rekindled(英文版)-第8部分

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the　door；　he　might　have　left。　Now　she　was　caught…and　annoyed。

Tipping　up　a　defiant　chin；　she　began　walking。　Ross　made　no　move　to　meet
her　halfway；　just　watched　and　waited；　but　his　stance　suggested　an
annoyance　of　his　own；　along　with　a　touch　of　the　imperious。　Despite　his
casual　clothes；　he　looked　formal。

She　came　to　a　halt　before　him；　nodded；　and　offered　a　polite　〃Ross〃　in
greeting；　before　shifting　beyond　him　to　retrieve　her　towel。

〃What　in　the　hell　did　you　do　it　for；　Chloe？〃　He　was　annoyed；　all　right。

〃Do　what？〃　She　straightened　slowly。

His　eyes　bore　into　her。　〃Send　that　check。　You　didn't　lose　a　minute；　did
you？　You　must　have　had　it　in　the　mail　that　same　afternoon。〃

〃Shouldn't　I　have？〃

〃No。　There　was　no　need。〃

〃I　thought　there　was。　You　had　no　cause　to　pick　up　the　check；　either　for
the　inn　or　the　battery。　I'm　not　helpless。　I　can　take　care　of　myself！〃

A　muscle　worked　in　his　jaw。　〃Then　it　was　a　matter　of　principle？〃

〃Principle？　I　wasn't　thinking　about　principle。　I　simply　saw　it　as　my
responsibility。　It　was　kind　of　you　to　offer　to　pay；　but　I　feel　more
fortable　this　way。　I　wanted　to　take　care　of　it　myself〃

〃Ah。　The　independent　woman。　So　that's　how　you　intend　to　live　the　rest　of
your　life？〃　he　challenged；　and　drawled；　〃All　by　yourself。？〃

Chloe　was　startled　by　the　turn　of　the　conversation。　〃This　is　crazy；〃　she
said。　〃You　show　up　here；　out　of　the　blue；　without　so　much　as　a　civil
hello；　and　start　criticizing　me？　I　don't　have　to　defend　my　lifestyle　to
you　or　anyone　else！〃　She　turned　away；　then　turned　right　back；　confused。
〃Why　are　you　here；　Ross？　Did　you　e　all　the　way　from　Park　Avenue　to
call　me　out　for　repaying　your　loan？　Little　pton　is　on　the　way　to
nowhere。　We're　at　the　tip　of　a　peninsula。　So　don't　tell　me　you　were　just
passing　through。〃

〃No。〃　His　features　had　begun　to　relax；　though　his　eyes　remained　clear
and　direct。　〃I　wanted　to　see　you。〃

Chloe　could　deal　with　the　angry　Ross　more　easily　than　she　could　with　the
gentler　one。　Unfortable　now；　she　bent　for　her　towel　and　straightened
holding　it　tight。　〃You　could　have　called　if　you　wanted　to　discuss　the
Rye　Beach　plex。　Nothing　much　will　happen　until　the　referendum　in
November。　Unless；　of　course；　you　alter　your　proposal。〃　Satisfied　with
her　minor　dig；　she　began　to　mop　her　face　and　neck。　Ross　ignored　the
barb。　〃I'm　not　here　on　business。　I　came　to　see　you。〃

〃That's　a　mistake；〃　she　whispered；　hearing　pain；　feeling　pain。　He
replied　as　softly。　〃Then　again　we　differ　in　opinion。〃　He　sighed。　〃Look；
can　we　walk？　Your　house　seemed　pretty　crowded。　I'd　like　to　talk。〃

All　too　aware　of　a　tingling　inside；　she　shook　her　head；　then　tore　her
gaze　from　his　and　looked　out　to　sea。　〃It's　not　a　good　idea。〃

〃Just　talk？〃

〃Fine；　if　it　has　to　do　with　the　plex。　Anything　else　。。。〃

〃What　are　you　afraid　of？〃　he　asked。　〃I　see　the　same　fear　in　you　now　that
I　saw　two　weeks　ago。　What　is　it？〃

She　shot　him　a　chiding　look　that　said　You're　imagining　it；　I'm　not
afraid　of　a　thing。

〃Then　what　can　be　the　harm　in　talking？　What　can　be　so　awful　about
walking　along　the　beach　with　me　for　a　few　minutes？〃　He　tossed　his　dark
head　back　toward　the　house。　〃You　have　a　whole　crew　in　there　just　waiting
to　e　if　you　scream。〃

〃I　won't　scream。〃　She　spoke　softly；　blushed　lightly。　〃It's　not　my
style。〃

He　studied　her　for　what　seemed　an　eternity。　〃Maybe　that's　your　problem；〃
he　finally　decided。　〃You're　too　posed。　Maybe　you　need　a　good　yell　and
scream　to　let　it　all　out。〃

〃Let　what　all　out？〃

He　took　her　arm。　〃e　on。　Let's　take　a　walk。〃　He　pulled　her　gently　into
step　beside　him；　and　she　went　along。　After　all；　what　harm　could　e
from　a　walk　on　the　beach？

One　fast　glance　at　Ross　supplied　an　answer。　The　magism　was　there　in
all　its　force；　ing　from　him；　tugging　at　her。　If　only　they　had　never
met　before；　if　only　they　didn't　have　a　past；　there　might　have　been　hope。

〃What　if；〃　he　echoed　her　thoughts　with　uncanny　precision；　〃we　had　never
met　before？　Would　you　feel　differently？〃

〃Maybe。〃　She　clutched　the　ends　of　the　towel　that　circled　her　neck。
〃Would　you？〃　some　inner　voice　made　her　ask。

〃No。〃　There　was　no　hesitancy　in　his　response。　〃I　saw　a　woman　two　weeks
ago　who　interested　me。　I　would　be　here　regardless。　It's　just。。　。〃

As　Chloe　waited　for　his　voice　to　pick　up　again；　their　paths　crisscrossed
her　earlier　footprints。　Ross　easily　measured　his　pace　to　hers。　〃It's
just　what？〃　she　prodded。

He　stopped　walking。　She　went　a　step　farther；　then　turned　to　face　him。　He
frowned；　seeming　deliberative。　〃It's　just　that　after　what　happened
eleven　years　ago；　I　feel　even　more　justified。。　。〃

Her　voice　rose；　as　it　often　did　when　she　was　distressed。　〃Are　you　saying
you　feel　guilty　so　long　after　the　fact？　Is　that　why　you've　e？　To　ease
some　long…harbored　guilt？　Where　were　you　then？〃　she　cried。　〃Where　were
you　when　I…〃

She　cut　herself　off。　For　the　very　first　time　she　wondered　what　might
have　happened　had　Ross　been　with　her　at　the　time　of　Crystal's　death。　It
had　been　late　Saturday　night；　two　days　after　Thanksgiving；　when　she　and
Crystal　argued；　Crystal　raced　off　in　her　car；　the　accident　happened。　By
that　time　Ross　was　on　his　way　back　to　Africa。　What　if　he　had　been　with
her　through　the　ordeal？　Would　things　have　been　different？

But　he　hadn't　been　with　her。　There　was　no　changing　that　fact。　She　had
survived。　She　had　survived。　Not　Crystal；　though。

When　she　closed　her　eyes　for　a　moment　in　search　of　posure；　Ross　took
her　arm　and　said　a　quick；　〃Over　there。　Those　rocks。　You　should　sit
down。〃

〃I'm　all　right…〃

〃Then　I　want　to　sit　down！　Indulge　me！〃　He　led　her　to　a　jagged
outcropping　of　rocks。　When　they　were　seated　on　side　by　side　boulders；　he
said；　〃Okay。　Why　don't　you　tell　me　about　that　night…and　stop　looking　at
me　like　I'm　crazy。　You　know　what　I'm　talking　about。　I　know　what　I
experienced　that　night。　I'd　like　to　hear　what　you　did。〃

〃Oh；　Ross。〃　She　sighed　wearily。　〃I　don't　want　to　go　into　this。〃　She
caught　the　graceful　takeoff　of　a　tern　from　the　salt…soaked　beach。　〃It's
too　beautiful　here　to　rehash　the　past。〃

〃The　past　had　its　moments　of　beauty；　too。〃

Her　head　snapped　back；　but　the　warmth　of　his　gaze　cut　off　the　retort
that　might　have　e。　Suddenly　it　seemed　pointless　to　resist　his
request。　It　was　just　a　matter　of　choosing　the　right　words。　〃The　past　did
have　its　moments。　And；　yes；　they　were　beautiful。〃　There　was　a　soft
quality　in　her　voice　as　she　returned　to　that　night。

Ross　grasped　the　stone　on　either　side　of　him。　〃Had　you　planned　it　to
happen？　When　you　came　toward　me　from　across　that　room；　had　you　hoped
that　we'd　end　up　in　bed？〃

〃Beforehand？〃　She　looked　up　in　surprise。　〃No。　I'd　never　done　anything
like　that　before。　Oh；　we　dated　plenty　and　went　to　our　share　of　parties。
But　we　had　never；　that　is；　neither　of　us　had；　ah；　I　mean；　I　had　never。。
。〃

〃I　know。〃　He　rescued　her　from　her　floundering；　daring　to　touch　her　cheek
with　the　back　of　his　fingers。　Instinctively　she　tipped　her　face　toward
his　touch；　then　caught　herself　and　righted　her　head。

〃Were　you　sorry　you　did　it？〃　His　voice　was　low；　urgent。

〃No　。。。　Yes　。。。　I　don't　know；〃　she　finally　ended　in　a　whisper；　tugging
at　the　towel　draped　about　her　neck。　〃I　can't　give　you　a　simple　yes　or
no。　I've　never　regretted　the　act　itself　It　was　beautiful。〃

〃Then　what　is　it　about　me　that　makes　you　so　unfortable？〃

The　ensuing　silence　was　rich　with　the　sounds　of　the　shore…the　lapping　of
the　waves；　the　cry　of　the　gulls；　the　rustle　of　the　breeze　in　the　drying
leaves　of　the　wild　honeysuckle。　Each　had　the　potential　to　soothe；　yet
Chloe　remained　tense。

〃Seeing　you；〃　she　finally　confessed；　〃brings　back　memories　of　a　holiday
weekend　that　was　tragic　for　me。〃

〃Your　sister's　death。〃

Her　eyes　shot　to　his。　〃You　knew？〃　And　hadn't　tried　to　contact　her？

The　dark　sheen　of　his　hair　captured　the　golden　rays　of　the　slow…setting
sun。　〃Yes；　I　knew；　but　not　until　long　after　I'd　returned　to　Africa。　I
didn't　feel　then　that　it　was　my　place　to　contact　you。〃

〃Why　not？〃　She　didn't　understand　that　detachment。　He　was　certainly
persistent　enough　now。

〃In　the　first　place；〃　he　began；　〃it　was　pitiful；　how　long　after　the　fact
I　learned　of　it。　Sammy　wrote　me　the　news　in　a　letter　the　following
spring。〃

He　seemed　to　hesitate。　More　quietly；　he　said；　〃It　was　only　then　that　I'd
had　the　guts　to　ask　him　about　you。〃

〃But　why？〃　she　cried。

〃Because　you　weren't　the　only　one　to　have　afterthoughts　of　that　night！

From　what　I　could　see　I　had　seduced　the　virgin　daughter　of　my　host's
best　friend。　I　was　twenty…seven。　You　were　eighteen。　I　should　have　known
better。　But　the　worst　of　it　was　that　I　was　glad　I　hadn't。〃　His　voice
gentled。　〃The　memory　of　that　night　helped　me　through　many　a　lonely　night
afterward。〃

〃Oh；　Ross；〃　Chloe　whispered；　feeling　a　great　longing　inside。　〃I　wish　it
hadn't。　It's　too　late　to　go　back。〃

〃I　don't　want　to　go　back。　I　want　to　go　ahead。　That's　why　I'm　here。〃

Anguished；　she　looked　down。　〃It's　no　good。　I　can't。〃

〃Can't　or　won't？　We've　been　through　this　before。　Well；〃　he　drew　in　a
breath；　〃believe　this。　I　may　have　been　immature　eleven　years　ago；
running　away　from　something　that　frightened　me；　but　I　won't　make　the
same　mistake　twice。　It　was　fate　that　brought　us　together　up　at　Rye
Beach；　and　I'll　be　damned　if　I'm　going　to　let　you　get　away。　I've　made　it
my　business　to　find　out　every　possible　thing　I　could　about　you　during
the　past　two　weeks。　And　I　know　what　happened　to　Crystal。〃

His　words　hung　in　the　air。　Her　eyes　begged　him　to　say　no　more。　She
bolstered　the　plea　with　her　low　whisper。　〃Then　you　can　understand　why　I
can't　bear　to　think　back　on　that　time。〃

〃It　was　an　accident；　Chloe！　It　wasn't　your　fault！〃

〃But　she　died。〃

〃And　you　lived；　is　that　it？　You　can't　forgive　yourself　for　that？〃

She　jumped　to　her　feet。　With　her　heart　pounding　a　thunderous　beat；　she
stared　at　him　for　an　agonized　moment　before　forcing　her　feet　to　move。
Her　steps　were　slow　at　first；　then　gained　speed　as　the　force　of　habit
took　over　and　she　jogged　toward　safer　ground。

With　pitiful　ease；　Ross　caught　up。　He　caught　her　elbow；　using　her　own
momentum　to　bring　her　around。　When　she　faced　him　at　a　full　stop；　he　held
her　by　both　arms。

〃I'm　trying　to　be　honest；〃　he　said。