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about his middle and laid her cheek against his back。
It was heaven； pure and simple。 She didn't have a care in the world。
Ross was at the helm； petent and strong。 Over the wind that sailed by
came the steady beat of his heart； steadying her in turn。 She didn't
know what it was about this particular man that affected her so deeply；
nor did she care just then。 It was enough to enjoy the respite from
responsibility and to give herself up to his care； if only for the brief
ride home。
The brief ride home； however； grew longer and longer。 Peering around
Ross's shoulder； Chloe saw that they were on a different road entirely。
〃Do you know where we are？〃 she called。
〃Roughly。 Where's your market？〃
He followed her pointing finger； turning this way； then that； until the
town mon came into view。 Typically New England； it had a
white steepled church at its hub and a variety of rural shops and
boutiques。 Chloe found everything she needed at the grocery store；
reluctantly took Ross's suggestion that the plants be saved for another
trip； then climbed behind him onto the bike to return to the house。 Not
one wrong turn later she was on her own front steps。
The moment of reckoning was at hand。 〃Will you be returning to New York
now？〃 she asked。
He had finished stowing the bike in its proper spot and advanced on her
with a grin。 Relieving her of the large brown bag she'd been carrying；
he took her elbow and guided her toward the house。 〃Not yet。〃
〃You're going back to Lee's？〃
〃Not yet。〃
〃Then what are you going to do？〃
He held the door open for her to pass； and followed her into the
kitchen； where he began to unload and store the groceries as though the
place were his。 〃I want to make a few phone calls。〃 He glanced at his
watch。 〃Then wash the car； catch the end of the Giants game； shower and
shave； and take you out to dinner。〃
His recitation was so nonchalant that Chloe would have guessed he spent
every October Saturday this way； at least as far as the first part went。
As for taking her out to dinner； it had certainly never happened before。
〃It's unnecessary；〃 she said。
〃Which part…the calls； the car； the game； or the shower？〃
〃The dinner！ Lunch was enough to even us up。 There's no need for
anything more。〃
A muscle worked in Ross's jaw。 〃It's not tit…foretat； Chloe。 I'd like to
take you out to dinner。〃
〃I appreciate the thought； but…〃
〃No buts。 We're going out for dinner。 Period。〃
〃What if I have other plans？〃
He arched a dark brow。 〃Do you？〃
〃I could just as well；〃 she hedged； 〃for the way you just assume I'm
free。〃
〃Well； are you？〃
It wasn't that she didn't want to go to dinner with Ross。 On the
contrary。 She liked being with him。 She just didn't want to get used to
it。
〃Chloe？〃
〃Yes；〃 she said； sighing。 〃I'm free。〃
：〃Good。 Say； about eight？〃
；：But…〃
Eight it is。 And Chloe？〃
She felt totally helpless。 〃What？〃
〃How about if we dress up？〃
〃Dress up？ I haven't 'dressed up' in months。 Things here are very
casual。 There's nowhere…〃
〃There is；〃 he argued gently。 〃Leave that to me。〃
Chloe lowered her eyes and studied the floor； then slowly shook her
head。 〃Ross； I'd really rather…〃
〃For old times' sake？〃 he dared ask。 〃Today we played 'far out。'
Tonight； let's play in。' e on。 How about it？ Just this once？〃
The odd note of pleading in his voice brought Chloe's head slowly up。 He
looked so innocent； so hopeful； that she couldn't turn him down。 〃Just
this once；〃 she gave in softly； forcing the semblance of a smile to
；Minerable lips。
There was no semblance of anything in Ross's smile。 It was blatantly
broad and open； relieved and pleased。 It warmed her； reassured her；
amused her。 And it most definitely excited her。
That terrified her。
Before she could back out； though； he said； 〃It's a date。 See you at
eight。〃
He turned and made for the phone； leaving Chloe to gather the pieces of
her fast…splintering resolve and struggle with makeshift repairs before
evening rolled around。
It wasn't an easy task。 Ross seemed to be everywhere she turned。 He used
her office to make his calls； lounging back in her chair； legs long and
straight； crossed lazily at the ankles； propped on the corner of her
desk。
His presence filled the room so that it took a conscious effort on
Chloe's part to quietly creep in and steal her own work。 He followed her
every move with interest； though he was at the same time maddeningly
capable of carrying on his end of what was obviously a business
discussion。
After retreating to the back porch to bask in the rays of the westward
sun； she put her best effort into organizing the papers on her lap。 But
her best effort was sadly lacking。 Her mind wandered。 Then Ross appeared
in the flesh to ask about a bucket； a sponge； and some old towels。 He
was right on schedule； his self…satisfied air announced。 He vanished；
then reappeared and deposited the car…wash gear on the sandy grass
beside the very same porch on which she sat。
Would he do it here？ she wondered。 The smooth hum of his car's engine as
he pulled the vehicle close by the side of the house was her answer。
He wanted an audience； the rat。
She should have gotten up and left； but she sat right there in the large
wood…slatted porch chair； watching while he put his best effort into
washing； drying； and polishing his sporty brown BMW As he stretched to
soap the roof； the muscles of his shoulders bunched。 When he squatted to
scrub the whitewalls； the muscles of his thighs swelled。 When he reached
across the front windshield； his shirt separated from his jeans； giving
fleeting； devastating glimpses of a flat； hard belly。 And through it all
was the sight of hands and forearms at work； lightly tanned； softly
haired。
When Chloe had taken as much as she could； she stacked her papers into a
pie； left the chair； and； without a word to explain her sudden
departure； went into the house。 To clean？ She hated to clean！ How else；
though； to expend some of the nervous energy that had gathered inside？
She swept the floors and vacuumed the carpets； all at doublespeed； all
with every bit of elbow grease she could mu