thumb； looking satisfied； respectful。
He wasn't the only one she had impressed。 A different voice rose from
the audience。 〃The taxpayers' money has been well spent for a change。
Thank you； Ms。 Macdaniel！〃
Chloe directed a full smile across the ocean of heads as she leaned
toward the microphone a final time。 〃It's been my honor。 If my effort
here has helped to preserve the natural bounty of your state； then we've
all benefited。 Thank you。〃
It was the perfect time to make a gracious； if not sweeping exit。 With
Ross still standing aside in deference to the crowd applauding its
appreciation of her； she should have quit while she was ahead。 Her
mistake was in looking back at him。
His smile was devastating。 Chloe felt her chest tighten； as she was
caught in the throes of memory again。 She was suddenly immobilized；
suspended in a matrix of desire and guilt that canceled out the years
that had e between； until there was only yesterday； Ross； Crystal；
and the toss of a coin。
When a last…minute surge brought members of the audience to the stage； a
shaken Chloe returned to the present。 She had to concentrate again；
listening to questions； offering answers。 She stood at one side of the
stage with her followers； Ross stood at the other side with his。 She
gained strength with each new question； so that when the last of the
locals left； s