乐文小说网

第4部分（第1页）

charmingly　ancient　house。　〃Any　luck？〃　she　asked　when　he　reached　the　car。

〃Theres　good　news　and　bad　news。〃　He　was　leaning　down　to　talk　through

the　window　again。

〃Give　me　the　good　news　first；〃　Chloe　said。　She　needed　that；　needed　it

bad。

He　grinned。　〃The　good　news　is　that　you　have　the　penthouse。〃

She　looked　up　the　inns　facade　to　the　very　top；　the　third　floor。

Assuming　the　attic　was　clean　and　had　a　bed；　it　would　do。　〃The　penthouse

is　fine。〃　She　scrunched　up　her　face。　〃Whats　the　bad　news？〃

He　opened　the　door　with　a　flourish。　〃The　bad　news　is　that　no　one　serves

food　at　this　hour。　The　night　manager　here　says　we　can　raid　his

refrigerator；　though。〃　He　paused；　staring　down　at　her　for　a　minute

before　offering　his　hand　to　help　her　out。　〃The　service　wont　be　fancy。

Well　be　on　our　own。〃　The　warning　note　in　his　voice　jarred　her。　He　was

remembering　the　old　Chloe。　That　Chloe　had　been　spoiled。　She　hadnt　known

how　to　cook；　having　had　everything　done　for　her　for　the　entire　eighteen

years　of　her　life。　But　her　lifestyle　had　changed　drastically　since　then。

She　rose　from　the　car。　〃Thats　fine。　I　think　we　can　manage。〃　Oh；　yes；

she　could　certainly　manage　to　put　together　a　meal。　She　was　actually　a

fine　cook　now。　But　it　occurred　to　her　that　she　and　Ross　would　be　alone。

She　wasnt　so　sure　about　managing　that。

A　frown　creased　her　brow　as　she　entered　the　inn　with　Ross　by　her　side。

He　left　his　overnight　case　at　the　front　desk　with　the　night　manager；　who

cheerfully　directed　them　into　the　kitchen；　a　decidedly　old　room　into

which　every　modern　convenience　had　been　crammed。　Chloe　made　herself　at

home。　Only　after　she　had　placed　a　crock　of　steaming　beef　stew；　put

together　from　leftovers；　and　a　half…loaf　of　what　appeared　to　be

home…baked　bread　on　the　table　did　she　realize　that　she　had　done　all　the

work。　But　it　had　kept　her　mind　occupied。　Ross　had　been　in　and　out　of　the

room　as　she　worked；　finally　settling　down　on　a　tall　stool　by　a

butcher…block　counter　to　watch。

His　presence　didnt　upset　her　now　as　much　as　it　had　earlier。　She　had

gotten　over　the　shock；　she　guessed。　Still；　she　felt　vaguely　shy　when

they　were　actually　ready　to　eat。

〃Uh；　is　there　anything　else　you　want？〃　She　skimmed　the　simple　place

settings；　the　two　large　bowls　filled　with　stew。　〃A　drink？〃

He　made　no　move　to　help　himself　For　old　times　sake；　so　the　liberated

woman　told　herself；　she　indulged　him。

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