rekindled(英文版)-第3部分

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of　her　eye　reminded　her　of　the　source　of　her　tension。　She　ignored　the
tall　figure　who　approached　for　all　she　was　worth。　〃Go　on　now；　Senator。
You'll　be　late。〃

Howard's　expression　was　wry。　〃I　already　am。　Take　care。〃　He　shot　a　glance
at　Ross。　〃Let　me　know　what　happens。〃

Chloe　found　no　humor　in　his　double　meaning；　particularly　with　Ross
suddenly　at　her　side。　〃I　think　they'd　like　to　ask　us　a　few　more
questions；〃　he　said　and　she　suddenly　wished　Howard　had　stayed；　if　only
to　serve　as　a　buffer。　She　was　on　her　own　now。

With　a　forced　smile；　she　stood。　〃Fine；〃　was　all　she　was　able　to　murmur
as　she　walked　to　the　podium。

Luck　　the　audience　came　quickly；
reimmersing　her　into　the　world　of　coastal　geology。　She　parried　the
onslaught　with　ease；　rising　to　meet　the　challenge　in　spite　of　an　unease
in　the　pit　of　her　stomach。　It　was　only　when　a　question　was　directed　at
Ross　that　she　let　herself　look　at　him　again。　The　breadth　of　his
shoulders　was　more　marked　now　that　his　jacket　was　open　and　pulled　back
by　the　hand　in　his　trousers'　pocket。　His　other　hand　rested　on　the
podium；　fingers　long　and　straight；　tanned；　relaxed。

Several　questions　later；　a　gruff…looking　local　came　forward。　〃I　have　a
question　for　Ms。　Macdaniel；〃　he　said　in　a　forceful　voice。　It　brought　her
mind　back；　along　with　a　certain　wariness。　〃Yes？〃

He　stared　straight　at　her。　〃I　want　to　know　what　makes　you　qualified　to
be　a　consultant。　You　look　awful　young　and　awful　pretty。〃　His　words　took
on　a　faint　sneer。　〃What's　with　you　and　Wolschinski？　Are　you　a　regular　on
his　payroll？〃

A　murmur　of　dismay　passed　through　the　audience。　It　was　small　solace　for
the　shock　Chloe　felt。　In　the　past　she'd　had　to　defend　her　qualifications
on　occasion；　but　never　in　the　wake　of　such　a　crude　insinuation。

Poise　and　professionalism　were　called　for；　and　she　mustered　them　up。　But
when　she　opened　her　mouth　to　speak；　Ross　beat　her　to　the　mike。

〃I　believe；〃　he　said　in　a　hard　voice；　〃that　your　question　has　no
relevance…〃

〃Excuse　me　for　interrupting；　Mr。　Stephenson。〃　She　leaned　toward　the
mike；　looking　at　Ross　for　the　first　time　entirely　in　the　context　of　the
present。　〃I　would　like　to　respond　to　the　gentleman。〃　Her　expression
brooked　no　argument。　She　was　determined。　Ross　straightened　and　backed
off；　seeming　bemused。

She　looked　back　at　the　man　in　the　audience。　〃First　things　first；　Mr。…〃

〃…Younger；〃　he　supplied；　dropping　the　r　at　the　end　of　his　name　in　true
New　England　form。　〃…Mr。　Younger。　I　have　a　bachelor　of　science　in　geology
from　Williams　College　in　Williamstown；　Massachusetts；　and　a　master's　in
geology　from　Boston　College。　I　spent　three　years　working　for　Conarn
Petroleum；　performing　geological　studies　on　oil　deposits　in　the　Gulf　of
Mexico。　I　was　then　able　to　co…found　Earth　Science　Education；　Inc。；　the
consulting　firm　that　was　contacted　by　Senator　Wolschinski　to　study　the
pros　and　cons　of　the　Rye　Beach　Resort　and　Condominium　plex。〃　Holding
the　man's　gaze　steadily；　she　pushed　on。　〃I　have　control　over　neither　my
age　nor　my　looks。　And　I　never　worked　for　Senator　Wolschinski　prior　to
the　day　he　retained　my　services　for　this　project。〃　She　tipped　up　her
chin　a　hair。　〃Have　you　any　other　questions？〃

Again　a　collective　murmur　went　through　the　crowd。　Just　as　the　man
shrugged　and　stepped　back；　Chloe　saw　the　hand　on　the　podium　lift。　Ross
pressed　his　chin　with　his　thumb；　looking　satisfied；　respectful。

He　wasn't　the　only　one　she　had　impressed。　A　different　voice　rose　from
the　audience。　〃The　taxpayers'　money　has　been　well　spent　for　a　change。
Thank　you；　Ms。　Macdaniel！〃

Chloe　directed　a　full　smile　across　the　ocean　of　heads　as　she　leaned
toward　the　microphone　a　final　time。　〃It's　been　my　honor。　If　my　effort
here　has　helped　to　preserve　the　natural　bounty　of　your　state；　then　we've
all　benefited。　Thank　you。〃

It　was　the　perfect　time　to　make　a　gracious；　if　not　sweeping　exit。　With
Ross　still　standing　aside　in　deference　to　the　crowd　applauding　its
appreciation　of　her；　she　should　have　quit　while　she　was　ahead。　Her
mistake　was　in　looking　back　at　him。

His　smile　was　devastating。　Chloe　felt　her　chest　tighten；　as　she　was
caught　in　the　throes　of　memory　again。　She　was　suddenly　immobilized；
suspended　in　a　matrix　of　desire　and　guilt　that　canceled　out　the　years
that　had　e　between；　until　there　was　only　yesterday；　Ross；　Crystal；
and　the　toss　of　a　coin。

When　a　last…minute　surge　brought　members　of　the　audience　to　the　stage；　a
shaken　Chloe　returned　to　the　present。　She　had　to　concentrate　again；
listening　to　questions；　offering　answers。　She　stood　at　one　side　of　the
stage　with　her　followers；　Ross　stood　at　the　other　side　with　his。　She
gained　strength　with　each　new　question；　so　that　when　the　last　of　the
locals　left；　she　felt　more　herself…felt　more　herself；　that　is；　until　she
realized　that　she　and　Ross　were　alone。

He　showed　no　sign　of　sharing　either　her　awkwardness　or　her　apprehension。
Rather；　he　smiled　at　her；　looking　older　and　wiser　perhaps；　but　no　less
alive。　The　air　between　them　hummed；　just　as　it　had　eleven　years　before。

Looking　at　him；　Chloe　grappled　with　a　world　of　inner　demons；　but　the
past　was　better　left　alone。　She　was　determined　to　make　this　reunion　as
brief　as　possible。

〃How　are　you；　Chloe？〃　he　asked；　crossing　the　stage　to　where　she　stood。

He　was　that　much　taller　than　she　was。　She　had　to　tip　up　her　head。　〃Fine。
And　you？〃

〃Not　bad。　You're　looking　well。〃　He　gave　her　a　warm　once…over。　〃Very
different。〃　Humor　tugged　at　the　corners　of　his　lips。

〃So　are　you。〃　Even　in　spite　of　an　inner　trembling；　she　could　appreciate
the　humor。　〃When　I　last　saw　you；　you　were　distinctly　antiestablishment。
This　is　a　switch。〃

His　stance　was　a　casual　one；　the　hand　in　his　pocket　not　only　emphasizing
the　solid　wall　of　his　chest　but　pulling　the　fabric　of　his　trousers
across　his　thigh　in　a　way　that　showed　the　strength　of　seemingly　endless
legs。

〃Not　entirely。　It's　just　that　now　I　save　my　jeans　for　free…time　wear　and
my　boots　for　cold　weather。〃

So　he；　too；　remembered　what　he　had　worn　that　night。　〃And　the　peasant
shirt？〃　she　asked　softly。

He　laughed。　〃The　peasant　shirt　was　replaced　for　a　while　by　a　dashiki；
but　I'm　afraid　the　modern　me　is　addicted　to　ordinary　sports　shirts　and
sweaters。〃

〃Conventional；〃　she　murmured　with　a　faltering　smile；　teasing　him　as　much
as　she　dared。　It　was　hard　to　remain　indifferent　to　this　man。　She　felt
the　strain。

〃Sadly　so；〃　he　agreed　without　any　sadness。　〃But　look　at　you。　You've　done
a　turnaround。　Last　time　I　saw　you；　your　hair　was　curled；　you　wore
makeup；　higher　heels；　and　more　daring　clothes。　You　also　talked　New
Orleans。　Where'd　the　accent　go？〃

Chloe　drew　in　a　long　breath。　〃It　faded。　I've　lived　up　north　for　too
long。　Time　does　different　things　to　each　of　us；　I　guess。〃

〃It's　for　the　better。　You　look　beautiful。　Unhappy；　but　beautiful。〃

His　candor　made　her　balk。　Seeing　him　was　painful　enough。　Talking　more
with　him　could　be　a　total　trauma。

She　glanced　at　the　auditorium　clock。　〃My　Lord；　it's　nearly　twelve。　I
have　to　run。〃　Straightening　the　shoulder　strap　of　her　pocketbook　and
hugging　the　large　folder　to　her　breast；　she　went　to　the　stage　steps。
Ross　followed。　Under　the　guise　of　worry　at　the　lateness　of　the　hour；　she
quickened　her　step。　He　kept　stride　easily。

：〃You're　not　driving　back　tonight；　are　you？〃

〃am。〃

〃All　the　way　to　。。。　？〃

〃Little　pton。〃

〃That　has　to　be　a　good　two…　to　three…hour　drive。　Wouldn't　you　do　better
to　get　an　early　start　in　the　morning？〃

〃Can't　do。　I　have　an　early　appointment　in　the　morning。〃　Her　voice
sounded　breathy。　It　was　the　rush；　she　told　herself。

For　long　moments；　Ross　said　nothing。　They　reached　the　front　door。　He
held　it；　she　passed　through。　In　silence　they　crossed　the　lawn　that
separated　the　high　school　from　the　parking　lot。

〃I　admire　you；　Chloe；〃　he　said；　sounding　sincere。　〃Your　work　is
interesting。　You　obviously　enjoy　it。〃

〃I　do；〃　she　agreed。　Relieved　to　be　at　her　car；　she　fished　in　her　purse
for　her　keys。　The　sooner　she　was　back　at　that　work；　back　in　the　security
of　her　seafront　home；　the　sooner　she　could　turn　the　past　off　again。
Slipping　in　behind　the　wheel；　she　rolled　her　window　down　to　let　in　the
cool　night　air。　With　escape　imminent；　she　grew　bolder；　looking　up　at
Ross　as　he　leaned　over　with　his　fingers　curved　on　the　lowered　window。
How　handsome　he　was；　she　mused。　She　had　been　powerfully　attracted　to　him
then；　she　still　was。　〃It　was　nice　seeing　you；　Ross。〃

〃You　won't　change　your　mind　and　stay　over？　I'm　at　the　Wayward　Sailor；　an
inn　just　down　the　road。　I'm　sure　they　have　another　vacancy；　since　the
height　of　the　season　is　past。　We　could　grab　a　snack　somewhere　and　talk。〃

Chloe　would　have　liked　nothing　better。　She　knew　nothing　about　the　Ross
Stephenson　who　was　a　successful　businessman。　Instinct　told　her　that　time
spent　with　him　would　be　interesting。　It　would　also　be　downright
dangerous；　even　devastating。

She　sighed。　〃That　would　be　nice；　but　I　have　to　get　back。　I　feel　wide
awake　for　driving。　I'd　just　as　soon　put　the　miles　behind　me。　Besides；　I
have　that　appointment。〃

Ross　considered　that　for　a　minute；　then　held　up　his　hands。　In　gracious
defeat；　he　stepped　back。　She　put　the　key　in　the　ignition；　pumped　the　gas
pedal；　turned　the　key。　There　was　a　click；　but　nothing　happened。　She
repeated　the　sequence。　It　always　worked。　Granted；　her　small　blue　pact
had　seen　better　days；　but　it　had　always　started　for　her…until；　she
realized　as　she　turned　the　key　a　third　time；　this　afternoon。　She　had
heard　the　same　click　then；　had　run　back　into　the　house　and　brought　Lee
out　to　help。　They　had　figured　the　engine　was　flooded；　had　waited　and
won。　The　car　had　started。　But　Murphy's　Law　said　that　it　wasn't　going　to
start　now。

〃Trouble？〃　Ross　bent　in　at　the　window　again。

〃Battery；　I　think。〃

He　opened　the　door。　〃Let　me　try。〃

She　slid　out。　With　an　ease　that　belied　his　awesome　length；　he　folded
himself　behind　the　wheel。　The　front　seat　was　already　back　to　allow　for
the　length　of　Chloe's　own　long　legs；　and　even　then　he　gave　a
good…natured　grimace。　She　had　to　smile。　Getting　in　was　apparently　the
easy　part。　Maneuvering　now　that　he　was　there　was　the　challenge。

But　he　managed。　When　he　tried　the　ignition；　though；　he　had　no　better
luc