told me about your sister； that she died； that you rarely visit your family back in New Orleans。 But you never talk about men。 You"re a beautiful person； Chloe。 I know it； and he knows it。〃 He tilted his head toward the living room。 〃I dare you to look me in the eye and deny that there was ever anything between the two of you。〃 She couldn"t lie。 Not to Lee。 〃I can"t do that。 But； whatever it was； it"s over。〃 〃You think so？〃 〃Yes。〃 She said it firmly； and held her head the same way。 Lee studied her for a long minute； before making a show of wiping his hands together。 〃Well； then； I guess that settles that。〃 He graciously redirected the conversation to safer ground。 〃I do agree with you that the private business sector could be a promising outlet。 I"ll be in Washington next week to work with the Coast Guard on the Gulf project。 Let me see what nosing around I can do while I"m there。〃 〃How much longer will the training project take？〃 〃With the government； that"s a good question。 And when it es to oil spill cleanups； no amount of training is ever enough。 I would guess the present phase will take another few months at least。〃 Chloe contemplated those ing few months。 Unthinkingly； she glanced toward the door。 Lee headed that way。 〃I can take the hint； pretty lady。〃 His hand was on the knob before she could call him back。 〃Anything else can wait。 Have fun！〃 He left with a wink。 〃Lee！ Wait…〃 But one dark head was replaced by another。 〃At last；〃 Ross said and closed the office door。 〃Alone at last。〃 Chloe forced herself to sit back slowly。 〃I hadn"t realized you would hang around all morning。 I hope you weren"t bored。〃 〃Actually〃…he circled her desk to plant himself on the corner nearest her…〃I went over some papers of my own。 I"m a good loser； for a morning。〃 He cocked his head toward the door。 〃Ready to go？〃 〃Go？ Where？〃 〃Oh〃…he looked out the window in amusement…〃I thought you could show me around town。 I"m a stranger to these parts。〃 Judging from the confidence he exuded； it was a wonder that any parts were strange to him。 Chloe couldn"t ignore the thread of excitement that he had brought with him into the room。 Indifference； she reminded herself。 But it was a tough order。 Standing quickly； she tried to remedy the situation。 〃I wish I could help； but I still have…〃 A strong arm caught her waist。 Before she could say another word； she was imprisoned between his thighs。 〃All work and no play…〃 〃Makes a successful scientist。〃 〃And a very dull woman。〃 She frowned； unwittingly taking his bait。 〃Do you think my work is dull？〃 Her disappointment was genuine。 So was the devastatingly handsome smile that spread across his face。 The hands that were looped loosely behind her； now brought her closer。 〃Nothing about you is dull；〃 he said； 〃except your determination to hold me at arms" length。〃 Arms" length was a lot farther than where she was now。 Well within the circle of his arms； with her hands braced at the point where his jeans met his hips； she was under his spell。 Ross lowered his head and kissed her； tasting the sweetness of her mouth； and it struck her that she might well have been too successful at her own game。 By denying the past； she was responding to him in the present alone。 Her return kiss was gentle； sampling。 She played with being free of all memory； all guilt。 Her lips opened to his。 She gave of herself as she hadn"t done in years。 〃That was nice；〃 he whispered against her mouth； then pulled away and set her back before she could do it herself。 He trailed a long thumb across her cheek to the lips he"d just left。 〃We"ll do it again soon。〃 It was said so gently and carried such lightness that Chloe couldn"t help but smile。 A warm flush painted her cheeks a ely pink； plementing the gray of her eyes； which held a hint of apology。 〃You have a way of sneaking up when a girl least expects it； Ross。 What am I going to do with you？〃 His gaze told her first； and there was something heady about it； until he added； 〃You"re going to love me one day。 That"s what you"re going to do。〃 She stiffened； but he went on。 〃Right now； you"re going for a ride with me。〃 〃I have errands to do；〃 she protested。 〃Like？ 〃 〃Like marketing； for starters。 In one meal you"ve nearly wiped me out。〃 〃So we"ll go to the market。 What else？〃 She adlibbed。 〃I need new house plants for the living room。 With winter ing on…〃 〃Winter？ It"s creeping up toward seventy again today。 How can you think of winter？〃 〃It"ll be here。 And anyway； the sooner the plants get used to the house； the easier it will be for them to adapt to the cooler weather。〃 His gaze narrowed。 〃I bet you talk to your plants。〃 〃No。 If I did that； they might think I was flaky。 I want my plants to respect me。〃 She doubted Ross heard her。 He was focusing on her mouth； looking entranced。 Suddenly he slid the fingers of both hands through the hair on either side of her face； brought his own head down； and kissed her again。 This time there was a hunger there hadn"t been before； a new urgency。 This time Chloe was frightened。 How not to lose herself in that hunger？ 〃Ross；〃 she cried； 〃don"t； please； don"t。〃 He released her。 His voice remained husky； but his eyes held a promise。 〃I won"t push you now。 But you will love me one day。 One day soon。〃 〃You"re wrong…〃 〃Not this time； princess。〃 He paused to let his breathing steady。 〃Let"s go。 We"ll stop for lunch first。 I"m starved。〃 Chloe took a steadying breath of her own。 〃After that breakfast？〃 〃That breakfast；〃 he grumbled； 〃was interrupted。 And anyway； that was this morning。 It"s nearly two。 Any more feeble excuses to try on me before we leave？〃 Chloe looked around her office。 Its familiarity gave her strength。 Indifference。 She could do it。 〃Not a one；〃 she said； preceding Ross from the room without another word。 It was only when they reached the front door that she felt an odd sense of adventure。 Eyes alight； she turned back to Ross。 〃I have an idea。 Let"s take the bike。〃 〃I have a better idea；〃 he countered； pulling the neck of his turtleneck away from his skin。