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his chin； she was curved now； offering him an entrance he hadn't had
before。
Small explosions of delight flared through her when he slid his hand
into her dress。 Surrounded； her breast was warm； full； and straining
against his hand。 His thumb and forefinger met at a nipple； driving her
higher。 Did reason exist？ At that instant she knew of only one road to
satisfaction。
〃e upstairs with me；〃 Ross said in a voice thick with need。 〃Let me
love you。 It's been so long； princess。〃
Princess。 It struck her that he had done the same thing she hadformed an
image and held it through the years。 In his mind she was still one step
removed from royalty。 But not in hers。
She strained away from his hands。 〃Please stop； I can't do this。〃
Aroused still and upset with herself； she trembled。
〃Can't？〃 he challenged hoarsely。
〃Won't；〃 she amended as she clutched at threads of posure。 Eleven
years ago she hadn't refused him。 Her virginity had never had a chance。
But things were different now。 She was different。
〃Why not； Chloe？〃
She heard hurt； but it didn't make her relent。 〃I wish I could explain。〃
〃Why can't you？ I've seen that pained look in your eyes。 At those
moments…at this moment…you do look unhappy。 Is it something about me？
Something about what happened eleven years ago？〃
For all of those eleven long years； Chloe had hidden a world of inner
feelings from everyone around her。 They were locked in tight。 He could
prod all he wanted； but they weren't getting out。
He spoke more gently。 〃Here。 Sit down。 I'll make us some coffee。 You can
talk。〃
〃I don't want to talk。 Some things are best left dead and buried。〃 She
shuddered at her own choice of words。
〃Sit。〃 He nudged her into the chair she had left； and she sat； if only
because her legs were unsteady。 He proceeded to clear the table； rinse
everything； and perk a small pot of coffee。 She watched almost
incidentally； her thoughts far off in a world of what…it's。 What if
Crystal had won that toss of the coin？ What if Crystal had set out to
seduce Ross and been seduced herself。？ What if Crystal had died anyway？
Would Chloe feel the same guilt now？
〃How do you take it？〃 Ross asked； placing a steaming mug before her。
〃Black。 Thank you。〃
After lacing his own with milk and sugar； he returned to his seat。
Chloe tried to control her thoughts by speaking first。 〃You've e a
long way in the business world since I saw you last； Ross。 How did you
manage it？〃
He smiled。 〃You mean； how did I manage the transformation from'far out'
to 'far in'？ The fact is； I never was all that 'far out。' I went my own
way for a while。 I avoided money。 I grew a beard because there wasn't
modern plumbing where I was in Africa； and I didn't want to have to
shave at dawn by the riverside。 I wore jeans because they were
fortable； same with loose shirts。 I'd grown up in a world of rigid
discipline。 I wanted my freedom。〃
〃〃Rigid discipline'？〃 She realized again how little she knew of Ross。
He eyed her with something akin to amusement。 〃Y'know； considering you
slept with the man the first time you met him 。。 。〃
〃That's not fair；〃 she argued。 〃When we were together； I couldn't think
straight。〃
〃History repeats itself；〃 he drawled； referring to what had happened
moments earlier with a mischievous grin。
Chloe didn't like being ribbed。 〃You didn't know any more about me that
night。〃 But rather than turning the tables； she was more deeply
incriminated。
〃Neither of us did much talking； did we？〃 Ross asked； clearly enjoying
himself She shook her head。 The only talking they'd done had been in
soft moans and caresses。 The attraction between them had been
overpowering。 〃I want you to know that I don't do that as a rule。 I
mean； I don't make a habit of…〃
〃…jumping into bed with every guy that es along？ I know that； Chloe。〃
He smiled gently。 〃I told you that we had something special。 Do you
think I sleep with every pretty woman I meet？〃
〃Of course not。 I just wanted you to know not to expect something I
can't give。〃
〃Won't give；〃 he corrected a second time。 〃The end result is the same。
You understand； don't you？〃
〃No； I hear you。 I'm listening。〃 He was sober。 〃But I don't understand。
You haven't given me a good reason to understand yet。 Most women with
your looks would have reached the point； at age twenty…nine； where they
could recognize something deeper。〃
Chloe felt stymied。 〃What do my looks have to do with anything？〃
The amber gaze that touched her curves gave the answer even before he
spoke。 〃You're beautiful； Chloe。 Beautiful women have options。 You've
never married？〃
〃No。〃
〃You must date often。〃
〃I have friends。〃
〃Male friends？〃
〃Some。〃
〃Serious male friends？〃
When she shrugged； he looked at the ceiling。 〃What I'm trying to find
out is whether you're going with someone； living with someone； or
engaged to someone。〃
For an instant； Chloe imagined he was a frustrated suitor。 She smiled at
the thought。 〃No； Ross。 I date here and there； but there's no one
special。 I live alone。〃
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。〃