oday　we　played　'far　out。'

Tonight；　let's　play　in。'　e　on。　How　about　it？　Just　this　once？〃

The　odd　note　of　pleading　in　his　voice　brought　Chloe's　head　slowly　up。　He

looked　so　innocent；　so　hopeful；　that　she　couldn't　turn　him　down。　〃Just

this　once；〃　she　gave　in　softly；　forcing　the　semblance　of　a　smile　to

；Minerable　lips。

There　was　no　semblance　of　anything　in　Ross's　smile。　It　was　blatantly

broad　and　open；　relieved　and　pleased。　It　warmed　her；　reassured　her；

amused　her。　And　it　most　definitely　excited　her。

That　terrified　her。

Before　she　could　back　out；　though；　he　said；　〃It's　a　date。　See　you　at

eight。〃

He　turned　and　made　for　the　phone；　leaving　Chloe　to　gather　the　pieces　of

her　fast…splintering　resolve　and　struggle　with　makeshift　repairs　before

evening　rolled　around。

It　wasn't　an　easy　task。　Ross　seemed　to　be　everywhere　she　turned。　He　used

her　office　to　make　his　calls；　lounging　back　in　her　chair；　legs　long　and

straight；　crossed　lazily　at　the　ankles；　propped　on　the　corner　of　her

desk。

His　presence　filled　the　room　so　that　it　took　a　conscious　effort　on

Chloe's　part　to　quietly　creep　in　and　steal　her　own　work。　He　followed　her

every　move　with　interest；　though　he　was　at　the　same　time　maddeningly

capable　of　carrying　on　his　end　of　what　was　obviously　a　business

discussion。

After　retreating　to　the　back　porch　to　bask　in　the　rays　of　the　westward

sun；　she　put　her　best　effort　into　organizing　the　papers　on　her　lap。　But

her　best　effort　was　sadly　lacking。　Her　mind　wandered。　Then　Ross　appeared

in　the　flesh　to　ask　about　a　bucket；　a　sponge；　and　some　old　towels。　He

was　right　on　schedule；　his　self…satisfied　air　a