was staring down at her。 Breaking into a smile； he said； 〃I wanted to see if it would work。〃 〃See if what would work？〃 〃If I could wake you up by willing it。 I"ve been sending brain waves。〃 〃Brain waves didn"t wake me。〃 She yawned。 〃I"d have woken anyway。〃 He stretched and grimaced。 〃I feel well used。〃 〃That"s one way to put it；〃 she said； but she was thinking ahead。 How not to？ Morning was here。 She rolled away； but he rolled her right back and held her in place with an arm on either side。 〃Don"t。 After last night you can"t turn away。〃 〃Can"t？〃 〃Won"t。 Let"s talk；〃 he said gently and sat up。 His eyes wandered to her hair； which was spread on the pillow； then the sheets； which bunched at her navel。 He looked at everything in between as though it were priceless。 At last； in a deep voice； he said； 〃I love you； Chloe。〃 She reached to cover his mouth； not ready for that； but he caught her hand and pinned it to the pillow。 Leaning down； he gave her a long； silencing kiss。 When his mouth left hers again； he said； 〃I love you and want to marry you。〃 She shook her head。 〃I do；〃 he insisted。 Her heart ached。 She wasn"t ready； wasn"t ready at all。 〃Last night we made love。 Saying "i love you" is something else entirely。〃 Ross didn"t budge。 〃Argue as much as you want； but you won"t change this。 I love you。 I wish I could say that I loved you eleven years ago…it would all sound romantic。 I wanted you then。 I knew that there was something in you…deep in you…that intrigued me。 But I didn"t get to know you。 A few hours is too short a time。〃 〃It"s hardly been much more than that now；〃 she protested。 〃It"s been more than two weeks。〃 〃It"s been less than two days。〃 〃Tell me you didn"t think of me。〃 She recalled those long hours after New Hampshire。 〃I can"t。 I thought of you。 But in order to love a person you have to spend time with that person。〃 〃You"re clutching at straws。 I love you。 If you were honest with yourself； you"d tell me that you love me； too。〃 That was what she feared most。 There was no place in her life for that kind of love。 〃You don"t know what I feel。〃 〃I know what I felt last night。 You couldn"t have faked your reactions。 Sorry； Chloe； but you responded out of love。 That"s all there is to it。〃 〃No。 Not all。〃 She needed time。 She knew what she had to say。 〃"responded to you out of need。 Call it lust or physical desire； but don"t call it love。〃 〃You"re afraid；〃 he announced。 There was a deathly silence。 The air pulsed between them。 〃You"re afraid to let go of the past；〃 he went on。 〃It"s so much a part of you that you"re terrified to live without it。〃 〃That"s not true；〃 she cried。 〃Then why don"t you try？ You did it for a night…why not for a week？ A month？ A year？〃 He softened。 〃I"m not asking you to renounce your past； just to accept it and move on。〃 He paused； suddenly a shade unsure。 〃You did enjoy last night； didn"t you？〃 〃Oh； yes；〃 she breathed so quickly that her words stopped dead for lack of a follow…up。 His smile filled the gap。 It was a full； warm curve of the firm lips that had given her such pleasure through the night。 His gaze dropped to her breasts； then her bare middle。 When he bent to kiss her navel； she clutched his hair。 But to push him away？ Or to hold him there？ Lord； she didn"t know。 After a night of beauty； the morning was dreary and dark。 After a night of clear…cut emotions； the new day"s emotions were muddy and dense。 She needed time； needed space。 Turning her face into the pillow； she let her hands slowly slide from his hair。 〃I want you to work for me； Chloe。〃 Her eyes shot back to his。 〃Work for you？ How can I do that？ I have my own business。〃 He brushed a tendril of hair from her cheek。 〃I mean； I want to retain your firm。〃 She was startled。 She hadn"t considered this twist。 〃For what？〃 〃They cater our board meetings；〃 he drawled facetiously。 〃e on； you know what you do。 I"d like to hire ESE as a geological consultant； starting with a set of revised plans for the Rye Beach plex。〃 Business； then？ Suddenly self…conscious； Chloe drew the sheet to her armpits and sat up。 She forced a feeble smile。 〃So it"s bribery now？ You"d try to hook my business； then slowly reel me in？〃 〃If necessary。〃 His grin came and went。 〃I"ve toyed with the idea all week。 It was what I wanted to discuss when I arrived Friday。 What do you think？ Will you do it？〃 〃No。 〃Why not？ It"s a good business move。〃 〃Actually；〃 she thought aloud； 〃you"re right。 It is a good business move。 I"ll do it； but only if Lee handle the work。〃 〃I don"t want Lee。〃 She had never doubted it。 〃That"s why I can"t do this。 Can you imagine us trying to work together？ After last night？ I"m not sure how much work we"d get done。〃 He sighed。 〃At least you don"t deny that。〃 〃I never did。 I just don"t know how much more there is to it than that。〃 But she lied。 Making love with Ross was as close； as deep； as merged as she had ever been with another person； and that included Crystal； which was saying a lot。 She would always be attracted to Ross； would always feel that special connection。 Sadly； she slipped out of bed and stood at the window。 She felt as lonely； as dismal as the day。 Was the pain of separating from Ross worth the joy of being with him？ Was the pain her punishment for self…indulgence？ She heard his footsteps behind her and sighed when he circled her waist and drew her back against him。 For another minute； no more； she would savor it。 Another minute； that was all。 〃I have to leave this morning；〃 he said softly。 〃This morning？〃 〃I have a date in New York。〃 〃A date。〃 That stopped her。 〃Business or pleasure？〃 〃Pleasure。〃 She turned。 〃You just told me you loved me。〃 〃I love her； too。〃 The mischief in his eyes tipped her off。 〃Your mom。〃 〃Smart girl；〃 he said with a smile。 Chloe was inordinately pleased。 〃I didn"t realize she lived in New York。〃 〃She doesn"t。 She"s visiting。〃 〃And you left her for the weekend？〃 〃With pleasure。〃 And he showed no sign of guilt。 〃My mother has never been the easiest woman to get along with。 And the f