　produce。

Now　he　lowered　his　voice。　〃I'd　really　be　up　to　it　if　I　could　take　a　swig
of　the　coffee　that　smells　so　good　in　the　kitchen。〃

〃Why　don't　you？〃

He　kept　his　voice　low。　〃There's　a　watchdog　out　there。〃

〃In　the　kitchen？〃

〃In　the　living　room。　Tall　guy；　dark　hair；　dark　eyes。　He　doesn't　look
happy　with　the　traffic　in　here。　Who　is　he？　And　what's　he　doing　in　our
house？〃

For　the　better　part　of　the　morning　Chloe　had　pushed　Ross　from　mind。　Now；
revived　by　the　work　that　she　loved；　she　was　able　to　chuckle　at　Josh's
reference。

〃He's　a　friend；〃　she　answered　simply。

〃You're　sure　about　that？〃

〃I'm　sure。　Go　on　out　and　get　your　coffee。　If　he　starts　to　snarl；　you　can
send　him　in　here。〃

Josh's　face　took　on　a　dubious　I…hope…you…know　…what…you're…doing　look。
Noheless；　he　drew　up　to　his　full　sixty…seven　inches；　squared　his
shoulders；　and　made　as　grand　an　exit　as　was　possible　for　someone　going
to　face　the　proverbial　giant。　With　a　helpless　grin；　Chloe　sat　back　in
her　chair；　elbows　on　its　arms；　fingers　fortably　laced。

So　Ross　had　decided　to　spend　the　morning　in　her　living　room。　She
wondered　if　he　was　bored；　maybe　annoyed　that　she　was　carrying　on　as
usual；　perhaps　growing　impatient。　Her　grin　turned　smug。

〃You　wanted　to　see　me？〃　His　deep　voice　rumbled　in　from　the　door。

Her　grin　remained。　〃Who；　me？〃

He　searched　the　room。　〃I　don't　see　anyone　else　in　here；　for　a　change。
They　may　not　technically　live　here；　but　they　run　in　and　out　all　day；
don't　they？〃

〃It's　an　open　office；　you　might　say。〃

〃I　do　say。　Say；　when　will　you　be　done？〃

〃Done？〃　she　echoed　innocently；　then　gestured　toward　the　desktop。　〃Lord
knows。　I　have　two　reports　to　look　through　yet。　And　Josh　will　be　back。
Here　he　is。〃　His　timing　was　perfect。　〃Josh；　meet　Ross。〃　As　the　two　shook
hands；　Chloe　stared　at　the　appalling　discrepancy　in　their　heights。　No
wonder　Josh　had　been　intimidated；　not　only　did　Ross　tower　over　him；　but
their　respective　physiques　were　about　as　alike　as　night　and　day。

Instinctively　protective　of　Josh；　she　pointed　him　to　a　chair。　Then　she
said；　〃Ross；　would　you　excuse　us？　We'll　be　a　little　while。〃

〃I'll　be　waiting。〃　He　smiled　as　though　he　had　caught　onto　the　game　and
was　playing。　Then　he　turned　and　left。

Josh　wasn't　thick。　〃Listen；　Chloe；　are　you　sure　you　wouldn't　rather　go
over　this　another　time？〃

〃What？〃　she　ribbed　him　gently。　〃And　waste　the　effort　it　took　for　you　to
pull　yourself　out　of　bed？　Carry　on！〃

It　was　a　full　hour　later　when　Josh　finally　left。　Chloe　walked　him　to　the
door　and　had　only　enough　time　to　note　that　Ross　was　occupied　with　a
briefcase　of　hi