hloe was stunned。 She stood up and cried； 〃It was all a charade； then？
The clothes； the beard； even the Peace Corps？〃 She turned away；
disillusioned and heartsick。 Head bowed； she grappled with the idea of
an attraction based on a lie。
Ross materialized before her。 〃Did it matter so much？〃 he asked softly。
When she neither answered nor looked up； he put a finger under her chin
and forced it up。 Her eyes were dry； but she knew they held pain。 She
couldn't hide that； couldn't even try。
〃Did it？〃 he asked。
Chloe felt a well of emotion； emotion that had lain dormant for years。
Ross was so close that the warmth of his body was an intoxicant。 She
used the power of that to speak。 〃Yes。 It mattered more than you can
imagine。〃
〃But why？ The physical attraction between us had nothing to do with
outer trappings。 As I recall； we shed our clothes pretty fast。〃 Chloe
tried to pull away； he held her chin。 〃Don't run from it。 There was
something between us that you can't deny。 Are you telling me you made
love to an image？〃 His tone was suddenly cooler。 〃Was it an experiment
for you？ Was I a tool in your rebellion？〃 His fingers tightened on her
jaw。 Reflexively； she held his wrist。
〃No。 That wasn't it at all。〃 She was hurt that he would suggest it。 〃All
you seem to think about is the physical act。 Yes； there was a physical
attraction。 With and without clothes。 But for me； at least； there was
more involved。 There had to be。〃 Her voice rose。 〃I was a virgin； for
God's sake。〃
Ross must have felt her hurt； because he relaxed his grip。 He moved his
fingers back to her ear； pushing them through the long strands of