ght　not　get　to　any

store；　but　they　would　have　a　barrel　of　much…needed　cold　water　between

them！

But　too　late。　He　was　at　her　heels　as　she　led　the　way　to　the　side　shed

that　housed　her　motorbike。

〃You　drive　this　yourself？〃　Ross　asked；　eyeing　the　small　vehicle　with

something　short　of　trust。

〃Sure；〃　she　said；　praying　that　he　not　hear　her　breathlessness　and　guess

its　cause。　〃It's　great　for　the　fresh　air；　uses　practically　no　gas；　and

does　much　less　by　way　of　pollution　than　my　car。〃　She　paused。　〃Unless

you'd　feel　safer…〃

〃No。　No。　I'm　game。　Don't　forget…of　the　two　of　us；　I'm　the　original

hippie。〃

Chloe　drove　with　Ross　straddling　the　seat　behind　her；　and　it　was　totally

traumatic。　He　was　near；　so　near。　His　arms　were　locked　about　her　waist；

his　body　tucked　against　hers。　Even　the　October　breeze　whipping　by　did

nothing　to　relieve　the　intimacy　of　the　trip。　When　he　spoke；　it　was　a

nibble　at　her　ear。　A　nibble？　Had　he　really　done　that@r　was　it　a　product

of　her　overworked　imagination？

Indifference。　Uh…huh。

The　road　they　traveled　was　one　she　covered　daily。　Its　sides　were　edged

with　maples　and　oaks；　grown　ripe　and　mellow　now；　on　the　verge　of

bursting　into　autumn　flame。　Fields　sprawled　to　the　right；　wooded

pastureland　to　the　left。　Ahead　undulated　a　path　to　Sakon　Point；　the

very　tip　of　the　finger　of　land　on　which　Little　pton　sat　just　across

the　bay　from　Newport。

If　Ross　was　aware　of　the　havoc　his　nearness　wreaked　on　her；　he　kept　his

smugness　in　check。　Once；　in　a　gesture　of　soft　intimacy；　he　released　her

waist　to　gather　her　hair　together　in　his　hands；　twist　the　long　fall

once；　and　tuck　it　inside