something short of trust。
〃Sure；〃 she said； praying that he not hear her breathlessness and guess
its cause。 〃It's great for the fresh air； uses practically no gas； and
does much less by way of pollution than my car。〃 She paused。 〃Unless
you'd feel safer…〃
〃No。 No。 I'm game。 Don't forget…of the two of us； I'm the original
hippie。〃
Chloe drove with Ross straddling the seat behind her； and it was totally
traumatic。 He was near； so near。 His arms were locked about her waist；
his body tucked against hers。 Even the October breeze whipping by did
nothing to relieve the intimacy of the trip。 When he spoke； it was a
nibble at her ear。 A nibble？ Had he really done that@r was it a product
of her overworked imagination？
Indifference。 Uh…huh。
The road they traveled was one she covered daily。 Its sides were edged
with maples and oaks； grown ripe and mellow now； on the verge of
bursting into autumn flame。 Fields sprawled to the right； wooded
pastureland to the left。 Ahead undulated a path to Sakon Point； the
very tip of the finger of land on which Little pton sat just across
the bay from Newport。
If Ross was aware of the havoc his nearness wreaked on her； he kept his
smugness in check。 Once； in a gesture of soft intimacy； he released her
waist to gather her hair together in his hands； twist the long fall
once； and tuck it inside