Without waiting for her response he went on; his voice low but
relentless; his gaze intense。 He put his hands on the table。 〃When was
the last time you saw a flower child? Hmm? Theyve vanished。 Disbanded。
Lost the war。〃 The pause he took was for a deep breath。 〃Well; I havent
lost。 Im working from within to change things。 Did that ever occur to
you; Chloe? Youve been so quick to label me first one way; then the
other。 Did it ever occur to you that your impression wasnt even skin
deep; that theres a me under it all?〃
It was a while before Chloe was able to speak。 She certainly didnt know
Ross。 This speech presented a new side of him。 And he was right。
〃Im sorry;〃 she said。 〃It was wrong of me to do that。 Im not always
that way。〃 She tried a smile in apology。 To her relief; it seemed to
work。 His features relaxed。
〃Only with me; eh?〃 He inhaled deeply and stood tall; holding his breath
for a minute while his head fell back; then releasing it as his eyes met
hers。
She felt suitably contrite and suddenly drained。 〃You have a knack for
bringing out my extremes。 I guess Im just tired。 Its late。〃 A glance
at the bold face of Rosss watch told her exactly how late。 〃Oh; Lord!
Its two in the morning!〃 She caught her breath; looked at the ceiling;
and whispered; 〃Do you think weve woken anyone up?〃
Rosss chiding was gentle。 〃No need to whisper now。 If our yelling
didnt wake em; nothing will。〃 He took the two empty coffee cups and
brought them to the sink。
Chloe wiped off the table。 〃If it hadnt been for that battery; Id have
been back home in bed by now。〃
〃Instead;〃 he teased; 〃weve had a chance to get reacquainted。 Urn;
acquainted。〃
Chloe stopped wiping and straightened。 Getting acquainted was one thing;
but where did they go from there? The physical attraction that had been
rekindled with a vengeance earlier; weighed heavily on her now。
〃Uh…uh; Chloe。〃 He came up behind her。 〃Just relax。〃 She looked back;
wondering how he knew。 〃I can feel it in the air…that whatever…it is
that disturbs you。〃 He took the cloth from her and tossed it into the
sink。 〃I wont pounce。 Ill just walk you to your room。〃
That was exactly what he did。 He halted on the threshold。 〃The manager
said hed leave plenty of towels。 I wish I could offer you something