at the podium。 〃Is Huff almost done？〃 〃He"d better be。 I"m next。 Take notes for me； will you？ I have a tendency to forget what I say from one minute to the next。〃 〃Baloney。〃 〃Hmmm； I could use some of that； too。 Supper was very early。 It"s nearly ten。〃 At least he"d had supper。 She hadn"t eaten a thing。 〃How much longer do you think this will last？〃 She still had to make the return trip to Little pton that night。 Howard checked his watch。 〃I have no idea。 But I have to be out of here by ten…thirty to make it to Manchester for the eleven o"clock news。 They"re doing a live interview。 I hope good old Brad speeds it up。〃 He got his wish within minutes。 As Chloe sat back； the long…winded state representative transferred the podium to 〃my illustrious colleague in the New Hampshire state government；〃 and Howard took the reins。 Chloe did take notes。 It was the one way she could keep her thoughts in the present and her eyes away from Ross。 Once upon a time； he had played a cataclysmic role in her life。 So much had happened since that night。 When Howard finished delivering a poignant plea for the preservation of the coast； the croents that had less to do with scientific matters； than practical ones。 They wanted to know things like how increased tax revenues would be used to benefit local residents； and who would pay for the added police and fire coverage that would be necessary； given the proportions of the Rye Beach proposal。 It was closer to ten…forty before Howard was allowed to leave the microphone。 To Chloe； with a frantic look at the time； he said； 〃Thanks again； Chloe。 Think you can cover for me here a few minutes longer？〃 〃Sure thing； if I can ansy field is geology； not politics。〃 〃Don"t underestimate yourself。 Why not change your mind and spend the night？ There are a number of nice inns close by。 It"ll be a long drive back to Rhode Island alone。〃 She was touched by his worry； but confident。 〃I"ll be fine。 Driving relaxes me。 I have plenty of unwinding to do。〃 A movement in the corner 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 c