Read Online Rekindled by Barbara Delinsky - Free Book Online Page A

told them you’d have an answer for them by Monday.”
    Chloe nodded, sighing her uncertainty on the Alabama matter. “And the other calls?”
    “Derry Township called on the lecture series at the community college. They want to know when the printed material will be ready to be copied. Jay called from Pittsburgh to say that he should be back on Sunday, and Debbie will have the statistics on the sinkhole study for you to see tomorrow.”
    “Whoa. She sure got that together fast.” She told Ross, “Debbie is the newest member of the firm. She just got her degree. Her working knowledge of computers is much better than Lee’s or mine.” She frowned. “Boy, would I like to take more courses.”
    “Why don’t you?” Ross asked.
    “No time. Lee and I have worked our butts off trying to make ESE a functioning enterprise.” She shot a look at her partner. “I think we’re finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”
    His grimace took her by surprise. Instead of agreement, she saw sudden doubt. “That’s another point of discussion for the weekend,” Lee informed her softly, squeezing her arm a final time before releasing her. “But, hey, it’s getting dark. Let’s carry on inside. Want to stay for dinner, Ross?”
    Chloe bent to retie a shoelace that needed no retying. She didn’t want Ross staying for dinner. She wanted to return to her life, and that meant having him leave and stay gone. Naturally, he had other ideas.
    “That would be fine,” he said with gratitude.
    But Chloe sensed something in him. As the three of them walked back down the beach to her house, she saw the tension on Ross’s face. His eyes met hers, and she was again grateful for Lee’s presence.
    Then Lee turned traitorous. With a grin, he said, “There’s some great wine in the cellar, Chloe. The steaks are already on the counter. Why don’t you take another one from the freezer? I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”
    And he loped off.
    Before she could follow, Ross wrapped a hand around her long ponytail and held her in place.
    “What was that all about?” he asked with a scowl. “You told me you lived alone.”
    She stared straight ahead, looking after Lee. “I do.”
    Ross moved closer. His head lowered to hers. “Then why is that fellow so damned at home in your house? He sounds like he’s the live-in chef-between the wine and the steaks. What other services does he perform?”
    She didn’t like his implication. Still staring at the house, she said, “He’s good enough to bring the trash to the dump once a week and put They had reached the base of the field stone steps that led to Chloe’s back porch. Ross paused on the first step. “And those others I saw here this afternoon. Who were they?”
    :”Workers on our various projects.”
    “Partners in the firm?”
    She shook her head. “We hire part-time people. They’re mostly students, master’s candidates from local schools like URI and Brown.”
    The pale blue of dusk was quickly giving way to the darker purples of evening in a star-filled sky. Only the spill of pale gold light from the kitchen window lit Ross’s features now. It left his lines more clear-cut, his profile more distinct and dramatic. Chloe was intrigued.
    “I admire you for your dedication,” he said.
    She continued to study him. “Do I hear wistfulness?”
    His chuckle was suspiciously poignant. “Maybe. There are times-at which, that’s a whole other thing.”
    When she would have pursued it, Lee’s shout jarred her. “Chloe!” Her head whipped around. “Where are the matches? The pilot light is out on the broiler. I can’t get it lit.”
    Ross leaned close and murmured, “And here I thought he was the one who always came to your rescue.”
    She turned to defend Lee, only to find Ross’s lips a breath from hers. His eyes were glowing, his body warm though the heat of the day was gone, and her mouth was suddenly dry. “I think I’d better give him a hand. Pray we’re not out