〃With pleasure。〃 And he showed no sign of guilt。 〃My mother has never been the easiest woman to get along with。 And the fact that I loaned her my place pleased her more than my pany would have。 But I promised to take her to an opening at an art gallery she sponsors。〃 He cleared his throat。 〃She"s on another of her infamous culture kicks。〃 Chloe couldn"t help but grin。 〃Like the violin lessons？〃 〃Like the violin lessons。〃 Their eyes shared amusement； but it faded fast。 In its place was raw desire； back with a vengeance。 〃Ahhh； Chloe；〃 Ross murmured and caught her lips。 She tried to turn away。 〃It"s too late。〃 She turned back again； needy。 She kissed him； then breathed； 〃We have to stop。 Really； we do。〃 But she wanted him too much for that。 He backed her to the bed and followed her down； and she met him willingly。 When he was gone； there would be soul…searching aplenty。 But not now。 Not yet。 Her soul…searching began the instant the brown BMW pulled from her drive and disappeared from sight。 〃I"ll be in touch； princess；〃 he had said when he kissed her good…bye。 〃You shouldn"t； Ross；〃 she had said； though her throat was tight with emotion。 〃It"s better this way。〃 He hadn"t said anything more； had simply turned on his heel and walked off。 The sense of loss she had felt then should have eased as the day wore on； but it didn"t。 It grew sharper； forcing her to a deeper level of soulsearching。 On this level she felt great guilt。 Twice； now； she had been with Ross。 Had it not been for the first time； Crystal might still be alive。 The pain of her memory of that time was so great that she rarely went there。 Now she did。 She and Crystal had double…dated that rainy Saturday night and had returned home on a sour note； largely from Chloe"s distraction。 When Crystal confronted her； Chloe told her about Ross。 She hadn"t meant to gloat； only to share the excitement。 But Crystal was furious。 Hurt； jealousy； anger…Chloe had never been able to sort through her twin"s rage。 Crystal had run from the house； taken her small sports car； and sped away。 Within an hour the police were at the door to report that the small car had skidded on the wet road and slammed into a tree。 Crystal had died instantly。 Chloe twitched。 Her forehead was bathed in sweat。 Throwing an arm over her eyes； she sank more deeply into the sofa。 For years she had lived with the guilt of causing Crystal"s death。 But there was new guilt now。 Ross had fallen in love with her and she had allowed it to happen。 Since she couldn"t marry him； he would be hurt； which was the last thing she wanted。 He deserved the best； the finest。 He deserved a wife and children and all those things she might have wanted herself； had life been different。 Causing him pain increased her own pain ten…fold。 Because； when all was said and done； she loved him； too。 That was the deepest layer unearthed in her soul…search。 She did love Ross； but it had no future。 There would always be yesterday and the ghosts she lived with。 Ross had stolen her heart； but only a part。 The rest had either died with Crystal； or died a little more each time she saw the grief on her parents" faces。 Ross deserved a wholehearted woman。 She wanted that for him。 After developing a throbbing migraine； Chloe was in bed by eight； and there was pain beyond her head。 Ross"s scent clung to her sheets； the remembered feel of his body scared her skin。 She burned inside； with no outlet。 In time she fell asleep。 After two nights without； it was deep and mercifully uninterrupted。 She woke up only when Lee hollered from the foot of the stairs； 〃Chloe？ Rise and shine！〃 She yawned； stretched； remembered and felt pain； then relief。 Lee often woke her with a yell。 This wouldn"t be the last time。 Life would go on without Ross。 Yes； it would。 Climbing from bed； she showered； dressed； neatened the room and joined Lee for breakfast。 〃Good weekend； kid？〃 he asked around a mouthful of toast。 〃Not bad。〃 〃So what happened？〃 〃Nothing。〃 〃He didn"t sleep at my place Saturday night； Chloe。〃 She helped herself to coffee。 〃How do you know he stayed over Saturday night？ How do you know he didn"t go back to New York？〃 〃His car was here Sunday morning。〃 She couldn"t begrudge him the gentle teasing。 He was a dear friend。 〃You"re getting snoopy in your old age。〃 〃I live right next door。 How could I miss it？〃 〃You could have looked the other way。〃 〃And pass up the pleasure of seeing you blush？ You don"t do it very often； you know。〃 With determined steadiness she sipped her coffee。 〃I"m not doing it now。 What you see is the freshness of morning…〃 ；；…made fresher by a stimulating weekend。〃 〃Stimulating；〃 she said with a grunt。 〃That"s one word for it。〃 〃He"s a good man； Chloe。 I liked him。〃 〃He liked you； too。 The two of you aren"t all that different。〃 〃Maybe because we care about you。〃 Chloe smiled。 〃You"re sweet。〃 She changed the subject。 〃When do you leave for Washington？〃 〃Hold on； pretty lady。 I"m still curious。 You and that guy had a thing going once。 Is it on again？〃 Quietly； she said； 〃I never talked about "a thing" with Ross。 I said I knew him and that whatever might have been between us was over。 Don"t read something into it that isn"t there。〃 〃You make a nice pair。〃 〃It"s not your affair。〃 Lee backed off。 〃You"re right。 It"s not。 If I had any sense I"d marry you myself。〃 Chloe was suddenly cross。 〃I wouldn"t say yes to you； either！〃 〃So he did ask you。〃 Her partner smiled。 〃Fast worker； that one。〃 Unable to e up with a suitably indignant retort； she stood up with her mug and made to flee to her office。 〃What about breakfast？〃 Lee"s voice trailed after her。 〃I"m not hungry！〃 〃You shouldn"t work on an empty stomach。〃 Ross had said the same thing Saturday。 〃I"ll live！〃 she shouted over her shoulder and closed the office door。 The telephone jangled； a merciful reminder of the workday ahead。 It was Alabama。 Had she made a decision on handling the study for the citizens" group in Mobile？ No。 She hadn"t even thought about it once during the weekend。 It would mean a week on loca