第19部分(第2/7 页)

ck。　Why　can't　you　marry　him？　You're　free。〃

〃Not　quite。〃

〃You're　not　making　sense；　pretty　lady。　From　what　I　can　see；　there's

nothing　in　the　world　to　keep　you　from　marrying　Ross。〃

〃What　if　I　don't　love　him？〃　she　blurted　out。

〃If　you　don't　love　him；　then　you're　right　to　hold　out。　And　if　you　don't

love　him；　you'll　have　no　trouble　putting　him　off。　He'll　get　tired　after

a　while。〃　Lee　was　watching　her　face　very；　very　closely。　〃That's　not　the

real　problem；　is　it？　You　do　love　him。〃

She　blew　out　a　breath；　turning　it　into　a　sigh；　and　looked　at　the

ceiling。　〃I　suppose。　But　I　can't　marry　him。　Being　with　him　can　only　be

painful　for　both　of　us。〃

〃If　he　believed　that；　he　wouldn't　be　asking　to　work　with　you。〃

She　grunted。　〃So　why　did　he　call　you？〃

〃He　wants　to　retain　us　as　consultants。　Did　you　actually　say　that　you

refused　him？〃

：；Yes。　He　brought　it　up　yesterday　morning　before　he　left。〃

〃But　it's　what　we　need；　Chloe。　You　mentioned　trying　to　get　corporate

work　when　we　talked　on　Saturday。　The　timing　couldn't　be　better。〃

She　eyed　him　sharply。　〃Did　you　say　something　to　him　while　he　was　here？

Did　you　tell　him　we　were　looking　for　new　business？〃　She　didn't　want

Ross's　pity；　or　his　charity。

〃I　did　not！　For　one　thing；　I　didn't　have　a　minute　alone　with　the　man

from　the　time　I　left　here　Friday　night。　You　monopolized　him。〃

She　snorted　and　looked　away。　〃He's　as　sneaky　as　they　e。〃

〃That's　no　way　to　talk　about　the　man　who　loves　you。〃

〃Lee；　puleeze。〃

He　held　up　a　hand。　〃Okay。　I　won't　tease。　This　isn't　teasing　stuff。　He'll

pay　a　monthly　retainer　as　an　advance　on　services　rendered。　If　we　work

more；　we　bil