vastatingly　handsome

smile　that　spread　across　his　face。　The　hands　that　were　looped　loosely

behind　her；　now　brought　her　closer。

〃Nothing　about　you　is　dull；〃　he　said；　〃except　your　determination　to　hold

me　at　arms'　length。〃

Arms'　length　was　a　lot　farther　than　where　she　was　now。　Well　within　the

circle　of　his　arms；　with　her　hands　braced　at　the　point　where　his　jeans

met　his　hips；　she　was　under　his　spell。

Ross　lowered　his　head　and　kissed　her；　tasting　the　sweetness　of　her

mouth；　and　it　struck　her　that　she　might　well　have　been　too　successful　at

her　own　game。　By　denying　the　past；　she　was　responding　to　him　in　the

present　alone。　Her　return　kiss　was　gentle；　sampling。　She　played　with

being　free　of　all　memory；　all　guilt。　Her　lips　opened　to　his。　She　gave　of

herself　as　she　hadn't　done　in　years。

〃That　was　nice；〃　he　whispered　against　her　mouth；　then　pulled　away　and

set　her　back　before　she　could　do　it　herself。　He　trailed　a　long　thumb

across　her　cheek　to　the　lips　he'd　just　left。　〃We'll　do　it　again　soon。〃

It　was　said　so　gently　and　carried　such　lightness　that　Chloe　couldn't

help　but　smile。　A　warm　flush　painted　her　cheeks　a　ely　pink；

plementing　the　gray　of　her　eyes；　which　held　a　hint　of　apology。　〃You

have　a　way　of　sneaking　up　when　a　girl　least　expects　it；　Ross。　What　am　I

going　to　do　with　you？〃

His　gaze　told　her　first；　and　there　was　something　heady　about　it；　until

he　added；　〃You're　going　to　love　me　one　day。　That's　what　you're　going　to

do。〃

She　stiffened；　but　he　went　on。　〃Right　now；　you're　going　for　a　ride　with

me。〃

〃I　have　errands　to　do；〃　she　protested。

〃Like？　〃

〃Like　marketing；　for　starters。　In