perceptible shake of her head； she chased them off again。 〃I do love what I"m doing；〃 she said。 〃Tell me about it。 How did you get started？〃 〃You heard the bare outline tonight。〃 〃The bare outline。 Now I"d like to hear more。〃 His pause was pregnant with unspoken thoughts。 〃Why geology？〃 She shrugged。 〃Why not？〃 He didn"t pull any punches。 〃Because it"s one of the last fields that someone raised in the style of conspicuous consumption would choose。〃 〃Maybe that"s why I chose it。〃 〃Ah。〃 He smiled。 〃You were rebelling。〃 〃Not entirely…〃 〃Escaping？〃 She looked away。 〃You"re perceptive。 But only half right。〃 〃Go on。〃 Chloe tucked a long strand of dark hair behind her ear。 〃It was actually a simultaneous discovery@scape and excitement。 At that period of my life； I needed something that was a total change from everything I"d known before。 I spent some time in Newport with friends and fell in love with the ocean there。〃 〃You found solace？〃 he asked gently。 She admitted it with a small tilt of her head。 〃I spent a lot of time on the beach and happened to befriend an old man who felt very strongly about environmental considerations。 He affected me deeply。〃 The memory of Hector Wallaby brought a sad smile to her lips。 〃He"s dead？〃 〃Yes。 I miss him。 He never knew it； but in spirit at least； he was the founding father of ESE； Inc。〃 〃Were you in college during the time you knew him？〃 Chloe sat straighter。 〃Uh； no。 I 。。。 my freshman year was postponed。〃 〃So you started college late and have still done all this？〃 The pliment gave her a boost。 She smiled。 〃Once I decided to go into geology I was in a rush。〃 Ross smiled back。 Firm lips framed the whitest of teeth； mesmerizing her for the split second until he said； 〃You worked for Conam Petroleum？〃 〃Yes。 Do you know the pany？〃 He shook his head。 〃Only by reputation。〃 He looked at her sideways； skeptical now。 〃I"d have thought that if environmental concerns were your focus； the oil panies would be your archenemies。〃 She blushed。 He made nothing easy； that was for sure。 But if he wanted to be honest； she could be honest right back。 〃I needed the money；〃 she said and braced herself for the response that was sure to e。 And she wasn"t let down。 Ross"s eyes widened； then narrowed。 〃You needed the money？〃 He frowned。 〃Did I miss something here？ I was given to think James Macdaniel was…is…mne of the wealthiest men in New Orleans。〃 〃He is。〃 〃Then； why 。。。 ？〃 〃Among other things；〃 she began in self…defense； 〃it was a matter of pride。 I wanted to start my own consulting firm and didn"t want to ask my father for money。〃 Ross should know how much she had changed。 He should know that she was her own woman now。 But his take on the situation was different from hers。 〃So you sold out to the powers that be for the amount of time it took you to gather the resources to mount a systematic campaign against those same powers？〃 Chloe reacted quickly and vehemently。 〃That"s not true。 Not true at all。 The work I did for the oil panies involved identifying the most likely spots for oil deposits。 Wherever possible； environmental considerations were put first。 And you"re a fine one to talk about selling out。 I had the impression； when I saw you last； that you were against everything the establishment had to offer。〃 Ross leaned back in his chair。 〃You drew your own conclusions； Chloe。 Appearances can be misleading。〃 His tone was low； his voice and eyes steady。 Chloe was stunned。 She stood up and cried； 〃It was all a charade； then？ The clothes； the beard； even the Peace Corps？〃 She turned away； disillusioned and heartsick。 Head bowed； she grappled with the idea of an attraction based on a lie。 Ross materialized before her。 〃Did it matter so much？〃 he asked softly。 When she neither answered nor looked up； he put a finger under her chin and forced it up。 Her eyes were dry； but she knew they held pain。 She couldn"t hide that； couldn"t even try。 〃Did it？〃 he asked。 Chloe felt a well of emotion； emotion that had lain dormant for years。 Ross was so close that the warmth of his body was an intoxicant。 She used the power of that to speak。 〃Yes。 It mattered more than you can imagine。〃 〃But why？ The physical attraction between us had nothing to do with outer trappings。 As I recall； we shed our clothes pretty fast。〃 Chloe tried to pull away； he held her chin。 〃Don"t run from it。 There was something between us that you can"t deny。 Are you telling me you made love to an image？〃 His tone was suddenly cooler。 〃Was it an experiment for you？ Was I a tool in your rebellion？〃 His fingers tightened on her jaw。 Reflexively； she held his wrist。 〃No。 That wasn"t it at all。〃 She was hurt that he would suggest it。 〃All you seem to think about is the physical act。 Yes； there was a physical attraction。 With and without clothes。 But for me； at least； there was more involved。 There had to be。〃 Her voice rose。 〃I was a virgin； for God"s sake。〃 Ross must have felt her hurt； because he relaxed his grip。 He moved his fingers back to her ear； pushing them through the long strands of her hair with infinite gentleness。 〃I know that；〃 he whispered。 His eyes held the same tenderness they had on that night； when he had first introduced her to the art of love。 Then； the world had been hers on a string。 It certainly wasn"t now； still her heart pounded in her chest the very same way。 Now； as then； she was being held by the most appealing man she had ever known。 He was a leader； a freethinker。 He was boldly gentle； gently bold。 He had confidence without arrogance； success without acclaim。 He was a man who didn"t mince words。 She felt an instinctive respect for him。 Much of this same appeal had beckoned to her on that night。 Other details might be forgotten； but not Ross and the force that bound them。 It was an unfathomable force； but frightfully powerful。 Eleven years ago； it had driven the fact of her innocence from her mind。 Now it obliterated all remembrance of what had happened so soon after that night to irrevocably change Chloe"s life and outlook。 As Ross"s large hands frame