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he had studied the violin during one of his mother's culture binges； and
that he had been expelled from school for a day after tossing a water
bomb from a second…story building and soaking kids in the playground。
〃A water bomb？ Ross； how could you？ That's the type of thing the girls
always hated！〃
〃That's why I did it。〃
〃e on；〃 she chided； her eyes half closed； 〃a ladies' man like you？〃
〃Sure。 I was eight at the time。 It satisfied my need for machismo。〃
Chloe laughed at the idea of an eight…year…old Ross striving for
machismo。 He certainly didn't need to strive now。
〃You have three brothers； don't you？〃 Ross picked the perfect time to
turn the conversation。 She was in a more relaxed； more open mood than
earlier。 It didn't occur to her not to answer。
〃Uh…huh。 Allan； Chris； and Tim。 They've gone into Daddy's business。〃
She frowned。 〃I haven't seen them in a while。〃
〃Will you be going down for Thanksgiving next month？〃
November was the last time of year she ever went to visit。 〃No。 I think
Tim will be in New York then。 I may meet him there。 I'm not sure。 I
haven't heard from him in a while。〃
〃Do you call them？〃
This time； she did smell the trap。 〃Oh； no； you don't； Ross Stephenson。
I'm not so tipsy that I can't see what you're doing。 It won't work。〃
〃You won't tell me about you？〃 he asked with such honest disappointment
that she almost gave in。 Almost； but not quite。 There was too much she
didn't want to face tonight。 This was a night for the present。 She shook
her head in silent insistence。
〃Then sit closer。〃 Before she could protest he had shifted so that she
leaned against him as he leaned against the sofa。 〃There。〃 His voice was
pleasantly husky。 〃fortable？〃
〃Ummm。〃 She was extremely so。 In fact； she couldn't think of a place
where she would have been more fortable。 Ross's chest was broad under
her cheek； his arms were gentle around her； his heartbeat a pacifying
tattoo through her。
Time became an expendable entity； there was no need to move。 They sat
quietly in one another's arms； lulled by the music that continued to
play。 Debussy had long since given way to Grieg and Tehaikovsky。
Given the wine； the song； and the man； Chloe was mellow。 So she had no
problem when Ross said； 〃You and Crystal were identical； weren't you？〃
〃Technically； but there were differences we could see。〃
His breath rustied the hair at her temple。 〃Were you inseparable as
kids？〃
〃Pretty much。 Since the guys were a lot older than we were； there were
only the two of us around the house。〃
〃You had a built…in playmate。〃
〃Uh…huh。 It was fun。 She was the more adventurous。 I was the more
conservative。〃
〃But you were the one who approached me that night； not Crystal。 I
always wondered why。〃
Chloe tipped her head back to look at him。 〃We argued about who you were
looking at。 I thought it was me。 Crystal said you wouldn't see the
difference。〃 She paused。 〃Who were you looking at； Ross？ Me； or
Crystal？〃
His lips curved gently； tickling her nose for an instant。 〃You both
looked the same。〃
〃We did not。 e on； which one was it？〃 Her teasing was gentle； but she
needed to know。
Ross raised his eyes。 〃Ah； let me think。 There was one with dark hair
curled to the left； and one with dark hair curled to…〃
She pinched his ribs。 〃I'm serious！ Or were you just interested in any
pretty girl？〃
He sobered then。 〃I wanted you； Chloe。 I saw the difference。 Your sister
was just as lovely； but you had something more。 I can't quite explain
it。〃
He didn't have to。 Knowing that he had chosen her was enough to ease
part of that guilt she had felt over the years。
He tightened his arms。 〃Okay； princess。 Now you tell me。 Why were you
the one who came forward？〃
〃I wanted you more。〃
When he sucked in a breath Chloe's hand slid lower on his abdomen。 On
dangerous ground； she raised it to the point where his tie lay in a
loose knot； where the top two buttons of his shirt were released。 His
chest beckoned。 She touched it and found it wonderfully warm。
Ross's voice grew thicker。 〃You argued？〃
〃Not exactly。〃
〃If Crystal was the more impulsive of the two； I can't believe she gave
up without a fight。〃
〃I wouldn't call it a fight。〃
〃Then what？ What settled it？〃
Chloe was suddenly unsure。 What they had done sounded crass。 But she had
e this far。 〃We； uh； we tossed a coin。〃
〃Excuse me？〃
〃We tossed a coin。〃
〃To see which one of you would get me？〃 At her nod he burst into a
laugh。 〃Chloe Macdaniel！ I'm appalled！ You mean to tell me that you let
the toss of a coin decide whether you or your sister would seduce me？
That's awful！〃
She leaned closer； whispered； 〃It wasn't a fair toss。〃 Tempted headily
by the male tang of his skin； she kissed his chest。
〃Excuse me？〃
She cleared her throat。 〃I knew I would win。〃
Ross held her back； staring in bemusement。 〃Explain； please。〃
〃Crystal and I used to play tricks on one another。 We each had our
strong points。 She always beat me when it came to motivating herself。
She was the first to get behind the wheel of the car； the first to
choose the prettiest dress in the boutique； the first to snag the
telephone caller。 I prided myself on being the clever one。〃
〃And this coin toss？〃
Chloe begged forgiveness with her eyes。 〃It was my coin。 I called
heads。〃
Understanding slowly dawned on Ross's face。 His grin was appreciative。
〃And the coin had two heads？〃
〃It did。〃
Whatever he might have thought of her for having cheated； he was
undoubtedly pleased that 〃winning〃 him had meant so much to her。 〃That
deserves a kiss；〃 he said and lowered his head。
Chloe met his lips without hesitation。 She had waited for this all
evening。 They had been building toward it from the second she had agreed
to dress up and go out to dinner with him。 〃Just this once；〃 she had
told him then。 Now the words echoed through her。 Just this once she
would relax in Ross's arms。 Just this once she would taste his love。
Just this once she would be free of the past。
She'd had too much wine。 No doubt about that。 Would she want this if her
head were clear？ Maybe yes； maybe no； but it made no difference。 Right
here； right now； she was where she wanted to be。
Ross appeared equally content； if the leisure of his kiss meant
anything。 He tasted her again and again； seeming to find something new
each time。 She sure did。 Once it was the sweetness of wine on his lips；
another time the firmness of his mouth； another the heat。 His kiss was a
heady brew； warm； moist； and intoxicating。
Seeking more； she spread her hands over his chest and discovered a
textured surface beneath the smoothness of his shirt。 He was a man of
many layers to be explored； one by one。 She was the explorer； on an
ocean of desire； clinging to him as to a raft on a rising sea of
sensation。
His tongue sought and caressed； sucking hers deeper； sparking greater
response； and she gave it unconditionally； opening to him in delight。
Soft sighs were breathed and swallowed； one mouth to the other。
The urgency built。 Just when she needed it； he deepened the kiss。 His
lips controlled hers now； as did the hands that framed her face。
His voice was thick against her mouth。 〃Do you have any idea what you do
to me？〃
Her answer was a breathy； 〃I know what you do to me。 It happens every
time。〃
〃Does it？ It's been a long time since you were with a man。〃
〃By choice。 By choice。〃 Tipping her head back on his shoulder； she
studied his strong jaw； straight nose； amber eyes。 〃It was never a trial
for me before。 I've never really wanted another man。〃
〃Is it a trial now？〃 he whispered； momentarily cautious。 〃What do you
want； Chloe？ Do you know？〃
She answered by dipping her head and putting her lips to his throat。
Intoxicated by its musky scent； she freed the knot of his tie and
released the front buttons of his shirt。 Her sigh warmed him when her
hands slid over his flesh； but his moan prevented her from going on。
He pushed his hands into her hair。 〃Look at me！〃 His eyes were hot with
desire。 〃Do you know what I want； Chloe？ I want to feel you。 I want to
know every inch of your body。 Half measures never worked for me