〃
：〃You have no idea what I feel when I hear that pain in your voice。〃
〃Then why did you do it？〃 she blurted out。
The silence was long and heavy。 Then he sighed。 〃You've； ah； figured out
my messages？〃
〃You could say that。 What I'd like to know is why you had to go behind
my back to box me in。 Why didn't you call me directly？〃
〃I mentioned it to you last weekend。 You refused。 I may be many things；
but I'm not a glutton for punishment。 That's your specially。〃 Chloe
gasped； but he went on。 〃I had no intention of calling you this morning
to rehash what I said yesterday。 There seemed to be more effective ways
of convincing you…〃
〃…forcing me 。。。〃
。。。 convincing you to work with me。 It makes good sense。 You're the
one familiar with the Rye Beach proposal and its problems。 To bring in
someone else would be a waste of time。 As for the other…〃
〃The other is Lee's affair；〃 she cut in。 〃He's handling any account with
the Hansen Corporation。 If you want to work with him； be my guest。 I can
vouch for his credentials and his skill； but I won't be involved。〃
〃Then why are you upset？〃 he asked a little too calmly。 〃If Lee will be
doing the dealing； it won't affect you。〃
〃Fat chance；〃 she murmured not quite softly enough。
Ah； ah； princess。 Let's have none of that。 If you're into soft
murmurings； use them to talk about love。〃
〃