turning around。 When she reached the house she didn't bother to stop at
the door。 An easy lope carried her into the kitchen； through to the
living room； and up the stairs。 No sign of Ross…so much the better。
Jogging in place with the last of her precious energy； she piled her
arms with fresh towels from a surprisingly low stack in the linen closet
and went to her room for a robe。 There she stopped dead in her tracks。
Where an open expanse of pale lavender quilt had been when she had left；
was a landscape of mate artifacts。 And clothes。 His clothes。 He had made
himself perfectly at home。 This was the limit。
A fit of fury took her to the bathroom door。 Better judgment stopped her
on the threshold。 The sink taps were running。 If she barged in； what
would she find？ The tremble that snaked through her had nothing to do
with fear。 Rather； she conjured up the image of Ross shaving； a coat of
white lather covering his jaw； a towel…her towel over his loins； and
nothing； nothing else； covering or covered。
As she stood rooted there； the shower went on； the curtain clattered
back on its hooks； and 。。。 her mind's eye saw it all。 The towel fell
away。 With total nonchalance； he stepped into the shower。
Mercifully； he couldn't hear her low cry as she whirled back toward her
bedroom； cursing both Ross and her imagination all the way。 But she
couldn't curb her curiosity entirely。 Approaching the bed with an odd
shyness； she studied his things。 There was the leather duffel she had
seen earlier； plus a larger； flatter suit bag； unzipped to reveal a pair
of gray…blue tweed lapels。 There was the smaller canvas case that had
contained his shaving gear； if the travel…sized bottle of cologne left
behind was any indication。 There was a shirt…white； freshly laundered；
lightly starched。 There were a tie； clean socks； shorts 〃Oh； Lord！〃 she
exclaimed softly。 If every stitch of the clothing he intended to put on
was here on her bed； exactly what did he plan to wear for the trip from
the bathroom？
Anticipation constricted her throat； making breathing harder。 The
aftereffects of her jog had faded； this quickening was due to desire。
Ross turned her on。 Part of her wanted nothing more than to give herself
to him。 Give herself？ She would take as well； take as she had been too
the I've to do eleven years before。 She felt suddenly greedy； possessed
with a need to satisfy the gnawing inside。
〃You're back！〃
Chloe whirled around。
Undaunted by her alarm； he grinned。 〃I'd hoped to be out of your way。〃
He gestured in token apology toward her bed。 〃Guess I misjudged the
time。〃 He shot a look at the hall。 〃I helped myself to your supplies。
That okay？〃
That okay？ The towel was draped around his hips with as much panache…and
as little ceremony…as she had earlier imagined。 It hung low on his
stomach and left little to the imagination。 She dragged her eyes upward；
following a narrow line of hair past his navel to his waist and slowly
higher。
〃Chloe；〃 Ross began in husky chiding； 〃do you have any idea what it does
to a man when a woman looks at him that way？〃
It took every ounce of her willpower to keep from lowering her gaze in
curiosity。 〃I'm sorry…〃
〃Oh； don't be sorry。〃 He came closer。 Though he didn't touch her； his
body was no more than a breath away。
And she felt it； felt the need。 She put a hand to his chest to ward it
off； but it was a sorry miscalculation。 Her fingers found a mat of soft；
dark hair that sprang； warm and still moist； from the freshness of
lightly bronzed skin。
The pounding of her pulse frightened her so that she tore her hand from
his chest and thrust it behind her back。 She felt a huge measure of
guilt。 If he did also； it was hidden behind desire。 His amber eyes
smoldered； heating her all the more。 The need； ahhhh； the need。 The ache
to be held and loved 。。。 Ever so slowly； Ross lowered his head until
his lips shadowed hers。 She felt them； wanted them。 Her own parted in
silent invitation。 She closed her eyes to savor the sensation。 But he
never kissed her。 Rather； there was a soft exchange of breath； a whisper
of lips against one another； sweet； sweet torment。
Chloe felt ready to burst； willing to beg。 But that was a sure road to
self…disgust。 So she finally did what she had meant to do all along。 She
pressed against his chest； pushing him gently but firmly away。
As he slowly straightened to what was； even barefoot； an awesome height；
he cleared his throat。 〃You'd better wait downstairs；〃 he said in a
voice that was thick and taut。 〃I'll finish up quickly。〃
She took his suggestion。 By the time she reached the bottommost step；
sanity had frilly returned。 Swearing softly； she traipsed through the
kitchen and stood on the back porch looking out on the beach。 But the
tide within her was high。 No amount of cooling breeze could stern it。
He had to leave。 It was as simple as that。 Indifference was a pipe
dream。 He stirred her too much。
Having him around today was a taste of what it might be like to have him
around all the time。 She wanted to say she had hated it； but she
couldn't。 There had been something nice about waking to find a man in
her kitchen cooking her breakfast； something nice about knowing that he
was patiently waiting for her to finish work； something nice about going
marketing with him； even about finding him in her shower。 It had been
nice。 But would any man fit the bill？
With a sigh； she shook her head。 It had to be Ross。 Always Ross。
〃It's all yours； princess！〃 he called。
Chloe looked up in surprise to find the horizon pink…orange in advance
of sunset。 Back over her shoulder； Ross stood at the kitchen door；
silhouetted by the light inside。
〃Be right there；〃 she called； looking at the sunset again； gathering
posure。 When she felt in control； she returned to the house。 She
caught a trace of cologne when she moved past him； but moved steadily on
until she was safe in her room。
Promptly at eight she descended the stairs； wearing a pale blue sheath
of lightweight wool appropriate to the fast…cooling night air。 Its lines
were simple； it was nipped in at the waist and wrists； lightly flared at
the sleeves and skirt； and deeply slashed into a vee at the throat。
She worried about that low vee。 The dress was simple； but provocative。
She had bought it the year before for one of those blundered attempts at
a date； and would have avoided it for that reason。 Unfortunately； it was
the only dressy dress in her wardrobe that was of recent vintage。
In other respects she felt confident。 Her hair was brushed to a fine
sheen； swept back behind either ear； and held in place with buds of pale
blue silk。 The single pearl at each ear matched the strand around her
throat。 And her eyes were luminescent。 From her makeup； perhaps？
Whatever； she felt like a porcelain princess descending the stairs。
Ross was clearly pleased。 〃You look lovely；〃 he said； gently taking her
arm。
She felt suddenly shy。 〃Where are we going？〃
〃Farmington Court。〃
She caught her breath。 〃In Newport？ How did you ever get reservations？〃
〃Oh； I managed；〃 he said with a coy grin。
Chloe's excitement was genuine。 〃They've only had the dining room open a
few months。〃
〃You haven't eaten there yet； then？ I was hoping I'd be the first to
take you。
〃You are；〃 she said and tried to get a handle on her breathiness。 〃I
usually eat in； remember？ No； I haven't eaten at the Court； but I've
wanted to。 I heard that the dining room is gorgeous and the food
incredible。〃 She arched a brow。 〃You are hungry； aren't you？〃
Ross smiled。 〃Since we're dining in style； I'll try not to paw through
the pitd。〃 He tossed his head toward the door。 〃Let's go。〃
The drive to the farm took them in a large U； from one fingertip of
land； back to the mainland； then out to the other fingertip。 Their
conversation was light； in contrast to the heavy darkness that had
fallen。 Even the moon had disappeared behind gathering clouds。
Chloe was vitally aware of Ross。 His strapping presence filled the car
and her senses； adding to her excitement。
Farmington Court was on the outskirts of Newport。 Without any help from
Chloe； Ross found the place with ease。
〃How did you find out about the Court？〃 she asked when the farm appeared
on a gentle rise ahead。 〃Not many people know about the dining room
here。 Not many outsiders； that is。 It's a well…kept secret。〃
His smile reflected the bright lights of the house。 〃Maybe it's supposed
to be a secret； but it's slowly creeping out anyway。 I had a
remendation from a friend in New York who's been here。〃 He paused；
then confessed； 〃I'm not a total stranger to Newport。 Little pton；
yes。 Newport； no。 I was here last summer。〃
〃You were？〃 she asked cautiously。
He nodded。 〃I spent several days here sailing with friends。〃
〃I didn't know you sailed。〃
〃There's plenty you don't know about me。〃 With a flick of his wrist； he
turned the car into a space in the graveled lot。 He slid from behind the
wheel； rounded the car； and helped her out。
She learned something else about him when they passed through the door
of the sprawling seaside estate。 Not only did he greet the maitre d' by
name； but he spoke in fluent French。 Along with her Southern accent；
Chloe had long since lost what little French she picked up as a child in
New Orleans。 She remained silent； enjoying the smooth； romantic sound。
Following several moments of low conversation during which both men
seemed equally at ease； the maitre dishowed Ross and Chloe to the
smallest of the three rooms that had been converted for public dining。
It was exquisitely decorated in Colonial style； with a smattering of the
English； a dab of the French； and a triumphant dose of pure Americana。
This particular room held only three tables； each set for two。 Theirs
was in a far corner； lit softly by a candle。 It was an intimate setting；
one Chloe would have wished to avoid had she been thinking clearly。
But she wasn't。 At some point Ross had ceased to be a part of the past。
There was only the candlelit present。 She looked over the flickering
flame and met his gaze。
〃Do you like it？〃 he asked； endearingly eager。
She smiled。 〃I do。〃
〃I asked t