about his middle and laid her cheek against his back。 It was heaven； pure and simple。 She didn"t have a care in the world。 Ross was at the helm； petent and strong。 Over the wind that sailed by came the steady beat of his heart； steadying her in turn。 She didn"t know what it was about this particular man that affected her so deeply； nor did she care just then。 It was enough to enjoy the respite from responsibility and to give herself up to his care； if only for the brief ride home。 The brief ride home； however； grew longer and longer。 Peering around Ross"s shoulder； Chloe saw that they were on a different road entirely。 〃Do you know where we are？〃 she called。 〃Roughly。 Where"s your market？〃 He followed her pointing finger； turning this way； then that； until the town mon came into view。 Typically New England； it had a white steepled church at its hub and a variety of rural shops and boutiques。 Chloe found everything she needed at the grocery store； reluctantly took Ross"s suggestion that the plants be saved for another trip； then climbed behind him onto the bike to return to the house。 Not one wrong turn later she was on her own front steps。 The moment of reckoning was at hand。 〃Will you be returning to New York now？〃 she asked。 He had finished stowing the bike in its proper spot and advanced on her with a grin。 Relieving her of the large brown bag she"d been carrying； he took her elbow and guided her toward the house。 〃Not yet。〃 〃You"re going back to Lee"s？〃 〃Not yet。〃 〃Then what are you going to do？〃 He held the door open for her to pass； and followed her into the kitchen； where he began to unload and store the groceries as though the place were his。 〃I want to make a few phone calls。〃 He glanced at his watch。 〃Then wash the car； catch the end of the Giants game； shower and shave； and take you out to dinner。〃 His recitation was so nonchalant that Chloe would have guessed he spent every October Saturday this way； at least as far as the first part went。 As for taking her out to dinner； it had certainly never happened before。 〃It"s unnecessary；〃 she said。 〃Which part…the calls； the car； the game； or the shower？〃 〃The dinner！ Lunch was enough to even us up。 There"s no need for anything more。〃 A muscle worked in Ross"s jaw。 〃It"s not tit…foretat； Chloe。 I"d like to take you out to dinner。〃 〃I appreciate the thought； but…〃 〃No buts。 We"re going out for dinner。 Period。〃 〃What if I have other plans？〃 He arched a dark brow。 〃Do you？〃 〃I could just as well；〃 she hedged； 〃for the way you just assume I"m free。〃 〃Well； are you？〃 It wasn"t that she didn"t want to go to dinner with Ross。 On the contrary。 She liked being with him。 She just didn"t want to get used to it。 〃Chloe？〃 〃Yes；〃 she said； sighing。 〃I"m free。〃 ：〃Good。 Say； about eight？〃 ；：But…〃 Eight it is。 And Chloe？〃 She felt totally helpless。 〃What？〃 〃How about if we dress up？〃 〃Dress up？ I haven"t "dressed up" in months。 Things here are very casual。 There"s nowhere…〃 〃There is；〃 he argued gently。 〃Leave that to me。〃 Chloe lowered her eyes and studied the floor； then slowly shook her head。 〃Ross； I"d really rather…〃 〃For old times" sake？〃 he dared ask。 〃Today we played "far out。" Tonight； let"s play in。" e on。 How about it？ Just this once？〃 The odd note of pleading in his voice brought Chloe"s head slowly up。 He looked so innocent； so hopeful； that she couldn"t turn him down。 〃Just this once；〃 she gave in softly； forcing the semblance of a smile to ；Minerable lips。 There was no semblance of anything in Ross"s smile。 It was blatantly broad and open； relieved and pleased。 It warmed her； reassured her； amused her。 And it most definitely excited her。 That terrified her。 Before she could back out； though； he said； 〃It"s a date。 See you at eight。〃 He turned and made for the phone； leaving Chloe to gather the pieces of her fast…splintering resolve and struggle with makeshift repairs before evening rolled around。 It wasn"t an easy task。 Ross seemed to be everywhere she turned。 He used her office to make his calls； lounging back in her chair； legs long and straight； crossed lazily at the ankles； propped on the corner of her desk。 His presence filled the room so that it took a conscious effort on Chloe"s part to quietly creep in and steal her own work。 He followed her every move with interest； though he was at the same time maddeningly capable of carrying on his end of what was obviously a business discussion。 After retreating to the back porch to bask in the rays of the westward sun； she put her best effort into organizing the papers on her lap。 But her best effort was sadly lacking。 Her mind wandered。 Then Ross appeared in the flesh to ask about a bucket； a sponge； and some old towels。 He was right on schedule； his self…satisfied air announced。 He vanished； then reappeared and deposited the car…wash gear on the sandy grass beside the very same porch on which she sat。 Would he do it here？ she wondered。 The smooth hum of his car"s engine as he pulled the vehicle close by the side of the house was her answer。 He wanted an audience； the rat。 She should have gotten up and left； but she sat right there in the large wood…slatted porch chair； watching while he put his best effort into washing； drying； and polishing his sporty brown BMW As he stretched to soap the roof； the muscles of his shoulders bunched。 When he squatted to scrub the whitewalls； the muscles of his thighs swelled。 When he reached across the front windshield； his shirt separated from his jeans； giving fleeting； devastating glimpses of a flat； hard belly。 And through it all was the sight of hands and forearms at work； lightly tanned； softly haired。 When Chloe had taken as much as she could； she stacked her papers into a pie； left the chair； and； without a word to explain her sudden departure； went into the house。 To clean？ She hated to clean！ How else； though； to expend some of the nervous energy that had gathered inside？ She swept the floors and vacuumed the carpets； all at doublespeed； all with every bit of elbow grease she could mu