rom what I could see I had seduced the virgin daughter of my host's
best friend。 I was twenty…seven。 You were eighteen。 I should have known
better。 But the worst of it was that I was glad I hadn't。〃 His voice
gentled。 〃The memory of that night helped me through many a lonely night
afterward。〃
〃Oh； Ross；〃 Chloe whispered； feeling a great longing inside。 〃I wish it
hadn't。 It's too late to go back。〃
〃I don't want to go back。 I want to go ahead。 That's why I'm here。〃
Anguished； she looked down。 〃It's no good。 I can't。〃
〃Can't or won't？ We've been through this before。 Well；〃 he drew in a
breath； 〃believe this。 I may have been immature eleven years ago；
running away from something that frightened me； but I won't make the
same mistake twice。 It was fate that brought us together up at Rye
Beach； and I'll be damned if I'm going to let you get away。 I've made it
my business to find out every possible thing I could about you during
the past two weeks。 And I know what happened to Crystal。〃
His words hung in the air。 Her eyes begged him to say no more。 She
bolstered the plea with her low whisper。 〃Then you can understand why I
can't bear to think back on that time。〃
〃It was an accident； Chloe！ It wasn't your fault！〃
〃But she died。〃
〃And you lived； is that it？ You can't forgive yourself for that？〃
She jumped to her feet。 With her heart p