he informed her； 〃my only vice is sex。 Do we have to sneak that in the john； too？〃 She might have choked if she"d been eating。 But she recovered quickly； shook her head； and muttered a soft 〃Incorrigible。。 。〃 as she pulled the screen open。 She took refuge in the kitchen； where her loyal protector； Lee； was waiting。 And he filled that role repeatedly throughout the evening； taking over for her when she was distracted。 He was an able conversationalist； a gracious host。 She trembled to think what would have happened had she and Ross been alone in the house。 She was too vulnerable； too susceptible where Ross was concerned。 If she hadn"t known it before； she learned it that evening。 It started before dinner； when she left the two men and went off to shower。 She put on a pair of jeans and a western…style blouse that had breast pockets and a decoratively stitched yoke。 Her intent was to be cool and at ease。 The finished product； though； spoke of homespun femininity。 Had it been the pale pink of the blouse； she later asked herself。？ Or the way the seasoned denims outlined her hips？ Whatever； she caught Ross"s attention。 Her first step into the living room； where the men were nursing drinks while the steaks grilled； brought Ross"s eyes her way for a perusal that set her pulse hammering。 Where Chloe"s peace of mind was concerned； it was downhill from there。 She wanted to tune him out； but she couldn"t。 The talk centered on business matters。 Sitting quietly in a peacock chair； Chloe learned that Ross"s headquarters were indeed in New York； but that there were corporate branches in the South and in the West。 She tried to imagine it。 〃You must live out of a suitcase a good deal of your time。〃 〃I"m used to it。 Don"t forget； when I was a kid my family was shuttled around by the Army。〃 At Lee"s prodding； Ross elaborated on his background。 Chloe found herself wondering if he had ever settled down； even for a short time； or if he ever would。 She found herself wondering how as pelling and attractive a man had avoided the lure of a wife； a home； a family。 When she was caught in the act of admiring him； Ross smiled in what she swore was a knowing way。 And so went the evening。 Lee talked with Ross； and Ross talked with Lee。 Chloe listened； joining in from time to time； trying to fight admiration without much success。 Why Ross？ she asked herself at one point。 Why not Lee？ The two were as physically alike as brothers。 But then； why had Ross been attracted to Chloe rather than Crystal？ Or had he？ Had Crystal been right？ Had it been a case of his taking what was offered by whichever sister came forward？ That question nagged。 Had her being with Ross been pure chance？ A simple turn of fate？ But what about that coin？ There was nothing coincidental about Chloe winning the toss。 And Ross…had he been looking at Chloe rather than at her identical twin sister？ Had it all been by design； or had it been by pure chance？ She was distracted as the evening waned； unaware of looks of concern sent her way。 When Lee said； 〃I"m takin" off now； Chloe；〃 she was startled。 Her head came up。 Unsure； she straightened。 〃I"m sorry；〃 she apologized softly。 〃I"m afraid I haven"t been much help。 We haven"t even gone over those things we should have。〃 〃No problem。〃 He smiled。 〃We"ll do it tomorrow。〃 Taking his cue from the disquieted look in her eyes； he turned to Ross。 〃Are you staying here tonight？〃 〃Yes。〃 〃No。〃 They spoke at the same time。 Chloe hurried on。 〃No； Ross。 You can"t stay here。〃 She was determined。 〃There"s one bedroom and one bed； and I need it。〃 〃Why don"t you stay with me； friend？〃 Lee offered…and for the second time that evening； Chloe could have disowned him。 She wanted Ross to leave。 Out of sight was out of mind。 Lee"s offer only plicated things。 Naturally； Ross accepted the invitation。 〃No imposition？〃 〃No imposition。 The sofa in the living room opens into a bed。 The back door will be open。 Chloe will point you in the right direction。〃 Before she could protest； Lee reached the door。 〃Good night； folks。〃 He grinned； letting himself out with a flourish。 With a steadying breath； Chloe settled deeper into her high…backed chair； tucked her feet under her； forced her fingers to relax against the broad wicker arms； and looked across the room at Ross。 He spoke softly。 〃You really do look like a princess in that chair。 Those peacock markings could as easily be a crown of gold as a swirl of wicker。 Are you fortable？〃 His eyes were gleaming； mocking。 〃No；〃 she answered honestly。 〃You know I"m not。〃 His grin held no apology。 〃That"s a shame。 I don"t want you to be miserable through the entire weekend。〃 〃You can"t stay all weekend！〃 〃Why not？ I have a place to sleep。 That Lee"s a good guy。〃 〃Too good！〃 she grumbled。 〃I thought I could trust him。〃 Ross sat forward； elbows on his thighs； fingers steepled。 〃That"s what puzzles me。 I"m sure you can trust him； but I can"t figure out for the life of me why。〃 Chloe instantly came to Lee"s defense。 〃He"s been a true friend to me。〃 〃Why only a true friend？ Why not a lover？〃 〃Lee doesn"t want that from a woman。〃 〃You mean； he prefers…〃 〃No。 No； Ross。 Don"t twist things。〃 Beneath his stare； her own insides twisted。 〃Lee was married once。 He has two children。 He and his wife divorced five years ago。 She lives in St。 Louis。〃 〃Ah。 Once burned 。。。 okay； I"ll accept that。〃 〃How kind；〃 she murmured； but she was annoyed enough to see an opening and take it。 〃What about you？ In the eleven years since I knew you when； what have you done along similar lines？ Should I assume you"ve developed odd preferences？〃 The instant she said it； she knew it was a mistake。 Good humor faded fast from Ross"s face。 When he stood and approached her； she struggled to avoid cringing into the chair。 There was a hard look to him。 〃Would that make you trust me more？〃 he murmured。 He towered above her for a minute； then bent over。 His hands covered hers on the arms of the chair。 His face was too near。 〃Sorry to disappoint you； but my preferences are still for the opposite sex。〃 His lips moved close