第15部分(第3/9 頁)

on　was　on

Ross　and　Ross　alone。

When　was　it　that　she　had　vowed　indifference？　That　morning？　What　a　fool

she　had　been　to　think　she　could　remain　indifferent　to　Ross　for　long。　She

knew　her　eyes　were　sparkling　and　her　cheeks　flushed；　and　she　couldn't

seem　to　stop　smiling。　Indifferent？　Fat　chance。　Even　aside　from　the

physical；　she　found　him　to　be　the　most　interesting；　well…informed；

articulate　man　she　had　ever　known。　Though　they　didn't　agree　on

everything；　he　respected　Chloe's　right　to　her　own　opinion。　It　made

conversation　free　and　relaxed；　neither　one　fearful　of　offending　the

other。

The　blend　of　Ross　and　the　wine　put　Chloe　at　ease。　When　he　suggested　that

they　take　dessert　cheese　home　to　eat　with　fruit　overlooking　the　ocean；

she　was　all　for　it。　Unfortunately；　it　was　downright　chilly　when　they

emerged　from　Farmington　Court；　and　it　began　to　drizzle　during　the　drive

home。

〃So　much　for　a　gentle　evening　breeze；〃　Ross　grumbled　as　he　hustled　Chloe

up　the　front　steps　to　her　door　between　increasingly　large　drops　of　rain。

〃The　living　room　will　have　to　do。〃

〃That'll　be　fine。　I'm　in　the　mood　for　Debussy　anyway；　and　it　would　have

peted　with　the　surf。〃

He　smiled　at　her。　〃La　Mer？〃

〃I　had　another　of　his　works　in　mind。〃　Once　inside；　she　went　straight　to

the　shelves　below　the　stereo　unit；　where　she　kept　a　small　but　cherished

collection