ack 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 them you'd have an answer for them by
Monday。〃
Chloe nodded； sighing her uncertainty on the Alabama matter。 〃And the
other calls？〃
〃Derry Township called on the lecture series at the munity