第10部分(第2/9 頁)

cross　the　room　at　Ross。

He　spoke　softly。　〃You　really　do　look　like　a　princess　in　that　chair。

Those　peacock　markings　could　as　easily　be　a　crown　of　gold　as　a　swirl　of

wicker。　Are　you　fortable？〃　His　eyes　were　gleaming；　mocking。

〃No；〃　she　answered　honestly。　〃You　know　I'm　not。〃

His　grin　held　no　apology。　〃That's　a　shame。　I　don't　want　you　to　be

miserable　through　the　entire　weekend。〃

〃You　can't　stay　all　weekend！〃

〃Why　not？　I　have　a　place　to　sleep。　That　Lee's　a　good　guy。〃

〃Too　good！〃　she　grumbled。　〃I　thought　I　could　trust　him。〃

Ross　sat　forward；　elbows　on　his　thighs；　fingers　steepled。　〃That's　what

puzzles　me。　I'm　sure　you　can　trust　him；　but　I　can't　figure　out　for　the

life　of　me　why。〃

Chloe　instantly　came　to　Lee's　defense。　〃He's　been　a　true　friend　to　me。〃

〃Why　only　a　true　friend？　Why　not　a　lover？〃

〃Lee　doesn't　want　that　from　a　woman。〃

〃You　mean；　he　prefers…〃

〃No。　No；　Ross。　Don't　twist　things。〃　Beneath　his　stare；　her　own　insides

twisted。　〃Lee　was　married　once。　He　has　two　children。　He　and　his　wife

divorced　five　years　ago。　She　lives　in　St。　Louis。〃

〃Ah。　Once　burned　。。。　okay；　I'll　accept　that。〃

〃How　kind；〃　she　murmured；　but　she　was　annoyed　enough　to　see　an　opening

and　take　it。　〃What　about　you？　In　the　eleven　years　since　I　knew　you　when；

what　have　you　done　along　similar　lines？　Should　I　assume　you've　developed

odd　preferences？〃