第12部分(第1/9 頁)

spill　cleanups；　no　amount　of　training　is　ever　enough。　I　would　guess　the

present　phase　will　take　another　few　months　at　least。〃

Chloe　contemplated　those　ing　few　months。　Unthinkingly；　she　glanced

toward　the　door。

Lee　headed　that　way。　〃I　can　take　the　hint；　pretty　lady。〃　His　hand　was　on

the　knob　before　she　could　call　him　back。　〃Anything　else　can　wait。　Have

fun！〃　He　left　with　a　wink。

〃Lee！　Wait…〃

But　one　dark　head　was　replaced　by　another。　〃At　last；〃　Ross　said　and

closed　the　office　door。　〃Alone　at　last。〃

Chloe　forced　herself　to　sit　back　slowly。　〃I　hadn't　realized　you　would

hang　around　all　morning。　I　hope　you　weren't　bored。〃

〃Actually〃…he　circled　her　desk　to　plant　himself　on　the　corner　nearest

her…〃I　went　over　some　papers　of　my　own。　I'm　a　good　loser；　for　a

morning。〃　He　cocked　his　head　toward　the　door。　〃Ready　to　go？〃

〃Go？　Where？〃

〃Oh〃…he　looked　out　the　window　in　amusement…〃I　thought　you　could　show　me

around　town。　I'm　a　stranger　to　these　parts。〃

Judging　from　the　confidence　he　exuded；　it　was　a　wonder　that　any　parts

were　strange　to　him。　Chloe　couldn't　ignore　the　thread　of　excitement　that

he　had　brought　with　him　into　the　room。　Indifference；　she　reminded

herself。　But　it　was　a　tough　order。

Standing　quickly；　she　tried　to　remedy　the　situation。　〃I　wish　I　could

help；　but　I　still　have…〃　A　strong　arm　caught　her　waist。　Before　she　could