eon
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。
R