第9部分(第4/7 页)

ne　from　the　freezer？　I'll　meet　you　in　the

kitchen。〃

And　he　loped　off。

Before　she　could　follow；　Ross　wrapped　a　hand　around　her　long　ponytail

and　held　her　in　place。

〃What　was　that　all　about？〃　he　asked　with　a　scowl。　〃You　told　me　you　lived

alone。〃

She　stared　straight　ahead；　looking　after　Lee。　〃I　do。〃

Ross　moved　closer。　His　head　lowered　to　hers。　〃Then　why　is　that　fellow　so

damned　at　home　in　your　house？　He　sounds　like　he's　the　live…in

chef…between　the　wine　and　the　steaks。　What　other　services　does　he

perform？〃

She　didn't　like　his　implication。　Still　staring　at　the　house；　she　said；

〃He's　good　enough　to　bring　the　trash　to　the　dump　once　a　week　and　put

They　had　reached　the　base　of　the　field　stone　steps　that　led　to　Chloe's

back　porch。　Ross　paused　on　the　first　step。　〃And　those　others　I　saw　here

this　afternoon。　Who　were　they？〃

：〃Workers　on　our　various　projects。〃

〃Partners　in　the　firm？〃

She　shook　her　head。　〃We　hire　part…time　people。　They're　mostly　students；

master's　candidates　from　local　schools　like　URI　and　Brown。〃

The　pale　blue　of　dusk　was　quickly　giving　way　to　the　darker　purples　of

evening　in　a　star…filled　sky。　Only　the　spill　of　pale　gold　light　from　the

kitchen　window　lit　Ross's　features　now。　It　left　his　lines　more

clear…cut；　his　profile　more　distinct　and　dramatic。　Chloe　was　intrigued。

〃I　admire　you　for　your　dedication；〃　he　said。

She　continued　to　study　him。　〃Do　I　hear　wistfulness？〃

His　chuckle　was　suspiciously　poignant。　〃Maybe。　There　are　times…at　which；

that's　a　whole　other　thing。〃

When　she　would　have　pursued　it；　Lee's　shout　jarred　her。　〃Chloe！〃　Her

head　whipped　around。　〃Where