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〃No。 No。 I'm game。 Don't forget…of the two of us； I'm the original
hippie。〃
Chloe drove with Ross straddling the seat behind her； and it was totally
traumatic。 He was near； so near。 His arms were locked about her waist；
his body tucked against hers。 Even the October breeze whipping by did
nothing to relieve the intimacy of the trip。 When he spoke； it was a
nibble at her ear。 A nibble？ Had he really done that@r was it a product
of her overworked imagination？
Indifference。 Uh…huh。
The road they traveled was one she covered daily。 Its sides were edged
with maples and oaks； grown ripe and mellow now； on the verge of
bursting into autumn flame。 Fields sprawled to the right； wooded
pastureland to the left。 Ahead undulated a path to Sakon Point； the
very tip of the finger of land on which Little pton sat just across
the bay from Newport。
If Ross was aware of the havoc his nearness wreaked on her； he kept his
smugness in check。 Once； in a gesture of soft intimacy； he released her
waist to gather her hair together in his hands； twist the long fall
once； and tuck it inside the back of her shirt。
〃The better to see the town；〃 he murmured wickedly。 He had to know that
her neck tingled from the touch of those fingers； her ear from the brush
of his breath； so much so that she was oblivious to much of their
surroundings。 When at last they reached the wharf； with its graceful
fleet of pleasure craft； she was almost sorry。 The intimacy had been
nice。 She was strangely torn。
Not so Ross。 〃Ah！ There's a place that looks like it'll fit the bill。
Can we eat there？〃
The ultimate humiliation had to be being bested by a restaurant。
Apparently the way to a man's heart was through his stomach after all。
But then； Chloe wanted no part of Ross's heart。 The restaurant could
have him。
She smiled； pleased to have so neatly talked herself sane。 〃If you're
really hungry； this is the place to be。〃
Ross was really hungry。 He was game to sample most anything and
everything； from clam fritters to little necks on the half shell to
swordfish puffs； a specially of the house。
Chloe savored his enthusiasm； taking pride in pointing out the small
groups of local fishermen on the pier arduously scraping barnacles off
tall…stacked lobster traps。 The bright yellow of their rubber overalls
was a bit of sunshine stolen from the sky； adding a spark to the
otherwise sleepy air of the harbor。 It was； all in all； a peaceful
lunch； filled with good food； thirst…quenching beer； and conversation
that stuck to the more general； less personal topic of travels； foreign
ports； and favorite hideaways。
〃The ocean is beautiful；〃 Ross admitted at one point； 〃but I still
prefer the mountains。 There's nothing more lovely than that feeling of
seclusion you get in a small cabin tucked into a neat cleft； with
stretches and stretches of piggybacked hills to keep the world at bay。〃
〃Then you've never been on the beach on a foggy morning；〃 Chloe returned
softly。 〃It's like being in a gentle white cocoon； with the solace of
knowing that humanity is near； yet out of sight and sound for as long as
the mist should choose。〃
〃You like New England。〃
〃do。〃
〃You'll be staying here？〃
〃I will。〃
He sighed good…naturedly。 〃Then we'd better get you to the market or you
won't make it through the week； much less the winter。〃
On that fortable note； they left the restaurant； spending leisurely
moments wandering along the breakwater before returning to the bike。
〃I'll drive this time；〃 Ross said with an arched brow and a palm out for
the keys。 Chloe was only too glad to relinquish the responsibility。
Seated fortably behind Ross； she was more in control of her emotions。
What she hadn't counted on was the broad expanse of his back； the sense
of contentment that flowed through her as the wind rushed freely through
her hair； the gentle fatigue that a night of little sleep； a morning of
busy work； and a frill stomach had induced。 Indifference had no place
here。 Without a care to the wisdom of the move； she wrapped her arms
about his middle and laid her cheek against his back。
It was heaven； pure and simple。 She didn't have a care in the world。
Ross was at the helm； petent and strong。 Over the wind that sailed by
came the steady beat of his heart； steadying her in turn。 She didn't
know what it was about this particular man that affected her so deeply；
nor did she care just then。 It was enough to enjoy the respite from
responsibility and to give herself up to his care； if only for the brief
ride home。
The brief ride home； however； grew longer and longer。 Peering around
Ross's shoulder； Chloe saw that they were on a different road entirely。
〃Do you know where we are？〃 she called。
〃Roughly。 Where's your market？〃
He followed her pointing finger； turning this way； then that； until the
town mon came into view。 Typically New England； it had a
white steepled church at its hub and a variety of rural shops and
boutiques。 Chloe found everything she needed at the grocery store；
reluctantly took Ross's suggestion that the plants be saved for another
trip； then climbed behind him onto the bike to return to the house。 Not
one wrong turn later she was on her own front steps。
The moment of reckoning was at hand。 〃Will you be returning to New York
now？〃 she asked。
He had finished stowing the bike in its proper spot and advanced on her
with a grin。 Relieving her of the large brown bag she'd been carrying；
he took her elbow and guided her toward the house。 〃Not yet。〃
〃You're going back to Lee's？〃
〃Not yet。〃
〃Then what are you going to do？〃
He held the door open for her to pass； and followed her into the
kitchen； where he began to unload and store the groceries as though the
place were his。 〃I want to make a few phone calls。〃 He glanced at his
watch。 〃Then wash the car； catch the end of the Giants game； shower and
shave； and take you out to dinner。〃
His recitation was so nonchalant that Chloe would have guessed he spent
every October Saturday this way； at least as far as the first part went。
As for taking her out to dinner； it had certainly never happened before。
〃It's unnecessary；〃 she said。
〃Which part…the calls； the car； the game； or the shower？〃
〃The dinner！ Lunch was enough to even us up。 There's no need for
anything more。〃
A muscle worked in Ross's jaw。 〃It's not tit…foretat； Chloe。 I'd like to
take you out to dinner。〃
〃I appreciate the thought； but…〃
〃No buts。 We're going out for dinner。 Period。〃
〃What if I have other plans？〃
He arched a dark brow。 〃Do you？〃
〃I could just as well；〃 she hedged； 〃for the way you just assume I'm
free。〃
〃Well； are you？〃
It wasn't that she didn't want to go to dinner with Ross。 On the
contrary。 She liked being with him。 She just didn't want to get used to
it。
〃Chloe？〃
〃Yes；〃 she said； sighing。 〃I'm free。〃
：〃Good。 Say； about eight？〃
；：But…〃
Eight it is。 And Chloe？〃
She felt totally helpless。 〃What？〃
〃How about if we dress up？〃
〃Dress up？ I haven't 'dressed up' in months。 Things here are very
casual。 There's nowhere…〃
〃There is；〃 he argued gently。 〃Leave that to me。〃
Chloe lowered her eyes and studied the floor； then slowly shook her
head。 〃Ross； I'd really rather…〃
〃For old times' sake？〃 he dared ask。 〃Today we played 'far out。'
Tonight； let's play in。' e on。 How about it？ Just this once？〃
The odd note of pleading in his voice brought Chloe's head slowly up。 He
looked so innocent； so hopeful； that she couldn't turn him down。 〃Just
this once；〃 she gave in softly； forcing the semblance of a smile to
；Minerable lips。
There was no semblance of anything in Ross's smile。 It was blatantly
broad and open； relieved and pleased。 It warmed her； reassured her；
amused her。 And it most definitely excited her。
That terrified her。
Before she could back out； though； he said； 〃It's a date。 See you at
eight。〃
He turned and made for the phone； leaving Chloe to gather the pieces of
her fast…splintering resolve and struggle with makeshift repairs before
evening rolled around。
It wasn't an easy task。 Ross seemed to be everywhere she turned。 He used
her office to make his calls