第6部分(第6/7 页)

lways　seem　to　win。〃

It　was　true。　While　Crystal；　with　her　heightened　impishness　and

propensity　for　instigating　trouble；　was　often　at　the　fore　in　their

mischief…making；　Chloe　invariably　won　the　toss　of　the　coin。　And　with

good　reason。　As　the　more　levelheaded　of　the　two；　she　was　expected　to　be

the　one　to　produce　the　coin。　It　came　from　a　secret　fold　in　her　wallet

and　served　no　other　purpose　than　this。　It　would　never　have　passed　for

currency。　It　had　two　heads。　But　Crystal　never　knew　that；　not　even　when

she　did　the　tossing　herself。

And　so；　with　the　keenest　of　amber　eyes　pulling　her　forward；　Chloe　had

approached　the　mysterious　man　of　the　love　generation。　Initial　silence

had　given　way　to　the　exchange　of　smiles；　then　names。　There　was　brief

small　talk；　amid　a　riot　of　steamy　looks。　The　party　had　paled。　Forgetting

their　friends；　they　had　wandered　onto　the　patio；　then　taken　refuge　by

the　pool。　Later　they　had　moved　on　to　the　sloping　lawn　of　Sandra's

parents'　estate。

Chloe　shifted　slowly　in　the　tub。　The　heat　of　the　water　had　dissipated；

but　was　replaced　by　the　heat　of　her　body　as　she　remembered。　It　had　been

warm　that　night。　The　crescent　moon　had　been　brilliant；　repeated　in　the

white　smile　that　split　Ross's　dark　beard　when　he　looked　down　at　her。

〃You're　a　vision；　Chloe；〃　he　whispered；　sharing　her　fascination。　〃Are

you　real？〃

〃I'm　real；〃　she　whispered　back　and　was　suddenly；　uncharacteristically

tongue…tied。

But　further　words　were　unnecessary。　The　guest　house　where　Ross　was

staying　was　on　a　far　corner　of　the　estate。　He　took　her　there；　pausing

along　the　way　to　kiss　her；　to　assure　her　with　a　protective　embrace　t