pretty　woman　I　meet？〃

〃Of　course　not。　I　just　wanted　you　to　know　not　to　expect　something　I

can't　give。〃

〃Won't　give；〃　he　corrected　a　second　time。　〃The　end　result　is　the　same。

You　understand；　don't　you？〃

〃No；　I　hear　you。　I'm　listening。〃　He　was　sober。　〃But　I　don't　understand。

You　haven't　given　me　a　good　reason　to　understand　yet。　Most　women　with

your　looks　would　have　reached　the　point；　at　age　twenty…nine；　where　they

could　recognize　something　deeper。〃

Chloe　felt　stymied。　〃What　do　my　looks　have　to　do　with　anything？〃

The　amber　gaze　that　touched　her　curves　gave　the　answer　even　before　he

spoke。　〃You're　beautiful；　Chloe。　Beautiful　women　have　options。　You've

never　married？〃

〃No。〃

〃You　must　date　often。〃

〃I　have　friends。〃

〃Male　friends？〃

〃Some。〃

〃Serious　male　friends？〃

When　she　shrugged；　he　looked　at　the　ceiling。　〃What　I'm　trying　to　find

out　is　whether　you're　going　with　someone；　living　with　someone；　or

engaged　to　someone。〃

For　an　instant；　Chloe　imagined　he　was　a　frustrated　suitor。　She　smiled　at

the　thought。　〃No；　Ross。　I　date　here　and　there；　but　there's　no　one

special。　I　live　alone。〃

When　he　expelled　a　breath；　she　suspected　it　was　for　effect。　〃Thank　you；〃

he　added　facetiously；　then　sobered。　〃Do　you　go　home　much？〃

Chloe　flinched。　〃No。〃　That　was　another　topic　better　left　alone。　〃What

about　you？　What　was　that　'rigid　discipline'　you　suffered　through？〃

〃My　father　was　heart…and…soul　Army。　A　career　man。　Our　house　was　run　like

a　barracks。　It　was　almost　a　treat　when　I　was　sent　to　military　school。〃

〃Oh；　my。　It's　no　wonder　you　freaked　out。〃

Ross　laughed。　〃Freaked　out？　That's