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you're my princess。〃 With a groan； he pressed her to him。 She felt his
desire as she tried to deny her own； but that same coil of need gnawed
within her。 She was on the verge of losing control。
〃No！〃 Her scream echoed back through her with such force that only
Ross's arms kept her standing。 As she sagged against him； he eased down
onto the sand； turning her to sit with her back to his chest； her knees
bent and bounded by his。 He said nothing； just held her； his arms
wrapped around her middle。
Chloe couldn't have moved if she'd tried。 Drained by emotional strain；
she closed her eyes and breathed in deeply of the slow…cooling air。
When Ross spoke long moments later； she was surprised to hear humor in
his voice。 〃Not bad for a novice。〃
〃What？〃
〃That scream。 For someone who says she doesn't do that kind of thing；
you sure let loose！〃
She let out a breath and grinned； feeling oddly calm。 〃I guess I did。
You have a way of doing the weirdest things to me。〃
〃I certainly hope so；〃 he drawled。
〃 Ross…〃
〃Shh。 I've heard enough from you for a while。 I want you to listen。〃
〃But…〃
〃Shh！ I have something to say。〃
〃You…umph！〃 The breath was forced from her by a squeeze to her middle。
She didn't try to speak again。
〃Better；〃 he said。 〃Now； listen。 I realize that you need time； and I'll
give you that。 But I'm not leaving。 Not this time。 I want to get to know
you； and I want you to get to know me。 We blew it on that score last
time。 But yesterday was one thing； today's another； and they're
different； Chloe； they're different。〃
She liked the sound of that。 Didn't know if she believed it。 But it was
fine for the moment。 Same thing with sitting against one another this
way； looking out over the last of the sunset's flaming rays。 Ross
provided support。 And heat。 She was acutely aware of his long legs； his
strong arms； his broad chest； his warm breath。 She might not have a
right to do it； but she savored the peace of the moment。
So maybe today was different。 Certainly they were eleven years older；
maybe even worlds wiser。 But Crystal had been an intrinsic part of her
life。 To forget her would be wrong。 It was more a matter of acceptance。
Could she accept the past and learn to live with it？
〃Well？〃 Ross's baritone hummed by her ear。
〃Well； what？〃 She had reached her saturation point and couldn't agonize
anymore。 He nudged her ribs。 〃Don't you have anything to say for
yourself。？〃
Her long pause was nearly as effective as the sigh that followed it。 〃I
can speak now？〃
〃Speak。〃
〃That's a beautiful sunset；〃 she mused aloud。 〃It's a treat at this time
of year； all warm and golden。 Do you have any idea what would happen if
the ozone layer were to be destroyed by the haphazard release of freon
gas？〃
〃Chlo 。。。 eee。〃
Before Ross could respond； a call of concern came from far down the
beach。
〃It's Lee；〃 Chloe explained as her partner loped toward where she and
Ross sat。 Ross made no move to hold her back when she slid from his grip
and jumped to her feet。
The timing couldn't have been better。 With those legs framing hers and
the strength of that body a serious temptation； her diversion into
envitonmental quandaries would have been temporary at best。 Lee's
appearance was a godsend。
Aware that Ross had risen beside her； Chloe kept her eyes on the
approaching figure。 〃You met Lee at the house； didn't you？〃 she asked。
〃No；〃 he said with something of a grunt。 〃Another character let me in
and directed me to you。 Is this some kind of mune you live in？〃
Lee's booming call spared Chloe from having to answer。 〃Is everything
all right； Chloe？〃 He covered the last of the distance at a more
cautious walk； making no effort to disguise his wariness of an equally
wary Ross。 〃It's getting dark。 I was beginning to worry。〃
Chloe absently clutched her left wrist； a habit dating back to the days
when she wore a watch。 Her fingers easily circled the bone。 〃Oh； my。 I'm
sorry。 I lost track of the time。 We were going to…〃 Suddenly aware that
the two men were staring at each other； she interrupted the thought and
said； 〃Lee； this is Ross Stephenson。 We knew each other a long time ago。
Ross heads the corporation responsible for the Rye Beach proposal。〃 She
looked at Ross。 〃This is Lee Haight。 Lee and I co…own ESE。〃
For a brief instant； she pictured the two men squaring off； and there
was that moment's antagonism。 She was relieved when Ross extended his
hand。 It was met by an equally large one of Lee's。
Chloe was struck by those hands； but they were only the start。 The
physical similarities between the two men； each of whom had been
instrumental in shaping her life； was amazing。 Both were tall and lean；
both had athletic builds。 While Ross's dark hair had faint wisps of gray
at the sideburns； Lee's highlights were more auburn； but both men were
tanned and inordinately good…looking。 Only their dress differentiated
their approaches to life。 Whereas Ross was the image of the casual male
of the more traditional school； Lee was； in appearance； reminiscent of
that earlier； more nonconformist phase through which the other had
passed。 While Ross wore slacks； Lee wore denim。 While Ross wore a sports
shirt； Lee wore a T…shirt emblazoned with an apt MAN。 Ross wore well kept
loafers； Lee had on a pair of battered running shoes。 And then there was
that neatly trimmed beard of Lee's that stretched from ear to ear； much
as Ross's had on the night Chloe had met him。
It had never occurred to her to pare the two men before； but on all
counts the likeness was astounding。
Apparently Ross saw it； too。 He grinned slowly； almost slyly。 〃It looks
like Chloe's taste in men hasn't changed all that much； after all；〃 he
said； with such a lack of malice that Lee relaxed a little。
〃I intend to take that statement at its most positive； friend。 This
little lady is very near and dear to me。〃 He threw a protective arm
about Chloe's shoulder； drawing her to him with his customary
possessiveness。 She had always liked that； and did even more so now。 His
presence made her feel less vulnerable。 She chuckled when Lee added；
〃Are you friend or foe？〃
〃Friend； by all means；〃 Ross replied。
〃Then I take it you're not here on business；〃 Lee concluded。 〃And you
can't be passing through。〃
Chloe laughed this time。 〃I've been through all that with him； Lee。 He
knows precisely where he is。〃
Lee glanced her way。 〃Sounds ominous。〃 He looked at Ross。 〃How long are
you in for？〃
〃I was hoping to spend the weekend here；〃 Ross answered with a calm that
had the opposite effect on Chloe。 Her stomach was suddenly filled with
butterflies。 They fluttered wildly when those amber eyes turned to her。
〃If Chloe is free。〃
Chloe didn't know whether Lee sensed her internal turmoil； but she was
eternally grateful for the arm that tightened around her shoulders。
〃You'll have a fight on your hands；〃 he said。 〃I have a prior claim on
her。 Your big corporation may be able to do without you for the weekend；
but our small one isn't so generous。〃 Looking down at her； he said；
〃There were several calls for you。 Alabama called again on that toxic
waste burning problem。 I told t