天锡小说网

第19部分（第3页）

other　day　when　we　talked。　I　dont　know　everything　about　you…all　those

little　secrets　you　keep　bottled　up　inside。　I　didnt　even　know　so　many

existed　until　this　business　with　Ross。〃　He　grew　beseechful。　〃But　you

have　to　work　out　whatever　it　is　thats　bothering　you。　Hell；　you　should

be　with　him；　Chloe。　He　loves　you；　you　love　him。　Do　you　have　any　idea　how

many　marriages　are　based　on　much　less？〃　Lee　had　been　married。　He　knew

this　firsthand。

〃But　a　man　like　Ross　deserves　more　than　I　can　give　him。〃

Lee　tossed　a　hand　in　the　air。　〃Thats　a　bunch　of　crap；　and　you　know　it。

If　you　want　him；　you　can　work　out　the　kinks　that　hang　you　up。〃　He　rose

and　went　to　the　window；　stared　out；　turned　back。　〃Damn　it；　Chloe；　you

have　so　much　going　for　you。　Are　you　going　to　sit　back　and　let　some　great

mystery　from　the　past　ruin　your　future？　I　thought　you　were　a　doer！　You

wouldnt　be　where　you　are　today　if　you　didnt　believe　in　working　for

what　you　believe　in。〃

Chloe　couldnt　say　a　thing。　Lee　had　never　talked　to　her　this　way　before。

If　another　man　had　said　what　he　had；　she　would　have　ignored　him。　But　she

couldnt　ignore　Lee。　She　respected　his　opinion　too　much。

The　horrified　look　on　his　face　said　that　he　hadnt　planned　the　outburst。

He　softened。　〃Hey；　Im　sorry。　I　came　across　a　little　too　strong。〃　He

paused。　〃But　I　meant　what　I　said。　Either　you　can　let　it　continue　to　get

you　down　or　you　can　fight　it。〃　He　thrust　the　long　fingers　of　one　hand

through　his　hair。　〃rich；　I　dont　even　know　what　it　is。　But　I　believe

that　you　can　overe　whatever。　I　dont　know　what　you　were　before；

Chloe；　but　youre　a　strong　woman　now。　Dont　let　a　good　thing　escape。〃

She　smiled　sadly。　〃You　dont　understand。〃

〃No。　I　dont。〃　He　sighed。　〃What　say　we　drop　it　for　a　while？〃　At　her　nod；

he　added　a　final　thought。　〃But　promise　me　that　if　you　want　to　talk；

youll　e　to　me？　I　have　broad　shoulders。〃

She　stood　and　gave　him　a　hug。　〃Thanks；　Lee。　I　appreciate　that。〃

Stepping　back；　she　looked　up　at　him。　Funny；　he　was　warm　and　strong　and

in　his　way　as　good…looking　as　Ross；　but　she　felt　no　desire；　no　great

inner　spark。

Lee　held　out　a　hand。　〃Friends？〃

She　met　his　hand。　〃Friends。〃

〃And　well　accept　the　offer　from　Stephenson？〃

She　yanked　her　hand　back。　〃No。　Yes。　I　dont　know。〃　She　strode　toward　the

door。　〃Do　what　you　want！〃

How　to　go　from　high　to　low　in　seconds；　she　mused；　as　she　returned　to　her

office　and　settled　in　at　the　desk。　Ross　was　forcing　her　hand；　totally