rekindled(英文版)-第2章

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〃Whew；〃　came　a　whisper　by　her　ear。　〃That　was　some　greeting。〃

Chloe　felt　the　color　rush　back　to　her　face。　She　realized　her
misunderstanding　when　Howard　went　on。　〃Felix　introduced　him　like　he　was
a　visiting　dignitary　instead　of　the　man　whose　blueprints　we　plan　to　tear
apart。〃

〃Please　keep　reminding　me；〃　Chloe　murmured；　to　which　the　senator
chuckled。　Then　they　both　settled　back　to　listen　to　Ross　Stephenson's
presentation。

For　Chloe；　listening　was　an　awesome　challenge。　The　sight　of　him　standing
straight　and　tall　before　the　microphone　was　a　distraction　in　and　of　it
self。　She　couldn't　help　but　admire　the　breadth　of　his　shoulders　and　the
slow　tapering　of　his　frame　toward　narrow　hips　and　long；　lean　legs。　To
her　chagrin；　she　couldn't　help　but　remember　the　skin　beneath；　firm　and
drawn　taut　over　the　muscles　of　shoulder；　chest；　and　arms；　its　dark
matting　of　hair　a　cushion　for　her　head；　a　playground　for　her　fingers。

She　forced　those　fingers　to　work　now；　making　notes　of　words　that　she
barely　heard；　that　her　mind　could　barely　assimilate。　Still　she　made
herself　concentrate；　jotting　down　thoughts　with　increasing　rapidity　in
an　attempt　to　keep　her　mind　on　the　present　and　off　the　past。

But　was　it　the　past　that　brought　her　head　up　again　and　her　gaze　back　to
Ross？　Was　she　intrigued　for　old　times'　sake　alone？　His　dark　hair　was
thick　but　well…trimmed　and　bed　into　as　much　submission　as　she　guessed
it　would　go。　Eleven　years　ago　it　had　been　longer　and　even　thicker。　With
the　beard；　he　was　like　a　bear…large；　overpowering；　dominant；　but　cuddly。
Now　there　was　a　refinement　to　him；　a　control　in　his　stance；　a
purposefulness。　Addressing　his　audience；　he　conveyed　petence　and
intelligence。

And　that　audience　was　enrapt；　some　nodding；　others　shaking　their　heads；
all　measuring　his　words　with　the　keen　interest　that　had　brought　them　out
on　this　mild　September　night。

His　voice　was　deep　and　resonant　as　it　flowed　through　the　mike　and　filled
the　room。　〃The　benefit　to　your　munity　would　be　multifold。　We're
proposing　to　use　a　parcel　of　land　that　is　presently　underused。　The
resort　will　attract　guests　who　will　patronize　local　businesses。　Food
outlets；　entertainment　houses；　restaurants；　real　estate
establishments…all　stand　to　gain　from　the　Rye　Beach　plex。　The
condominium　plex　will　bring　untold　tax　revenue　both　to　state　and
local　purses。　Given　the　easy　access　to　this　area　by　the　federal　highway
system；　the　condominium　units　will　be　in　high　demand　year　round。〃

Chloe　found　herself　listening　closely；　wondering　how　this　could　be　the
same　man　who　had　once　chosen　to　live　on　a　munal　farm　in　Kentucky。
That　free…spirited　Ross　was　a　far　cry　from　this　entrepreneurial　one。
Trying　to　reconcile　the　two　was　impossible。

Howard　leaned　close。　〃He's　a　powerful　speaker。　What　do　you　think？

Will　he　have　them　sold　before　we　even　present　our　side？〃

She　answered　without　taking　her　eyes　from　Ross。　〃Lord；　I　hope　not。　I
often　work　with　groups　of　shoreline　residents。　They　feel　strongly　about
the　land；　which　is　their　finest　resource。　I'll　be　appealing　for　the
preservation　of　that　resource。〃

〃You're　a　powerful　speaker　yourself；　Chloe。　I　heard　you　address　that
group　on　Martha's　Vineyard　on　the　subject　of　natural　erosion　patterns。
You　had　them　eating　out　of　the　palm　of　your　hand。〃

Chloe　gave　a　crooked　smile。　〃Many　of　the　issues　are　the　same　here。

Let's　hope　they　buy　it；　too。〃

Ross　finished　his　formal　presentation　and　opened　the　floor　for
questions。　A　podium　and　microphone　had　been　set　up　in　the　center　aisle
of　the　auditorium。　One　by　one；　those　residents　e
forward。　Most　asked　about　specifics；　all　of　which　Chloe　noted　on　her
pad：　the　price　range　of　the　condominiums　and　the　subsequent　tax　revenue；
the　time　projection　for　the　erection　of　the　units；　the　capacity　of　the
resort　plex；　and　a　listing　of　its　self…contained　facilities。　At
length；　Felix　Hart　stood　and　joined　Ross　at　center　stage。

〃I'm　afraid　we　have　to　move　on　now；〃　he　apologized；　eyeing　the　large
clock　on　the　front　face　of　the　balcony。　〃There's　still　another　side　to
consider。　Thank　you；　Mr。　Stephenson。　You've　been　very　direct　and　a　great
help。　Perhaps　we'll　have　time　for　more　questions　later。〃

Chloe　watched　with　growing　excitement　as　Ross　returned　to　his　seat　and
that　excitement；　for　the　moment；　had　nothing　to　do　with　him。　She　liked
talking　to　groups　like　this；　and　did　it　often。　Though　she　loved　the
scientific　end　of　her　job…the　sample…taking　and　analysis；　the　puter
work；　the　intricate　calculations　of　ground　position；　weather…related
ponents；　time　predictions…she　found　the　presentation　of　her　findings
to　be　heady。

Felix　Hart　made　the　introduction。　〃I　have　the　delightful　task　now　of
giving　you　Ms。　Chloe　Macdaniel。　Ms。　Macdaniel　has　been　retained　by　the
county　to　study　our　coast　with　an　eye　toward　the　environmental　impact　of
the　Rye　Beach　Resort　and　Condominium　plex　as　proposed　by　the　Hansen
Corporation。　She　has　already　spent　a　good　deal　of　time　on　the　project。
Ms。　Macdaniel？〃

After　lifting　a　neat　folder　from　the　floor　beneath　her　chair；　Chloe　rose
to　her　full　five…foot…eight…inch　height　and　approached　the　podium。　Her
appearance　was　understated；　she　worked　at　that。　Still；　the　curiosity　of
the　crowd　yielded　to　a　murmur　of　appreciation　when　she　stepped　forward。
Tall　and　willowy；　dark　haired　and　light　plected；　she　was　the　image　of
grace。　Her　dress　was　of　a　soft　and　simple　white　eyelet　fabric；　lined
through　the　bodice　and　skirt；　the　sleeves　hanging　free　and　loose　to　her
elbows。　A　wide　sash　of　contrasting　aqua　enhanced　both　the　slimness　of
her　waist　and　the　porcelain　of　her　skin。

Her　voice　was　steady　and　well…modulated。　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Hart；　for　your
kind　introduction。　Let　me　say　how　pleased　I　was　to　have　been　approached
by　your　representatives　last　spring。　Not　only　do　I　have　a　professional
interest　in　your　coastline；　but　I　have　an　emotional　involvement　with　the
entire　New　England　coast；　since　it's　my　home　of　choice。　In　keeping　with
this；　let　me　begin　by　saying　that　I　am　not　opposed　to　the　Rye　Beach
Resort　and　Condominium　plex　per　se。　What　Mr。　Stephenson　has　outlined
for　you　sounds　like　a　project　that　could　benefit　this　area。　But　I
question　the　ecological　wisdom　of　the　plan　as　it　stands。　The　thought　of
a　beachfront　condominium　may　appeal　to　the　romantic　in　us　all；　but　this
plan　isn't　environmentally　wise。〃

As　she　proceeded　to　explain　the　core　results　of　her　tests；　she　was
oblivious　to　all　else　but　her　work。　The　most　powerful　tool　she　had　was
genuine　concern。　〃In　terms　of　storm　surge　alone；　the　Hansen　proposal　is
risky；〃　she　argued；　pointing　to　the　carefully　calculated　figures　now
projected　on　a　slide　screen。　〃Once　every　six　or　seven　years　you　folks
get　a　storm　strong　enough　to　do　significant　damage　to　structures　built
so　close　to　the　beach。　If　the　entire　plex　were　to　be　moved　back　an
additional　two　hundred　feet；　the　risk　would　be　lessened。〃

Again　she　explained　her　theory　in　detail；　using　statistics　where
applicable。　By　the　time　she　finished　and　opened　the　floor　to　questions；
she　felt　that　her　arguments　had　been　well　received。　She　answered　the
questions　posed　with　the　same　patience　and　care；　the　same　genuine
concern　for　the　environment。

〃Great　presentation；〃　Howard　said　when　she　returned　to　her　seat。

She　smiled　modestly。　〃I　only　hope　I've　acplished　our　objective。　What
happens　now？〃

〃You　endure　brief　speeches　by　Brad　and　myself。　Try　to　stay　awake。〃

She　gave　an　of…course…l…will　chuckle；　but　with　her　own　job　done；　her
mind　wandered。　While　Felix　introduced　Bradbury　Huff；　she　glanced　at
Ross。　Folded　fortably　into　his　seat；　he　appeared　to　be　listening
intently　to　his　advocate；　the　state　representative。

The　years　had　been　kind　to　Ross。　While　his　dark　brown　hair　had　a　touch
of　gray　at　the　sideburns；　it　fell　over　his　forehead　with　vibrance　and
class。　There　was　strength　in　his　unhearded　jaw；　which　flexed　as　he
listened。　The　crow's　feet　at　the　corners　of　his　eyes　were　etched　into　a
light　tan　that　spoke　of　a　life　of　sun　and　smiles。　He　was　perfectly　at
ease；　maddeningly　confident；　and　devastatingly　handsome。

He　blinked　once；　turned　his　head；　and　met　her　gaze　and；　in　that　instant；
time　stopped。　In　the　next；　it　reversed；　speeding　Chloe　back　over　the
years　to　the　first　time　she'd　seen　him。　It　had　been　a　beautiful
Thanksgiving　night　in　New　Orleans；　the　moment　as　clear　to　her　as　if　it
had　been　yesterday。　She　had　been　with　Crystal　then。　Crystal。　She　still
missed　her　sister　with　the　kind　of　pain　that　ate　at　a　person　from　the
inside　out。

Howard　covered　her　tight　fist　with　his　hand。　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　He
followed　her　line　of　sight。　〃You　can　talk　with　him　later…〃

〃No；〃　she　interrupted；　〃no　need。〃　Embarrassed；　she　leaned　toward　Howard。
〃I'm　sorry。　There　are　。。。　memories。〃

〃There　must　be；〃　he　noted　softly。　〃And　from　the　looks　of　you；　they're
pretty　awful。〃

It　was　a　minute　before　she　said；　〃Not　all。〃

〃You're　white　as　a　sheet。　Can　I　get　you　some　water　or　something？〃

〃No。　I'm　fine。〃　At　his　quirked　brow　she　added；　〃Really；〃　before　glancing
at　the　podium。　〃Is　Huff　almost　done？〃

〃He'd　better　be。　I'm　next。　Take　notes　for　me；　will　you？　I　have　a
tendency　to　forget　what　I　say　from　one　minute　to