She frowned。 〃Howard called you？〃 〃Ross called me。 I think his offer is good。〃 〃Offer？ Ross？ What are you talking about？〃 It was Lee"s turn to frown。 〃I"m talking about the phone call I received from Ross Stephenson no more than a half hour ago。 He wants to retain our services。 What are you talking about？〃 A furious Chloe leaned on Lee"s desk。 〃I already refused him！ I"m talking about the phone call from Howard Wolschinski saying that Ross is ready to revise the Rye Beach proposal。〃 〃That"s great！〃 〃It"s not！ He wants me to work with him and that"s the last thing I want to do！〃 Lee was suddenly very gentle and very serious。 He pointed her into a chair and rounded the desk to make sure that she sat。 Perching nearby； he said； 〃Okay； pretty lady。 Tell me about it。〃 She felt utterly helpless。 〃Ross is willing to make the changes； but he refuses to go by my report。 He wants me to work with his people； in person； in New York。〃 〃gather；〃 he said； stroking his beard； 〃that you aren"t bothered by New York； per se。〃 〃You gather correctly。〃 〃Chloe； what"s wrong？〃 he asked softly。 〃The man seems intelligent and honest。 You shouldn"t have any problem。 You can be in and out of the city in no time。〃 At wit"s end； she said； 〃He thinks he"s in love with me； that"s the problem。 If it were only a matter of business； I wouldn"t worry。 But Ross says he wants to marry me。〃 〃So what"s the problem？〃 〃can"t marry him。〃 She pleaded for his understanding。 〃And I"m not sure I can take his constant pressure。〃 〃Are you afraid you might give in？〃 He erased the question with a wave。 〃Backtrack。 Why can"t you marry him？ You"re free。〃 〃Not quite。〃 〃You"re not making sense； pretty lady。 From what I can see； there"s nothing in the world to keep you from marrying Ross。〃 〃What if I don"t love him？〃 she blurted out。 〃If you don"t love him； then you"re right to hold out。 And if you don"t love him； you"ll have no trouble putting him off。 He"ll get tired after a while。〃 Lee was watching her face very； very closely。 〃That"s not the real problem； is it？ You do love him。〃 She blew out a breath； turning it into a sigh； and looked at the ceiling。 〃I suppose。 But I can"t marry him。 Being with him can only be painful for both of us。〃 〃If he believed that； he wouldn"t be asking to work with you。〃 She grunted。 〃So why did he call you？〃 〃He wants to retain us as consultants。 Did you actually say that you refused him？〃 ：；Yes。 He brought it up yesterday morning before he left。〃 〃But it"s what we need； Chloe。 You mentioned trying to get corporate work when we talked on Saturday。 The timing couldn"t be better。〃 She eyed him sharply。 〃Did you say something to him while he was here？ Did you tell him we were looking for new business？〃 She didn"t want Ross"s pity； or his charity。 〃I did not！ For one thing； I didn"t have a minute alone with the man from the time I left here Friday night。 You monopolized him。〃 She snorted and looked away。 〃He"s as sneaky as they e。〃 〃That"s no way to talk about the man who loves you。〃 〃Lee； puleeze。〃 He held up a hand。 〃Okay。 I won"t tease。 This isn"t teasing stuff。 He"ll pay a monthly retainer as an advance on services rendered。 If we work more； we bill him for the overage。 If we work less； we keep the retainer。 It couldn"t be better。〃 That didn"t surprise Chloe。 Ross might be a rat； a snake； and a fox； but he wasn"t a thief。 〃The work is right up our alley；〃 Lee was saying。 〃The Hansen Corporation is involved in dozens of different projects at any given time。 There"d be variety and involvement in important issues…〃 〃You"re right； Lee；〃 she cut in。 〃I can"t argue。 The logic of this is perfect。 By all means； accept his proposal； as long as you work with him。〃 She said the last with a touch of venom。 She was being pushed into a corner； and was striking out at the only person in sight。 〃He"d be hiring the firm； Chloe。 I might be working on one project； you might be called for the next。〃 〃I don"t think I can do that on a continuing basis。 It"d be too painful。 You can work for him。 I won"t。〃 〃But your area of expertise is different from mine。〃 〃My mind is made up。〃 Surprisingly； there was little tension in the silence that followed。 Chloe wanted to think that her outburst had cleared the air。 At least； she"d been honest。 Lee knew how she felt。 〃You know； Chloe；〃 he said； sitting straighter。 〃You were right the other day when we talked。 I don"t know everything about you…all those little secrets you keep bottled up inside。 I didn"t even know so many existed until this business with Ross。〃 He grew beseechful。 〃But you have to work out whatever it is that"s bothering you。 Hell； you should be with him； Chloe。 He loves you； you love him。 Do you have any idea how many marriages are based on much less？〃 Lee had been married。 He knew this firsthand。 〃But a man like Ross deserves more than I can give him。〃 Lee tossed a hand in the air。 〃That"s a bunch of crap； and you know it。 If you want him； you can work out the kinks that hang you up。〃 He rose and went to the window； stared out； turned back。 〃Damn it； Chloe； you have so much going for you。 Are you going to sit back and let some great mystery from the past ruin your future？ I thought you were a doer！ You wouldn"t be where you are today if you didn"t believe in working for what you believe in。〃 Chloe couldn"t say a thing。 Lee had never talked to her this way before。 If another man had said what he had； she would have ignored him。 But she couldn"t ignore Lee。 She respected his opinion too much。 The horrified look on his face said that he hadn"t planned the outburst。 He softened。 〃Hey； I"m sorry。 I came across a little too strong。〃 He paused。 〃But I meant what I said。 Either you can let it continue to get you down or you can fight it。〃 He thrust the long fingers of one hand through his hair。 〃rich； I don"t even know what it is。 But I believe that you can overe whatever。 I don"t know what you were before； Chloe； but you"re a strong woman now。 Don"t let a good thing escape。〃 She smiled sadly。 〃You don"t understand。〃 〃No。 I don