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huddled with the masterminds of the Rye Beach plex。 They were
amenable to her suggestions； often mildly questioning； sometimes
strongly doubting； but always ready to listen。 Ross was absent during
most of the work； dropping in to check on the progress； but otherwise
yielding to the men beneath him。
Chloe asked him about it Friday evening。 〃I thought you'd be more
fortable if I kept my distance at the office；〃 he said。
〃But aren't you concerned about the project？ For all you know the
revised plans may be unacceptable to you personally。〃
〃I doubt that；〃 he replied； smiling fortably。 〃I trust you。 And I
trust the men you're working with。 They know what I want。〃 He paused；
eyes changing； voice lowering。 〃So do you。〃
Her throat grew tight。 It was the first thing he had done that was at
all suggestive。 For that reason； she indulged him the lapse。 And because
the lapse was brief； she let him bribe her to stay in New York until
Sunday with a pair of choice tickets to the Big Apple's newest hit
musical。
〃How did you ever get seats？〃 she asked in excitement； reaching for the
telltale envelope。 Ross only raised it much higher； out of reach。 〃I
have ways。〃 He laughed。 〃You haven't seen it； have you？〃
〃You know I haven't！ It only opened last week； and you've known every
one of my ings and goings since then。〃
He smiled smugly and changed the subject； but Chloe easily acclimated
herself to a Sunday return to Rhode Island。 When he announced that he
had work to do at the office on Saturday morning； she binged on Fifth
Avenue； treating herself to a new dress； shoes； and a purse。 Again；
though； there was that dark tugging at the back of her mind。 The outfit
was for New Orleans。 If she went； she wanted her parents to be proud。 If
she went。
Saturday afternoon was something else。 Had she planned a few hours in
the city； they couldn't have been as exciting as the ones Ross planned。
From museum to park to ice cream parlor and back； it was a dream time。
He was intellectually stimulating and wonderfully adventurous；
even…tempered to a fault。
He appeared to be surviving abstinence with no problem but a tic in his
jaw。 She noticed it when they were the closest…standing side by side
before a Calder mobile at the Guggenheim； walking hip to hip through the
squeeze of the crowd at Rockefeller Center； sitting knee to knee at a
small table in a quiet restaurant。
At least； she wanted to think the tic was from that。 She wanted to think
he was feeling the strain； because she certainly was。 His hands…off
policy made working easier； but it did nothing for the desire she felt。
It grew through all of Saturday； all of Saturday evening； all of
Saturday night。 By the time they returned from the theater in the early
hours of Sunday morning it was near to bursting。
She took his lead and put it on ice。 In the living room for a nightcap；
their conversation was as soft and pleasing as the entire four…day
stretch had been。 She felt happy。 Then she went upstairs； alone； to the
bedroom that had been lonely all week； and the ice melted。 She dozed and
woke； shifting in bed with little hope of relief from frustration。 She
tried to think of other things； but Ross kept her restless and aching。
It was dawn when she finally crept from bed and went to the window。
The city was rising。 The deep purples and blues of night were beginning
to fade to lighter hues。 The tallest of the skyscrapers to the east wore
the first pink traces of the sun on its uppermost windows。 It was lovely
and peaceful。 Only the dull ache inside her marred it。
〃I couldn't sleep；〃 came a voice at the door。 She turned to find Ross
standing there。 Standing tall； his features hidden in the shadows； he
wore a robe that wrapped at the waist and hung to his knees。 The unruly
rumpling of his hair gave truth to his words。 〃How 'bout you？〃
Her throat was tight。 〃The same。〃
She watched him slowly approach。 Each step brought him closer to the
window； until his features were clear in it。 Though his eyes reflected
her own torment； he touched her cheek with a tenderness that made her
want to weep。 She couldn't pull away。 She was desperate for his love。
If there were germs of reason floating around； they vanished with his
first kiss。 What remained was a hunger that had been days in building。
Chloe gave herself up to it without a thought。
Ross touched her everywhere； caressing her through the thin lavender
gown； and she touched him right back。 But his robe was thick； and she
grew impatient。 The robe was easily opened and his body bared。 She
touched him then； bringing low sounds from his throat； and the feeling
of power was heady。 He began to shake under her stroking。 His penis grew
thick and engorged。
Moments later； her gown fell to the ground with his robe。 His mouth ate
at hers； as he lifted her and carried her to the bed。 The weight of his
body pinned her to the sheets； but there was no pain in it for Chloe。
She weled his force； wanting even more。
〃Yes！〃 she cried； clutching at his hips to pull him closer。
But Ross tensed at the sound of her voice。 He was breathing hard；
pressing his forehead to the pillow by her ear。 She felt him rock hard
and large against her； but he didn't enter。
〃I swore I wouldn't do this；〃 he whispered hoarsely； 〃swore I'd keep my
hands off you。 I've tried。 God knows； I've tried！〃
When he raised himself to look at her； his expression shocked her into
awareness。 〃Don't go！〃 she cried。
〃I have to。 For this one release； I'd be buying a huge packet of pain。〃
〃No！〃 Her fingers tightened on his shoulders until her knuckles turned
white。 She was close to panic。 〃Please； Ross。 I've never asked you for
anything else。 But please 。。。 now 。。。 I can't bear it！〃
The impetus was hers； lips and arms and hips all working against him
until he surrendered with a moan。 Falling to the bed and rolling to his
back； he drew her over him； and she loved him that way。 She couldn't say
the words he wanted to hear； but her body could show him what she felt。
It did that； and quite well。 By the time the sun's golden rays breached
the windowsill and glistened on their sweat； they were totally spent。
Rasping breaths broke the air； but otherething
was wrong。 Chloe felt it the instant her pulse began to slow。 There was
no talk。 No closeness。 The satisfaction that usually kept them warm and
entwined faded fast。
Ross rose from the bed； retrieved his robe； and left the room。 Alone
again； Chloe curled into a tight ball with the covers pulled to her
ears。
Apparently； it was time to put up or shut up。 Ross couldn't live with
half…measures…but then； had she really thought he would？ Her body might
love him to bits； but if she couldn't love the rest with her head and
her heart； there was no hope。
She heard the front door slam shortly after he left her room。 She didn't
know where he went； and he was back in time to take her to the train
station； but even the short ride there was awkward。 It wasn't until she
was about to board the train that he said more than a full sentence； and
then his voice was quiet。
〃I'd like to follow through with the liaison between Hansen and ESE； but
I think Lee should handle the account。 You're right。 It'll be too
difficult any other way； at least for now。〃
Chloe wanted to argue； but no words came out。
His eyes held defeat when he looked at her a final time。 〃I'll be here；
Chloe。 When you're free； let me know。〃
On the Saturday after Thanksgiving； Chloe boarded a plane。 It taxied and
took off； then climbed into the sky and headed north。 New Orleans fell
behind。 New York was ahead。 She was going back to Ross。
She tried to sleep； but was too excited。 She ate dinner； she read a
magazine； she looked out the window and smiled。 Where a haunted woman
had been just a few days before； was one with a newborn peace。
She had e a very long way in a very short time； but it hadn't been
easy。 There were dozens of doubts and second thoughts dogging her
through Mobile； and added days spent wavering there； then fear and
unsureness when she arrived at her parents' home in New Orleans on
Thanksgiving morning。
Now； as the plane began its descent； she shook her head in amazement。 So
many years lost over a misunderstanding。 But it was cleared up now。 It
was better。 She would call Ross the minute she landed。 He would be
totally surprised。
But she was the one in for the surprise。 Ross was at the airport to meet
her； standing tall and dark and vibrant。 In a moment of ddji vu； their
eyes met over the crowd。 Chloe stopped in awe； knowing that her next
steps would be as momentous as the ones she had taken eleven years ago。
But she was a woman now and finally free to love。 Breathing deeply； she
ran forward； Ross met her halfway and crushed her in his arms； holding
her tightly enough； long enough to say what he felt without words。
Chloe owed him the words； though。 When she drew back to look up at him；
her throat was constricted by the same emotion that brought tears to her
eyes。 A mouthed 〃I love you〃 was the best she could do。 It was enough。
His face lightened。 His eyes glowed。 〃Let's go home；〃 he said； and； arm
in arm； they did just that。
A s