brilliance；　my　experience；　or　my　expertise　in　the　field！〃

〃Depends　on　what　field　you're　referring　to；〃　he　drawled。　〃In　the　field

of　passion…〃

〃That　wasn't　the　one　I　was　talking　about；　and　you　know　it。　Why　do　you

twist　my　words；　Ross？　Do　you　like　upsetting　me？〃

He　was　suddenly　sober。　〃No。　I'm　trying　to　good　you　into　facing　your

feelings。　I　love　you；　Chloe。　I　want　to　have　you　near　me；　so　I

manipulated　your　cooperation。　You　may　not　be　ready　to　admit　that　you

need　me　as　much　as　I　need　you；　but　I　have　no　pride。　I　need　you；　and　I'm

not　giving　you　up。　Not　yet；　at　any　rate。〃

Chloe　listened　sadly。　He　sounded　honest　and　sincere。　Maybe　he　did　need

her。　But　what　about　her　needs？　〃You're　rushing　me；　Ross。　I　don't　know

whether　I'm　ing　or　going。　Please；　give　me　time？〃

〃You　have　till　Wednesday。　I've　made　arrangements　for　you　to　take　the

nine…fifty　train　from　Providence。〃

〃The　train？　I'd　rather　drive。　It's　more　convenient。〃

〃I　don't　want　you　driving　into　the　city。　Leave　your　car　in　Providence。

Your　ticket　will　be　held　there　for　you　and　I'll　be　at　the　station

waiting。〃

〃Ross…〃

〃It's　settled。〃

Her　lips　turned　down。　〃That's　what　I　like　about　you。　You're　so

democratic。〃　He　said　a　gentle　〃I　love　you；　too；〃　before　hanging　up。

Ross　was　indeed　waiting　at　the　station　when　her　train　pulled　in。　She　had

barely　stepped　onto　the　platform　when　he　was　beside　her。　He　took　her　bag

and　her　arm　in　one　smooth　move。　〃Have　a　good　trip？〃　he　asked；　glancing

down　as　he　guided　her　along。

〃It　was　fine。〃　And　she　had　to　admit　that　there　was　something　fine　about

being　met　like　this；　something　that　went　beyond　mere　conven