their names； a situation that was about to be remedied。 〃As for the others here tonight；〃 the moderator said； 〃let me begin with Howard Wolschinski。 You all know Howard； our distinguished state senator。〃 He gestured from Howard to Chloe。 〃Chloe Macdaniel； geological consultant and one of the founding partners of Earth Science Education； Inc。； out of Little pton； Rhode Island。〃 His hand went toward the other side of the stage。 〃Bradbury Huff； your state representative〃…she jotted the name in her notebook@"and finally； the president of the Hansen Corporation； Ross Stephenson 。。 。Chloe stopped writing mid…stroke。 Ross Stephenson？ Ross Stephenson？ She would never forget that name。 Heart pounding； she glanced at the fourth member of the panel。 He was the taller； darker one。 Was it the same Ross Stephenson？ This man was nattily dressed and impeccably groomed。 The Ross she had known had been bearded and wore faded jeans； high boots； and a peasant shirt of Indian cotton。 Eleven years had passed。 He might have changed。 How could she know？ His eyes。 They were the same memorable amber。 Eleven years ago they had cut through all pretense and snagged her in the space of a breath。 They were just as striking now…and they were looking at her。 He knew。 As all else faded； she felt shock； remembrance； pain。 Then she tore her eyes from his and lowered them to her paper。 Ross Stephenson。 Unbelievable。 〃Are you all right？〃 Howard whispered； seeming to sense her distress。 She contemplated lying。 The society belle of New Orleans would have done that。 But today"s Chloe was too honest。 She whispered back； 〃I knew him…Ross…a long time ago。 I never expected to see him here。〃 Or again； for that matter； she added silently； struggling to keep her thoughts from racing back in time。 〃He shakes you up？〃 She smiled ruefully。 〃He shakes me up。〃 〃Will you be able to go on and speak？〃 She took a deep breath。 〃I"ll be fine once we get going。〃 Unfortunately； Felix Hart continued to talk； gesticulating more emphatically than ever。 〃He"s been sidetracked on the background of your pal。 Listen。〃 Chloe had no choice。 〃As many of you know；〃 Felix drawled with an air of self…importance； 〃Mr。 Stephenson has been behind the building of two successful mall plexes here in the Granite State。 His pany has left its mark from coast to coast in factories； libraries； educational facilities； and office buildings。 The reputation of the Hansen Corporation precedes him here。 It is with great honor that I present to you； for an explanation of his plans and hopes for the Rye Beach plex； Mr。 Ross Stephenson。〃 Chloe"s heart was hammering again。 When it was momentarily drowned out by the applause of the crowd； she dared another glance at Ross。 Again； he was looking at her。 She held her breath； barraged by memories that gathered and surged。 A slow pallor spread beneath her ivory skin。 She was thinking that she had to get out of there fast； when he finally faced forward； pushed himself from his chair； and approached the dais。 〃Whew；〃 came a whisper by her ear。 〃That was some greeting。〃 Chloe felt the color rush back to her face。 She realized her misunderstanding when Howard went on。 〃Felix introduced him like he was a visiting dignitary instead of the man whose blueprints we plan to tear apart。〃 〃Please keep reminding me；〃 Chloe murmured； to which the senator chuckled。 Then they both settled back to listen to Ross Stephenson"s presentation。 For Chloe； listening was an awesome challenge。 The sight of him standing straight and tall before the microphone was a distraction in and of it self。 She couldn"t help but admire the breadth of his shoulders and the slow tapering of his frame toward narrow hips and long； lean legs。 To her chagrin； she couldn"t help but remember the skin beneath； firm and drawn taut over the muscles of shoulder； chest； and arms； its dark matting of hair a cushion for her head； a playground for her fingers。 She forced those fingers to work now； making notes of words that she barely heard； that her mind could barely assimilate。 Still she made herself concentrate； jotting down thoughts with increasing rapidity in an attempt to keep her mind on the present and off the past。 But was it the past that brought her head up again and her gaze back to Ross？ Was she intrigued for old times" sake alone？ His dark hair was thick but well…trimmed and bed into as much submission as she guessed it would go。 Eleven years ago it had been longer and even thicker。 With the beard； he was like a bear…large； overpowering； dominant； but cuddly。 Now there was a refinement to him； a control in his stance； a purposefulness。 Addressing his audience； he conveyed petence and intelligence。 And that audience was enrapt； some nodding； others shaking their heads； all measuring his words with the keen interest that had brought them out on this mild September night。 His voice was deep and resonant as it flowed through the mike and filled the room。 〃The benefit to your munity would be multifold。 We"re proposing to use a parcel of land that is presently underused。 The resort will attract guests who will patronize local businesses。 Food outlets； entertainment houses； restaurants； real estate establishments…all stand to gain from the Rye Beach plex。 The condominium plex will bring untold tax revenue both to state and local purses。 Given the easy access to this area by the federal highway system； the condominium units will be in high demand year round。〃 Chloe found herself listening closely； wondering how this could be the same man who had once chosen to live on a munal farm in Kentucky。 That free…spirited Ross was a far cry from this entrepreneurial one。 Trying to reconcile the two was impossible。 Howard leaned close。 〃He"s a powerful speaker。 What do you think？ Will he have them sold before we even present our side？〃 She answered without taking her eyes from Ross。 〃Lord； I hope not。 I often work with groups of shoreline residents。 They feel strongly about the land； which is their finest resource。 I"ll be appealing for the preservation of that resource。〃 〃You"re a powerful