never kissed her。 Rather； there was a soft exchange of breath； a whisper of lips against one another； sweet； sweet torment。 Chloe felt ready to burst； willing to beg。 But that was a sure road to self…disgust。 So she finally did what she had meant to do all along。 She pressed against his chest； pushing him gently but firmly away。 As he slowly straightened to what was； even barefoot； an awesome height； he cleared his throat。 〃You"d better wait downstairs；〃 he said in a voice that was thick and taut。 〃I"ll finish up quickly。〃 She took his suggestion。 By the time she reached the bottommost step； sanity had frilly returned。 Swearing softly； she traipsed through the kitchen and stood on the back porch looking out on the beach。 But the tide within her was high。 No amount of cooling breeze could stern it。 He had to leave。 It was as simple as that。 Indifference was a pipe dream。 He stirred her too much。 Having him around today was a taste of what it might be like to have him around all the time。 She wanted to say she had hated it； but she couldn"t。 There had been something nice about waking to find a man in her kitchen cooking her breakfast； something nice about knowing that he was patiently waiting for her to finish work； something nice about going marketing with him； even about finding him in her shower。 It had been nice。 But would any man fit the bill？ With a sigh； she shook her head。 It had to be Ross。 Always Ross。 〃It"s all yours； princess！〃 he called。 Chloe looked up in surprise to find the horizon pink…orange in advance of sunset。 Back over her shoulder； Ross stood at the kitchen door； silhouetted by the light inside。 〃Be right there；〃 she called； looking at the sunset again； gathering posure。 When she felt in control； she returned to the house。 She caught a trace of cologne when she moved past him； but moved steadily on until she was safe in her room。 Promptly at eight she descended the stairs； wearing a pale blue sheath of lightweight wool appropriate to the fast…cooling night air。 Its lines were simple； it was nipped in at the waist and wrists； lightly flared at the sleeves and skirt； and deeply slashed into a vee at the throat。 She worried about that low vee。 The dress was simple； but provocative。 She had bought it the year before for one of those blundered attempts at a date； and would have avoided it for that reason。 Unfortunately； it was the only dressy dress in her wardrobe that was of recent vintage。 In other respects she felt confident。 Her hair was brushed to a fine sheen； swept back behind either ear； and held in place with buds of pale blue silk。 The single pearl at each ear matched the strand around her throat。 And her eyes were luminescent。 From her makeup； perhaps？ Whatever； she felt like a porcelain princess descending the stairs。 Ross was clearly pleased。 〃You look lovely；〃 he said； gently taking her arm。 She felt suddenly shy。 〃Where are we going？〃 〃Farmington Court。〃 She caught her breath。 〃In Newport？ How did you ever get reservations？〃 〃Oh； I managed；〃 he said with a coy grin。 Chloe"s excitement was genuine。 〃They"ve only had the dining room open a few months。〃 〃You haven"t eaten there yet； then？ I was hoping I"d be the first to take you。 〃You are；〃 she said and tried to get a handle on her breathiness。 〃I usually eat in； remember？ No； I haven"t eaten at the Court； but I"ve wanted to。 I heard that the dining room is gorgeous and the food incredible。〃 She arched a brow。 〃You are hungry； aren"t you？〃 Ross smiled。 〃Since we"re dining in style； I"ll try not to paw through the pitd。〃 He tossed his head toward the door。 〃Let"s go。〃 The drive to the farm took them in a large U； from one fingertip of land； back to the mainland； then out to the other fingertip。 Their conversation was light； in contrast to the heavy darkness that had fallen。 Even the moon had disappeared behind gathering clouds。 Chloe was vitally aware of Ross。 His strapping presence filled the car and her senses； adding to her excitement。 Farmington Court was on the outskirts of Newport。 Without any help from Chloe； Ross found the place with ease。 〃How did you find out about the Court？〃 she asked when the farm appeared on a gentle rise ahead。 〃Not many people know about the dining room here。 Not many outsiders； that is。 It"s a well…kept secret。〃 His smile reflected the bright lights of the house。 〃Maybe it"s supposed to be a secret； but it"s slowly creeping out anyway。 I had a remendation from a friend in New York who"s been here。〃 He paused； then confessed； 〃I"m not a total stranger to Newport。 Little pton； yes。 Newport； no。 I was here last summer。〃 〃You were？〃 she asked cautiously。 He nodded。 〃I spent several days here sailing with friends。〃 〃I didn"t know you sailed。〃 〃There"s plenty you don"t know about me。〃 With a flick of his wrist； he turned the car into a space in the graveled lot。 He slid from behind the wheel； rounded the car； and helped her out。 She learned something else about him when they passed through the door of the sprawling seaside estate。 Not only did he greet the maitre d" by name； but he spoke in fluent French。 Along with her Southern accent； Chloe had long since lost what little French she picked up as a child in New Orleans。 She remained silent； enjoying the smooth； romantic sound。 Following several moments of low conversation during which both men seemed equally at ease； the maitre dishowed Ross and Chloe to the smallest of the three rooms that had been converted for public dining。 It was exquisitely decorated in Colonial style； with a smattering of the English； a dab of the French； and a triumphant dose of pure Americana。 This particular room held only three tables； each set for two。 Theirs was in a far corner； lit softly by a candle。 It was an intimate setting； one Chloe would have wished to avoid had she been thinking clearly。 But she wasn"t。 At some point Ross had ceased to be a part of the past。 There was only the candlelit present。 She looked over the flickering flame and met his gaze。 〃Do you like it？〃 he asked； endearingly eager。 She smiled。 〃I do。〃