第6部分(第2/9 頁)

　〃No　need　to　whisper　now。　If　our　yelling

didn't　wake　'em；　nothing　will。〃　He　took　the　two　empty　coffee　cups　and

brought　them　to　the　sink。

Chloe　wiped　off　the　table。　〃If　it　hadn't　been　for　that　battery；　I'd　have

been　back　home　in　bed　by　now。〃

〃Instead；〃　he　teased；　〃we've　had　a　chance　to　get　reacquainted。　Urn；

acquainted。〃

Chloe　stopped　wiping　and　straightened。　Getting　acquainted　was　one　thing；

but　where　did　they　go　from　there？　The　physical　attraction　that　had　been

rekindled　with　a　vengeance　earlier；　weighed　heavily　on　her　now。

〃Uh…uh；　Chloe。〃　He　came　up　behind　her。　〃Just　relax。〃　She　looked　back；

wondering　how　he　knew。　〃I　can　feel　it　in　the　air…that　whatever…it　is

that　disturbs　you。〃　He　took　the　cloth　from　her　and　tossed　it　into　the

sink。　〃I　won't　pounce。　I'll　just　walk　you　to　your　room。〃

That　was　exactly　what　he　did。　He　halted　on　the　threshold。　〃The　manager

said　he'd　leave　plenty　of　towels。　I　wish　I　could　offer　you　something

else。　You　seem　to　be　without　those　。。。　things　that　most　women　can't　live

without。〃

She　smiled。　〃I　don't　need　anything。〃

〃A　shirt？　Would　you　like　a　fresh　shirt　of　mine　in　place　of　a　。。。　a。。

〃Negligee？〃　Her　smile　widened。　〃No；　thanks；　Ross。　If　the　sheets　are

clean；　they'll　be　covering　enough。　But　I　have　to　get　an　early　start　in

the　morning。〃

He　nodded。　〃I　called　the　garage　while　you　were　making　our　di