beach。　〃It's　another　beautiful　day。〃

〃Uh…huh。〃　His　voice　was　muffled。　He　had　turned　back　to　his　cooking。　Chlo

soon　he　was　addressing　her　again。　〃Sleep　well？〃

〃Not　bad。〃　Once　she　had　fallen　asleep。　〃How　about　you？〃

He　had　turned　to　reach　for　plates　from　the　cupboard。　〃About　the　same。〃

It　was　an　odd　choice　of　words；　she　mused；　unless　she　was　so　transparent

that　he　could　see　her　thoughts。　If　there　was　smugness　on　his　face；

though；　she　couldn't　see　it。　He　was　cooking。　All　she　saw　was　his　back。

There　was　a　full　head　of　thick　and　vibrant　dark　hair；　a　torso　whose

firmness　was　shown　off　by　the　snug　fit　of　his　sweater；　a　pair　of　lean

denim　hips　and　long；　sturdy　legs；　not　to　mention　well…worn　leather

boots。

She　took　a　deep；　steadying　breath。　If　he　had　dressed　to　kill　on　purpose；

she　could　resist。　She　wasn't　buying　what　he　had　to　offer。　She　wasn't。

〃All　set？〃　Grinning；　he　placed　two　brimming　plates　on　the　table。　When

she　gaped　at　hers　in　dismay；　he　added　a　gentle；　〃Don't　worry。　Whatever

you　can't　finish；　I　will。〃

She　pushed　away　from　the　window　seat　with　a　grimace。　〃You'd　better　get

started　then。　I'm　nearly　finished。〃　She　held　up　her　drained　coffee　cup。

〃This　is　all　I　usually　have；　with　a　slice　of　toast　or　a　muffin。〃　Still；

she　took　a　seat　opposite　him。　She　stared　at　the　plate；　decided　that　the

eggs　looked　pretty　good；　and　took　a　bite。

〃Do　the　people　you　work　with　know　about　your　past？〃

Her　eyes　flew　to　his；　warning；　then　haunted。　She　gave　him　a　wan　smile。

〃You　make　it　sound　lurid。〃　She　pushed　home　fries　around　her　plate。　〃They

know　where　I　e　from…some　even　know　that　I　had　a　sister。　Lee　knows

most