Free Rekindled by Barbara Delinsky

winning the toss. And Ross-had he been looking at Chloe rather than at her identical twin sister? Had it all been by design, or had it been by pure chance?
    She was distracted as the evening waned, unaware of looks of concern sent her way. When Lee said, “I’m takin’ off now, Chloe,” she was startled. Her head came up. Unsure, she straightened.
    “I’m sorry,” she apologized softly. “I’m afraid I haven’t been much help. We haven’t even gone over those things we should have.”
    “No problem.” He smiled. “We’ll do it tomorrow.” Taking his cue from the disquieted look in her eyes, he turned to Ross. “Are you staying here tonight?”
    “Yes.”
    “No.”
    They spoke at the same time. Chloe hurried on. “No, Ross. You can’t stay here.” She was determined. “There’s one bedroom and one bed, and I need it.”
    “Why don’t you stay with me, friend?” Lee offered-and for the second time that evening, Chloe could have disowned him. She wanted Ross to leave. Out of sight was out of mind. Lee’s offer only complicated things.
    Naturally, Ross accepted the invitation. “No imposition?”
    “No imposition. The sofa in the living room opens into a bed. The back door will be open. Chloe will point you in the right direction.” Before she could protest, Lee reached the door. “Good night, folks.” He grinned, letting himself out with a flourish.
    With a steadying breath, Chloe settled deeper into her high-backed chair, tucked her feet under her, forced her fingers to relax against the broad wicker arms, and looked across the room at Ross.
    He spoke softly. “You really do look like a princess in that chair. Those peacock markings could as easily be a crown of gold as a swirl of wicker. Are you comfortable?” His eyes were gleaming, mocking.
    “No,” she answered honestly. “You know I’m not.”
    His grin held no apology. “That’s a shame. I don’t want you to be miserable through the entire weekend.”
    “You can’t stay all weekend!”
    “Why not? I have a place to sleep. That Lee’s a good guy.”
    “Too good!” she grumbled. “I thought I could trust him.”
    Ross sat forward, elbows on his thighs, fingers steepled. “That’s what puzzles me. I’m sure you can trust him, but I can’t figure out for the life of me why.”
    Chloe instantly came to Lee’s defense. “He’s been a true friend to me.”
    “Why only a true friend? Why not a lover?”
    “Lee doesn’t want that from a woman.”
    “You mean, he prefers-“
    “No. No, Ross. Don’t twist things.” Beneath his stare, her own insides twisted. “Lee was married once. He has two children. He and his wife divorced five years ago. She lives in St. Louis.”
    “Ah. Once burned … okay, I’ll accept that.”
    “How kind,” she murmured, but she was annoyed enough to see an opening and take it. “What about you? In the eleven years since I knew you when, what have you done along similar lines? Should I assume you’ve developed odd preferences?”
    The instant she said it, she knew it was a mistake. Good humor faded fast from Ross’s face. When he stood and approached her, she struggled to avoid cringing into the chair. There was a hard look to him.
    “Would that make you trust me more?” he murmured. He towered above her for a minute, then bent over. His hands covered hers on the arms of the chair. His face was too near. “Sorry to disappoint you, but my preferences are still for the opposite sex.” His lips moved closer. Chloe looked down to escape them, but his long body filled her view. Everywhere she moved her eyes, she saw him, one point more alarming than the next. If it wasn’t the vee of his chest, with its wisps of dark hair edging alongside the tab of his collar, it was the breadth of his shoulders or the lean tapering of his middle or the casual set of his hips. Those hips told their own story. She tore her gaze away, completely convinced of his preference.
    He grinned. “Any further