； 〃Over there。 Those rocks。 You should sit
down。〃
〃I'm all right…〃
〃Then I want to sit down！ Indulge me！〃 He led her to a jagged
outcropping of rocks。 When they were seated on side by side boulders； he
said； 〃Okay。 Why don't you tell me about that night…and stop looking at
me like I'm crazy。 You know what I'm talking about。 I know what I
experienced that night。 I'd like to hear what you did。〃
〃Oh； Ross。〃 She sighed wearily。 〃I don't want to go into this。〃 She
caught the graceful takeoff of a tern from the salt…soaked beach。 〃It's
too beautiful here to rehash the past。〃
〃The past had its moments of beauty； too。〃
Her head snapped back； but the warmth of his gaze cut off the retort
that might have e。 Suddenly it seemed pointless to resist his
request。 It was just a matter of choosing the right words。 〃The past did
have its moments。 And； yes； they were beautiful。〃 There was a soft
quality in her voice as she returned to that night。
Ross grasped the stone on either side of him。 〃Had you planned it to
happen？ When you came toward me from across that room； had you hoped
that we'd end up in bed？〃
〃Beforehand？〃 She looked up in surprise。 〃No。 I'd never done anything
like that before。 Oh； we dated plenty and went to our share of parties。
But we had never； that is； neither of us had； ah； I mean； I had never。。
。〃
〃I know。〃