slept with the man the first time you met him 。。 。〃 〃That"s not fair；〃 she argued。 〃When we were together； I couldn"t think straight。〃 〃History repeats itself；〃 he drawled； referring to what had happened moments earlier with a mischievous grin。 Chloe didn"t like being ribbed。 〃You didn"t know any more about me that night。〃 But rather than turning the tables； she was more deeply incriminated。 〃Neither of us did much talking； did we？〃 Ross asked； clearly enjoying himself She shook her head。 The only talking they"d done had been in soft moans and caresses。 The attraction between them had been overpowering。 〃I want you to know that I don"t do that as a rule。 I mean； I don"t make a habit of…〃 〃…jumping into bed with every guy that es along？ I know that； Chloe。〃 He smiled gently。 〃I told you that we had something special。 Do you think I sleep with every pretty woman I meet？〃 〃Of course not。 I just wanted you to know not to expect something I can"t give。〃 〃Won"t give；〃 he corrected a second time。 〃The end result is the same。 You understand； don"t you？〃 〃No； I hear you。 I"m listening。〃 He was sober。 〃But I don"t understand。 You haven"t given me a good reason to understand yet。 Most women with your looks would have reached the point； at age twenty…nine； where they could recognize something deeper。〃 Chloe felt stymied。 〃What do my looks have to do with anything？〃 The amber gaze that touched her curves gave the answer even before he spoke。 〃You"re beautiful； Chloe。 Beautiful women have options。 You"ve never married？〃 〃No。〃 〃You must date often。〃 〃I have friends。〃 〃Male friends？〃 〃Some。〃 〃Serious male friends？〃 When she shrugged； he looked at the ceiling。 〃What I"m trying to find out is whether you"re going with someone； living with someone； or engaged to someone。〃 For an instant； Chloe imagined he was a frustrated suitor。 She smiled at the thought。 〃No； Ross。 I date here and there； but there"s no one special。 I live alone。〃 When he expelled a breath； she suspected it was for effect。 〃Thank you；〃 he added facetiously； then sobered。 〃Do you go home much？〃 Chloe flinched。 〃No。〃 That was another topic better left alone。 〃What about you？ What was that "rigid discipline" you suffered through？〃 〃My father was heart…and…soul Army。 A career man。 Our house was run like a barracks。 It was almost a treat when I was sent to military school。〃 〃Oh； my。 It"s no wonder you freaked out。〃 Ross laughed。 〃Freaked out？ That"s one from the old days。〃 Chloe smiled。 〃Sorry。 It just slipped out。 I can"t remember the last time I said that。〃 〃Maybe way back in the time of you and me？〃 He stared at her； then gazed pensively at the table。 When he raised a hand and rubbed the muscles at the back of his neck； Chloe followed the movement。 She half…wished she could do it for him； but dangerous was a mild word for that type of thing。 Once； danger had been a challenge。 Now she wanted no part of it。 Ross"s confession broke into her thoughts。 〃I may have been pretty antiestablishment； at that。 There was a certain amount of rebellion in me against routine and schedules and expectations。 I guess I wasn"t much different from the average flower child； except that I knew I"d be returning to the fold before long。 I saw that period for what it was…a time in my life when I could stretch my legs。〃 Chloe chuckled。 Her smoky gaze fell to the floor； where a pair of wellshod feet； ankles crossed； extended well beyond her side of the table。 〃An awesome task。〃 She quirked a brow。 〃So how did you bee a successful businessman？ You obviously didn"t go into partnership with your dad。 But you"ve e a long way in eleven years。 President of the Hansen Corporation。〃 She shook her head in amazement。 〃I had a mentor； like you did；〃 he explained。 〃I worked for him through business school； then after。 The business did well。 I gradually acquired stock。 When Sherman died two years ago he left me shares enough to make me the majority holder。〃 〃Was the Rye Beach plex your idea？〃 〃Actually； no。 It was the baby of one of the other vice presidents。 Sherman seemed to feel it had merit。〃 〃And you don"t？〃 Considering the force of his presentation that evening； she was startled。 〃I do； with reservations。〃 〃Why did you e up tonight then； rather than the VP who feels more strongly about it？〃 Ross shrugged。 〃He"s no longer with the corporation。〃 He didn"t look sorry。 It struck Chloe that he might have fired the man； himself She sensed his power。 A free spirit； he had called himself Now he ruled a prominent corporation。 With an iron hand？ Maybe。 But he would use subtle methods to reach his goals。 〃What do you plan to do about it？〃 she asked carefully。 〃About what？〃 〃The plex。 You mentioned some doubts。 Tonight"s meeting must have raised others。 Will you change your proposal？〃 〃No。〃 〃No？ Building the plex as planned now would be environmentally dumb。〃 〃〃Dumb"？〃 he mocked with a grin。 She felt put down with that one echoed word。 Exasperated； she threw her hands in the air。 〃I gave all the reasons in that auditorium。 I won"t repeat them now。 You"re being bullheaded。 Do you go about all your building projects this way？〃 〃What do you know about my building projects？〃 he asked with a trace of lingering amusement。 〃Nothing。 I had only heard of the Hansen Corporation before tonight。 But if it"s like most other businesses； it puts the dollar bill before every other consideration。〃 〃Not always。〃 His voice carried a warning now； but she sat straighter and barreled on。 〃Then you acknowledge that profit is your raison d"etre？〃 To her chagrin； Ross laughed。 〃I would never be where I am today if I didn"t have an eye out for profit！〃 She felt oddly betrayed。 〃That"s really pathetic；〃 she said； recalling the tall； handsomely bearded man in jeans； boots； and a simple peasant shirt。 〃I"d have thought that； with what you stood for at one time； you might have minimized crass capitalism。 You have sold out； which just goes to show how terribly wrong one person can be in the judging of another； or how necive。〃 Ross had risen。 His eyes we