第7部分(第2/7 页)

er　bed　before　scurrying　back　out；　and　when　Chloe　reached

the　front　desk；　she　learned　that　Ross　had　already　checked　out。

She　was　immediately　disappointed；　then　annoyed　with　herself　It　was

better　this　way。　She　was　too　vulnerable；　if　the　previous　night's　kiss

meant　anything。　Ross　made　her　feel　beautiful　things；　things　she　didn't

deserve。

She　was　alive。　That　was　enough。　She　reasoned　that　it　was　far　better　that

he　should　be　gone　from　her　life。

When　the　day　manager　had　handed　her　Ross's　note；　though；　she　was　livid。

〃Chloe；〃　he　had　scrawled　in　a　bold　hand；　〃Had　to　leave　to　catch　the

early　plane。　Your　car　is　taken　care　of　Someone　from　the　inn　will　take

you　there。〃　It　was　signed；　〃Love；　Ross。〃　and　was　punctuated　with　a

period　as　a　statement　of　fact。

He　had　no　business　doing　that；　had　no　business　using　the　word　love　so

blithely。　But　that　was　the　least　of　it。　It　seemed　that　he　had　paid　her

tab　at　the　inn　and　the　cost　of　a　new　battery　and　its　installation。

She　ran　on　down　the　beach；　struggling　to　forget　about　Ross；　to　push　him

from　mind；　to　focus　on　work。　But　he　remained；　along　with　her　wounded

pride。　She　had　stewed　all　the　way　from　Rye　to　Little　pton　that

morning。　On　arriving　home；　she　had　gotten　the　address　of　the　Hansen

Corporation　and　sent　a　check　out　in　the　mail　that　same　day；　with　a　note

that　was　much　less　personal　than　his。

〃Enclosed　is　a　check　to　cover　the　expenses　I　incurred　last　night　and

this　morning。　Chloe　Macdaniel。〃　She　hadn't　asked　him　to　take　care　of

her。　She　didn't　need　him　to　take　care　of　her。　She　didn't　want　to　feel

beholden　to　him　in　any　way；　shape；　or　form；　because　one　thing　was　clear。