rekindled(英文版)-第6部分

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When　he　expelled　a　breath；　she　suspected　it　was　for　effect。　〃Thank　you；〃
he　added　facetiously；　then　sobered。　〃Do　you　go　home　much？〃

Chloe　flinched。　〃No。〃　That　was　another　topic　better　left　alone。　〃What
about　you？　What　was　that　'rigid　discipline'　you　suffered　through？〃

〃My　father　was　heart…and…soul　Army。　A　career　man。　Our　house　was　run　like
a　barracks。　It　was　almost　a　treat　when　I　was　sent　to　military　school。〃

〃Oh；　my。　It's　no　wonder　you　freaked　out。〃

Ross　laughed。　〃Freaked　out？　That's　one　from　the　old　days。〃

Chloe　smiled。　〃Sorry。　It　just　slipped　out。　I　can't　remember　the　last
time　I　said　that。〃

〃Maybe　way　back　in　the　time　of　you　and　me？〃　He　stared　at　her；　then　gazed
pensively　at　the　table。　When　he　raised　a　hand　and　rubbed　the　muscles　at
the　back　of　his　neck；　Chloe　followed　the　movement。　She　half…wished　she
could　do　it　for　him；　but　dangerous　was　a　mild　word　for　that　type　of
thing。　Once；　danger　had　been　a　challenge。　Now　she　wanted　no　part　of　it。

Ross's　confession　broke　into　her　thoughts。　〃I　may　have　been　pretty
antiestablishment；　at　that。　There　was　a　certain　amount　of　rebellion　in
me　against　routine　and　schedules　and　expectations。　I　guess　I　wasn't　much
different　from　the　average　flower　child；　except　that　I　knew　I'd　be
returning　to　the　fold　before　long。　I　saw　that　period　for　what　it　was…a
time　in　my　life　when　I　could　stretch　my　legs。〃

Chloe　chuckled。　Her　smoky　gaze　fell　to　the　floor；　where　a　pair　of
wellshod　feet；　ankles　crossed；　extended　well　beyond　her　side　of　the
table。　〃An　awesome　task。〃　She　quirked　a　brow。　〃So　how　did　you　bee　a
successful　businessman？　You　obviously　didn't　go　into　partnership　with
your　dad。　But　you've　e　a　long　way　in　eleven　years。　President　of　the
Hansen　Corporation。〃　She　shook　her　head　in　amazement。

〃I　had　a　mentor；　like　you　did；〃　he　explained。　〃I　worked　for　him　through
business　school；　then　after。　The　business　did　well。　I　gradually　acquired
stock。　When　Sherman　died　two　years　ago　he　left　me　shares　enough　to　make
me　the　majority　holder。〃

〃Was　the　Rye　Beach　plex　your　idea？〃

〃Actually；　no。　It　was　the　baby　of　one　of　the　other　vice　presidents。
Sherman　seemed　to　feel　it　had　merit。〃

〃And　you　don't？〃　Considering　the　force　of　his　presentation　that　evening；
she　was　startled。

〃I　do；　with　reservations。〃

〃Why　did　you　e　up　tonight　then；　rather　than　the　VP　who　feels　more
strongly　about　it？〃

Ross　shrugged。　〃He's　no　longer　with　the　corporation。〃　He　didn't　look
sorry。　It　struck　Chloe　that　he　might　have　fired　the　man；　himself　She
sensed　his　power。　A　free　spirit；　he　had　called　himself　Now　he　ruled　a
prominent　corporation。　With　an　iron　hand？　Maybe。　But　he　would　use　subtle
methods　to　reach　his　goals。

〃What　do　you　plan　to　do　about　it？〃　she　asked　carefully。

〃About　what？〃

〃The　plex。　You　mentioned　some　doubts。　Tonight's　meeting　must　have
raised　others。　Will　you　change　your　proposal？〃

〃No。〃

〃No？　Building　the　plex　as　planned　now　would　be　environmentally　dumb。〃

〃〃Dumb'？〃　he　mocked　with　a　grin。

She　felt　put　down　with　that　one　echoed　word。　Exasperated；　she　threw　her
hands　in　the　air。　〃I　gave　all　the　reasons　in　that　auditorium。　I　won't
repeat　them　now。　You're　being　bullheaded。　Do　you　go　about　all　your
building　projects　this　way？〃

〃What　do　you　know　about　my　building　projects？〃　he　asked　with　a　trace　of
lingering　amusement。

〃Nothing。　I　had　only　heard　of　the　Hansen　Corporation　before　tonight。　But
if　it's　like　most　other　businesses；　it　puts　the　dollar　bill　before　every
other　consideration。〃

〃Not　always。〃　His　voice　carried　a　warning　now；　but　she　sat　straighter
and　barreled　on。

〃Then　you　acknowledge　that　profit　is　your　raison　d'etre？〃

To　her　chagrin；　Ross　laughed。　〃I　would　never　be　where　I　am　today　if　I
didn't　have　an　eye　out　for　profit！〃

She　felt　oddly　betrayed。　〃That's　really　pathetic；〃　she　said；　recalling
the　tall；　handsomely　bearded　man　in　jeans；　boots；　and　a　simple　peasant
shirt。　〃I'd　have　thought　that；　with　what　you　stood　for　at　one　time；　you
might　have　minimized　crass　capitalism。　You　have　sold　out；　which　just
goes　to　show　how　terribly　wrong　one　person　can　be　in　the　judging　of
another；　or　how　necive。〃

Ross　had　risen。　His　eyes　were　too　dark　to　distinguish　anger　from　hurt。
〃You　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about。　You　didn't　know　me　then；　and
you　certainly　don't　know　me　now。　When　I　returned　from　Africa　that　last
time　with　my　grungy　denims；　my　dashiki；　and　my　beard〃…his　eyes
narrowed…〃it　took　me　all　of　a　week　to　shuck　them。　And　do　you　know　why？〃

He　went　on　only　when　she　shook　her　head。　〃Because　I　saw　that　there　was
more　narrow…mindedness；　more　prejudice；　ing　from　the　mouths　of　the
hippie　generation　than　anywhere　else。　Because　of　my　appearance；　I　was
assumed　to　be　one　of　them；　until　they　discovered　that　I　didn't　always
think　the　way　they　did；　that　I　had　a　mind　of　my　own。　The　true　sign　of　a
liberal；　Chloe；　is　accepting　people　for　their　differences；　respecting
their　right　to　be　different。　Those　others；　the　ones　who　prided
themselves　on　being　nonconformists；　declared　all…out　war　on　the
establishment。　And　what　happened？〃

Without　waiting　for　her　response　he　went　on；　his　voice　low　but
relentless；　his　gaze　intense。　He　put　his　hands　on　the　table。　〃When　was
the　last　time　you　saw　a　flower　child？　Hmm？　They've　vanished。　Disbanded。
Lost　the　war。〃　The　pause　he　took　was　for　a　deep　breath。　〃Well；　I　haven't
lost。　I'm　working　from　within　to　change　things。　Did　that　ever　occur　to
you；　Chloe？　You've　been　so　quick　to　label　me　first　one　way；　then　the
other。　Did　it　ever　occur　to　you　that　your　impression　wasn't　even　skin
deep；　that　there's　a　me　under　it　all？〃

It　was　a　while　before　Chloe　was　able　to　speak。　She　certainly　didn't　know
Ross。　This　speech　presented　a　new　side　of　him。　And　he　was　right。

〃I'm　sorry；〃　she　said。　〃It　was　wrong　of　me　to　do　that。　I'm　not　always
that　way。〃　She　tried　a　smile　in　apology。　To　her　relief；　it　seemed　to
work。　His　features　relaxed。

〃Only　with　me；　eh？〃　He　inhaled　deeply　and　stood　tall；　holding　his　breath
for　a　minute　while　his　head　fell　back；　then　releasing　it　as　his　eyes　met
hers。

She　felt　suitably　contrite　and　suddenly　drained。　〃You　have　a　knack　for
bringing　out　my　extremes。　I　guess　I'm　just　tired。　It's　late。〃　A　glance
at　the　bold　face　of　Ross's　watch　told　her　exactly　how　late。　〃Oh；　Lord！
It's　two　in　the　morning！〃　She　caught　her　breath；　looked　at　the　ceiling；
and　whispered；　〃Do　you　think　we've　woken　anyone　up？〃

Ross's　chiding　was　gentle。　〃No　need　to　whisper　now。　If　our　yelling
didn't　wake　'em；　nothing　will。〃　He　took　the　two　empty　coffee　cups　and
brought　them　to　the　sink。

Chloe　wiped　off　the　table。　〃If　it　hadn't　been　for　that　battery；　I'd　have
been　back　home　in　bed　by　now。〃

〃Instead；〃　he　teased；　〃we've　had　a　chance　to　get　reacquainted。　Urn；
acquainted。〃

Chloe　stopped　wiping　and　straightened。　Getting　acquainted　was　one　thing；
but　where　did　they　go　from　there？　The　physical　attraction　that　had　been
rekindled　with　a　vengeance　earlier；　weighed　heavily　on　her　now。

〃Uh…uh；　Chloe。〃　He　came　up　behind　her。　〃Just　relax。〃　She　looked　back；
wondering　how　he　knew。　〃I　can　feel　it　in　the　air…that　whatever…it　is
that　disturbs　you。〃　He　took　the　cloth　from　her　and　tossed　it　into　the
sink。　〃I　won't　pounce。　I'll　just　walk　you　to　your　room。〃

That　was　exactly　what　he　did。　He　halted　on　the　threshold。　〃The　manager
said　he'd　leave　plenty　of　towels。　I　wish　I　could　offer　you　something
else。　You　seem　to　be　without　those　。。。　things　that　most　women　can't　live
without。〃

She　smiled。　〃I　don't　need　anything。〃

〃A　shirt？　Would　you　like　a　fresh　shirt　of　mine　in　place　of　a　。。。　a。。

〃Negligee？〃　Her　smile　widened。　〃No；　thanks；　Ross。　If　the　sheets　are
clean；　they'll　be　covering　enough。　But　I　have　to　get　an　early　start　in
the　morning。〃

He　nodded。　〃I　called　the　garage　while　you　were　making　our　dinner。
They'll　be　at　your　car　no　later　than　eight。　Is　that　too　early？〃

〃Lord；　no！　I　have　to　call　Lee；　my　partner；　anyway。　There's　a　small
matter　of　an　appointment　at　nine。〃

〃Will　she　fill　in　for　you？〃

〃No。　He　has　work　of　his　own　to　do。〃　She　grinned　at　Ross's　startled　look。
〃He'll　cancel　and　explain　for　me。　I'll　reschedule　when　I　get　back。〃

Ross　nodded；　but　he　was　gnawing　on　his　lower　lip。　There　was　obviously
more　that　he　wanted　to　say；　but　Chloe　wasn't　inviting　him　in。　That　would
be　dangerous。　Very　dangerous。　But　when　he　turned　and　headed　down　the
stairs　to　his　own　room；　she　felt　disappointed。　Part　of　her　wondered　if
flirting　with　danger　could　end　on　a　happy　note　this　time。

The　night　manager　hadn't　only　left　extra　towels；　but　he'd　also　left　a
package　of　goodies　tailor…made　for　the　stranded　motorist。　There　was　a
toothbrush；　toothpaste；　a　b；　soap；　and；　luxury　of　luxuries；　an
envelope　of　bubble…bath　powder。

Chloe　smiled。　She'd　had　her　share　of　tension　today；　now　she　would
release　it。　The　devil　could　take　the　hour；　she　would　take　a　long；　hot
bath！

Several　deft　flicks　of　her　wrist　sent　a　full　stream　of　hot　water　into
the　long　porcelain　tub；　which　stood；　in　keeping　with　the　vintage　aura　of
the　inn　itself；　on　four　clawed　feet。　Feeling　scandalous；　she　sprinkled
the　entire　contents　of　the　envelope　beneath　the　steaming　flow。

Moments　later　she　was　immersed　to　her　neck　in　bubbles。　Draping　her　hair
over　the　lip　of　the　tub；　she　closed　her　eyes　and　gave　in　to　pleasure。
Was　it　true　what　they　said　about　the　subconscious　urge　to　return　to　the
womb？　Was　this　all…enveloping　warmth；　this　light　floating　what　it　had
been　like？

The　womb；　however；　was　not　where　she　wished　most　to　be　at　that　moment。
Rather；　she　thought　of　the　arms　that　had　held　her　earlier；　the　lips　that
had　kissed　her；　the　strong　body　that　had　supported　her。　Buoyed　by　a
sense　of　euphoria；　she　allowed　herself　to　think　back　on　the　full　story
of　that　night　eleven　years　ago。

It　had　been　the　holiday　recess。　She　and　Crystal　had　returned　from　their
first　semester　at　the　university　to　spend　Thanksgiving　with　the　family。
The　boys　were　gathered：　AJLAN　from　Denver；　Chris　from　Chicago；　Tim　from
St。　Louis…from　their　respective　subdivisions　of　the　Macdaniel　domain。
They　had　spent　a　typically　revel…filled　Thanksgiving　Day；　plete　with
gargantuan　offerings　of　turkey；　stuffing；　salads　and　vegetables　and
fruit　mol