one　meal　you've　nearly　wiped　me　out。〃

〃So　we'll　go　to　the　market。　What　else？〃

She　adlibbed。　〃I　need　new　house　plants　for　the　living　room。　With　winter

ing　on…〃

〃Winter？　It's　creeping　up　toward　seventy　again　today。　How　can　you　think

of　winter？〃

〃It'll　be　here。　And　anyway；　the　sooner　the　plants　get　used　to　the　house；

the　easier　it　will　be　for　them　to　adapt　to　the　cooler　weather。〃

His　gaze　narrowed。　〃I　bet　you　talk　to　your　plants。〃

〃No。　If　I　did　that；　they　might　think　I　was　flaky。　I　want　my　plants　to

respect　me。〃

She　doubted　Ross　heard　her。　He　was　focusing　on　her　mouth；　looking

entranced。　Suddenly　he　slid　the　fingers　of　both　hands　through　the　hair

on　either　side　of　her　face；　brought　his　own　head　down；　and　kissed　her

again。　This　time　there　was　a　hunger　there　hadn't　been　before；　a　new

urgency。　This　time　Chloe　was　frightened。　How　not　to　lose　herself　in　that

hunger？

〃Ross；〃　she　cried；　〃don't；　please；　don't。〃

He　released　her。　His　voice　remained　husky；　but　his　eyes　held　a　promise。

〃I　won't　push　you　now。　But　you　will　love　me　one　day。　One　day　soon。〃

〃You're　wrong…〃

〃Not　this　time；　princess。〃　He　paused　to　let　his　breathing　steady。　〃Let's

go。　We'll　stop　for　lunch　first。　I'm　starved。〃

Chloe　took　a　steadying　breath　of　her　own。　〃After　that　breakfast？〃

〃That　breakfast；〃　he　grumbled；　〃was　interrupted。　And　anyway；　that　was

this　morning。　It's　nearly　two。　Any　more　feeble　excuses　to　try　on　me

before　we　leave？〃

Chloe　looked　around　her　office。　Its　familiarity　gave　her　strength。

Indifference。　She　could　do　it。

〃Not　a　one；〃　she　said；　preceding　Ross　from　the　room　without　another

word。　It　was