you"re my princess。〃 With a groan； he pressed her to him。 She felt his desire as she tried to deny her own； but that same coil of need gnawed within her。 She was on the verge of losing control。 〃No！〃 Her scream echoed back through her with such force that only Ross"s arms kept her standing。 As she sagged against him； he eased down onto the sand； turning her to sit with her back to his chest； her knees bent and bounded by his。 He said nothing； just held her； his arms wrapped around her middle。 Chloe couldn"t have moved if she"d tried。 Drained by emotional strain； she closed her eyes and breathed in deeply of the slow…cooling air。 When Ross spoke long moments later； she was surprised to hear humor in his voice。 〃Not bad for a novice。〃 〃What？〃 〃That scream。 For someone who says she doesn"t do that kind of thing； you sure let loose！〃 She let out a breath and grinned； feeling oddly calm。 〃I guess I did。 You have a way of doing the weirdest things to me。〃 〃I certainly hope so；〃 he drawled。 〃 Ross…〃 〃Shh。 I"ve heard enough from you for a while。 I want you to listen。〃 〃But…〃 〃Shh！ I have something to say。〃 〃You…umph！〃 The breath was forced from her by a squeeze to her middle。 She didn"t try to speak again。 〃Better；〃 he said。 〃Now； listen。 I realize that you need time； and I"ll give you that。 But I"m not leaving。 Not this time。 I want to get to know you； and I want you to get to know me。 We blew it on that score last time。 But yesterday was one thing； today"s another； and they"re different； Chloe； they"re different。〃 She liked the sound of that。 Didn"t know if she believed it。 But it was fine for the moment。 Same thing with sitting against one another this way； looking out over the last of the sunset"s flaming rays。 Ross provided support。 And heat。 She was acutely aware of his long legs； his strong arms； his broad chest； his warm breath。 She might not have a right to do it； but she savored the peace of the moment。 So maybe today was different。 Certainly they were eleven years older； maybe even worlds wiser。 But Crystal had been an intrinsic part of her life。 To forget her would be wrong。 It was more a matter of acceptance。 Could she accept the past and learn to live with it？ 〃Well？〃 Ross"s baritone hummed by her ear。 〃Well； what？〃 She had reached her saturation point and couldn"t agonize anymore。 He nudged her ribs。 〃Don"t you have anything to say for yourself。？〃 Her long pause was nearly as effective as the sigh that followed it。 〃I can speak now？〃 〃Speak。〃 〃That"s a beautiful sunset；〃 she mused aloud。 〃It"s a treat at this time of year； all warm and golden。 Do you have any idea what would happen if the ozone layer were to be destroyed by the haphazard release of freon gas？〃 〃Chlo 。。。 eee。〃 Before Ross could respond； a call of concern came from far down the beach。 〃It"s Lee；〃 Chloe explained as her partner loped toward where she and Ross sat。 Ross made no move to hold her back when she slid from his grip and jumped to her feet。 The timing couldn"t have been better。 With those legs framing hers and the strength of that body a serious temptation； her diversion into envitonmental quandaries would have been temporary at best。 Lee"s appearance was a godsend。 Aware that Ross had risen beside her； Chloe kept her eyes on the approaching figure。 〃You met Lee at the house； didn"t you？〃 she asked。 〃No；〃 he said with something of a grunt。 〃Another character let me in and directed me to you。 Is this some kind of mune you live in？〃 Lee"s booming call spared Chloe from having to answer。 〃Is everything all right； Chloe？〃 He covered the last of the distance at a more cautious walk； making no effort to disguise his wariness of an equally wary Ross。 〃It"s getting dark。 I was beginning to worry。〃 Chloe absently clutched her left wrist； a habit dating back to the days when she wore a watch。 Her fingers easily circled the bone。 〃Oh； my。 I"m sorry。 I lost track of the time。 We were going to…〃 Suddenly aware that the two men were staring at each other； she interrupted the thought and said； 〃Lee； this is Ross Stephenson。 We knew each other a long time ago。 Ross heads the corporation responsible for the Rye Beach proposal。〃 She looked at Ross。 〃This is Lee Haight。 Lee and I co…own ESE。〃 For a brief instant； she pictured the two men squaring off； and there was that moment"s antagonism。 She was relieved when Ross extended his hand。 It was met by an equally large one of Lee"s。 Chloe was struck by those hands； but they were only the start。 The physical similarities between the two men； each of whom had been instrumental in shaping her life； was amazing。 Both were tall and lean； both had athletic builds。 While Ross"s dark hair had faint wisps of gray at the sideburns； Lee"s highlights were more auburn； but both men were tanned and inordinately good…looking。 Only their dress differentiated their approaches to life。 Whereas Ross was the image of the casual male of the more traditional school； Lee was； in appearance； reminiscent of that earlier； more nonconformist phase through which the other had passed。 While Ross wore slacks； Lee wore denim。 While Ross wore a sports shirt； Lee wore a T…shirt emblazoned with an apt MAN。 Ross wore well kept loafers； Lee had on a pair of battered running shoes。 And then there was that neatly trimmed beard of Lee"s that stretched from ear to ear； much as Ross"s had on the night Chloe had met him。 It had never occurred to her to pare the two men before； but on all counts the likeness was astounding。 Apparently Ross saw it； too。 He grinned slowly； almost slyly。 〃It looks like Chloe"s taste in men hasn"t changed all that much； after all；〃 he said； with such a lack of malice that Lee relaxed a little。 〃I intend to take that statement at its most positive； friend。 This little lady is very near and dear to me。〃 He threw a protective arm about Chloe"s shoulder； drawing her to him with his customary possessiveness。 She had always liked that； and did even more so now。 His presence made her feel less vulnerable。 She chuckled when Lee added； 〃Are you friend or foe？〃 〃Friend； by