Your ticket will be held there for you and I"ll be at the station waiting。〃 〃Ross…〃 〃It"s settled。〃 Her lips turned down。 〃That"s what I like about you。 You"re so democratic。〃 He said a gentle 〃I love you； too；〃 before hanging up。 Ross was indeed waiting at the station when her train pulled in。 She had barely stepped onto the platform when he was beside her。 He took her bag and her arm in one smooth move。 〃Have a good trip？〃 he asked； glancing down as he guided her along。 〃It was fine。〃 And she had to admit that there was something fine about being met like this； something that went beyond mere convenience。 New York was New York； always a little intimidating。 Ross"s protectiveness felt good； though she wasn"t about to tell him that。 〃Where are we going？〃 she asked when he hustled her to a cab； then gave the driver the same Park Avenue address to which she had sent her check。 〃I thought you"d like to see Hansen"s corporate headquarters。 The team working on the Rye Beach plex won"t be meeting until tomorrow； but you might feel more fortable seeing the layout before you get bogged down in work。 I have things to take care of while we"re there。〃 Indeed； he seemed all business。 There was no wele kiss； no hug； not even in the privacy of the cab； and she wasn"t plaining。 She had felt a jolt seeing him back at the train； and felt tingles even now。 She needed all the time she could get to regain full control。 The Hansen Corporation was every bit as impressive as she had known it would be。 Ross Stephenson wasn"t one to do things halfway。 As she toured offices that consumed three full floors； no one she saw was idle。 Her guide was one of the vice presidents； a soft…spoken man whom she instantly liked。 Ross himself had disappeared with a soft apology shortly after they arrived。 She saw nothing of him until late afternoon； when he materialized in the drafting room； where she was admiring the architect"s plans for a museum and theater plex in Des Moines。 〃What do you think？〃 Delight lit her face。 〃It"s wonderful； Ross。 You have a brilliant architect。 From the looks of the plans； this museum will be a drawing card for all of Iowa。〃 His smile held satisfaction。 〃That"s what we"re hoping。 Any suggestions？〃 She grinned。 〃You mean； will I now go on and pick the thing to bits on the geological score？〃 〃Something like that。〃 〃I have no way of knowing about this particular project。 Looking at the designs； I can mention potential sources of worry…drain pipes； for instance…but unless I know something about the land there； I can"t offer constructive criticism。〃 When Ross put his lips by her ear； she realized that it was the nearest he"d e since she arrived。 The warmth of his skin by her cheek sent a tingle through her。 〃Thank God for that；〃 he said in a stage whisper； though they were alone in the room。 He straightened。 〃The day"s pretty much over。 Let"s get going。〃 Chloe gathered her things。 It had been an unexpectedly pleasant and interesting afternoon。 If each of her days here were like it； she might survive after all。 But something hung heavy in a half…hidden corner of her mind。 It had New Orleans written all over it。 After New York； there would be Rhode Island； then Alabama。 Should she do New Orleans after that？ Would it solve anything？ Would it change her feelings for Ross？ No doubt； she did love him。 Walking down a long corridor with him now； she felt like a princess。 He ruled the place； but he was gentle and caring。 He loved her。 Was she worthy of that？ They were silent during the cab ride to Ross"s brownstone。 〃You"ll be staying here；〃 he told her calmly； breaking what was almost a truce。 〃Ohhhh； no；〃 she balked； but followed him out of the cab。 〃I"ll go to a hotel。 The city is frill of them。 You can go inside and make a call to book the room that should have been booked on Monday。〃 Ross led her up the front stairs to the tall oak door； turned the key in the lock； and let them in。 Once inside the gracious hall； he took her coat。 〃There are three floors here。 I sleep on the second。 You can have the third all to yourself。 I"m not suggesting that you sleep with me； only that you stay here。 It"ll be more convenient。〃 Chloe recalled what he had said on the phone about needing her near him。 Separate bedrooms？ On separate floors？ Remembering Rye Beach and feeling suddenly lighter； she said； 〃Okay。 I"ll take the penthouse。〃 She had taken the penthouse in Rye Beach； too。 They shared that past； and a grin of remembrance now。 〃e；〃 he said warmly。 〃I"ll show you around。〃 From first to second to third floor they went； examining furniture； artwork； and memorabilia from his travels。 No room in the house would have won a designer"s award； yet every room had a warmth that reached out to Chloe and made her feel at home。 Ross； too； made her feel at home。 He put no pressure on her； so she put none on herself They ate at a nearby restaurant； then returned for a quiet evening of reading。 When Chloe excused herself shortly after eleven； he bid her good night with a noticeable lack of lechery。 〃You"ll find an extra blanket in the closet。 If you want more towels check the cupboard in the bathroom。〃 He looked up from his papers； but didn"t rise。 〃I"ll be fine。〃 She smiled。 〃Good night。〃 〃Good night。 Sleep well。〃 One glance back as she left the room told her that he had returned to his papers。 She took the stairs slowly； one flight to the next。 This was a side of Ross she had never seen。 In the past their relationship had been shaped by physical attraction。 Now Ross seemed either immune； or holding his interest in check。 Whichever； she was grateful。 Living with him； working with him could have been a nightmare。 As it was； she was aware of the fact that he would be sleeping one short flight away。 More than once that night she held her breath； hearing a sound； wondering if he was making the climb。 Her bedroom door remained closed； and when she fell asleep； she slept well。 It was good。 Thursday and Friday were packed with work； long hours spent huddled with the masterminds of the Rye Beach plex。 They were