mile；　he　said；　〃I　wanted　to　see　if　it　would　work。〃

〃See　if　what　would　work？〃

〃If　I　could　wake　you　up　by　willing　it。　I've　been　sending　brain　waves。〃

〃Brain　waves　didn't　wake　me。〃　She　yawned。　〃I'd　have　woken　anyway。〃

He　stretched　and　grimaced。　〃I　feel　well　used。〃

〃That's　one　way　to　put　it；〃　she　said；　but　she　was　thinking　ahead。　How

not　to？　Morning　was　here。

She　rolled　away；　but　he　rolled　her　right　back　and　held　her　in　place　with

an　arm　on　either　side。　〃Don't。　After　last　night　you　can't　turn　away。〃

〃Can't？〃

〃Won't。　Let's　talk；〃　he　said　gently　and　sat　up。　His　eyes　wandered　to　her

hair；　which　was　spread　on　the　pillow；　then　the　sheets；　which　bunched　at

her　navel。　He　looked　at　everything　in　between　as　though　it　were

priceless。　At　last；　in　a　deep　voice；　he　said；　〃I　love　you；　Chloe。〃

She　reached　to　cover　his　mouth；　not　ready　for　that；　but　he　caught　her

hand　and　pinned　it　to　the　pillow。　Leaning　down；　he　gave　her　a　long；

silencing　kiss。　When　his　mouth　left　hers　again；　he　said；　〃I　love　you　and

want　to　marry　you。〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃I　do；〃　he　insisted。

Her　heart　ached。　She　wasn't　ready；　wasn't　ready　at　all。　〃Last　night　we

made　love。　Saying　'i　love　you'　is　something　else　entirely。〃

Ross　didn't　budge。　〃Argue　as　much　as　you　want；　but　you　won't　change

this。　I　love　you。　I　wish　I　could　say　that　I　loved　you　eleven　years

ago…it　w