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Felix Hart continued to talk； gesticulating more emphatically than ever。
〃He's been sidetracked on the background of your pal。 Listen。〃
Chloe had no choice。
〃As many of you know；〃 Felix drawled with an air of self…importance；
〃Mr。 Stephenson has been behind the building of two successful mall
plexes here in the Granite State。 His pany has left its mark from
coast to coast in factories； libraries； educational facilities； and
office buildings。 The reputation of the Hansen Corporation precedes him
here。 It is with great honor that I present to you； for an explanation
of his plans and hopes for the Rye Beach plex； Mr。 Ross Stephenson。〃
Chloe's heart was hammering again。 When it was momentarily drowned out
by the applause of the crowd； she dared another glance at Ross。 Again；
he was looking at her。 She held her breath； barraged by memories that
gathered and surged。 A slow pallor spread beneath her ivory skin。 She
was thinking that she had to get out of there fast； when he finally
faced forward； pushed himself from his chair； and approached the dais。
〃Whew；〃 came a whisper by her ear。 〃That was some greeting。〃
Chloe felt the color rush back to her face。 She realized her
misunderstanding when Howard went on。 〃Felix introduced him like he was
a visiting dignitary instead of the man whose blueprints we plan to tear
apart。〃
〃Please keep reminding me；〃 Chloe murmured； to which the senator
chuckled。 Then they both settled back to listen to Ross Stephenson's
presentation。
For Chloe； listening was an awesome challenge。 The sight of him standing
straight and tall before the microphone was a distraction in and of it
self。 She couldn't help but admire the breadth of his shoulders and the
slow tapering of his frame toward narrow hips and long； lean legs。 To
her chagrin； she couldn't help but remember the skin beneath； firm and
drawn taut over the muscles of shoulder； chest； and arms； its dark
matting of hair a cushion for her head； a playground for her fingers。
She forced those fingers to work now； making notes of words that she
barely heard； that her mind could barely assimilate。 Still she made
herself concentrate； jotting down thoughts with increasing rapidity in
an attempt to keep her mind on the present and off the past。
But was it the past that brought her head up again and her gaze back to
Ross？ Was she intrigued for old times' sake alone？ His dark hair was
thick but well…trimmed and bed into as much submission as she guessed
it would go。 Eleven years ago it had been longer and even thicker。 With
the beard； he was like a bear…large； overpowering； dominant； but cuddly。
Now there was a refinement to him； a control in his stance； a
purposefulness。 Addressing his audience； he conveyed petence and
intelligence。
And that audience was enrapt； some nodding； others shaking their heads；
all measuring his words with the keen interest that had brought them out
on this mild September night。
His voice was deep and resonant as it flowed through the mike and filled
the room。 〃The benefit to your munity would be multifold。 We're
proposing to use a parcel of land that is presently underused。 The
resort will attract guests who will patronize local businesses。 Food
outlets； entertainment houses； restaurants； real estate
establishments…all stand to gain from the Rye Beach plex。 The
condominium plex will bring untold tax revenue both to state and
local purses。 Given the easy access to this area by the federal highway
system； the condominium units will be in high demand year round。〃
Chloe found herself listening closely； wondering how this could be the
same man who had once chosen to live on a munal farm in Kentucky。
That free…spirited Ross was a far cry from this entrepreneurial one。
Trying to reconcile the two was impossible。
Howard leaned close。 〃He's a powerful speaker。 What do you think？
Will he have them sold before we even present our side？〃
She answered without taking her eyes from Ross。 〃Lord； I hope not。 I
often work with groups of shoreline residents。 They feel strongly about
the land； which is their finest resource。 I'll be appealing for the
preservation of that resource。〃
〃You're a powerful speaker yourself； Chloe。 I heard you address that
group on Martha's Vineyard on the subject of natural erosion patterns。
You had them eating out of the palm of your hand。〃
Chloe gave a crooked smile。 〃Many of the issues are the same here。
Let's hope they buy it； too。〃
Ross finished his formal presentation and opened the floor for
questions。 A podium and microphone had been set up in the center aisle
of the auditorium。 One by one； those residents e
forward。 Most asked about specifics； all of which Chloe noted on her
pad： the price range of the condominiums and the subsequent tax revenue；
the time projection for the erection of the units； the capacity of the
resort plex； and a listing of its self…contained facilities。 At
length； Felix Hart stood and joined Ross at center stage。
〃I'm afraid we have to move on now；〃 he apologized； eyeing the large
clock on the front face of the balcony。 〃There's still another side to
consider。 Thank you； Mr。 Stephenson。 You've been very direct and a great
help。 Perhaps we'll have time for more questions later。〃
Chloe watched with growing excitement as Ross returned to his seat and
that excitement； for the moment； had nothing to do with him。 She liked
talking to groups like this； and did it often。 Though she loved the
scientific end of her job…the sample…taking and analysis； the puter
work； the intricate calculations of ground position； weather…related
ponents； time predictions…she found the presentation of her findings
to be heady。
Felix Hart made the introduction。 〃I have the delightful task now of
giving you Ms。 Chloe Macdaniel。 Ms。 Macdaniel has been retained by the
county to study our coast with an eye toward the environmental impact of
the Rye Beach Resort and Condominium plex as proposed by the Hansen
Corporation。 She has already spent a good deal of time on the project。
Ms。 Macdaniel？〃
After lifting a neat folder from the floor beneath her chair； Chloe rose
to her full five…foot…eight…inch height and approached the podium。 Her
appearance was understated； she worked at that。 Still； the curiosity of
the crowd yielded to a murmur of appreciation when she stepped forward。
Tall and willowy； dark haired and light plected； she was the image of
grace。 Her dress was of a soft and simple white eyelet fabric； lined
through the bodice and skirt； the sleeves hanging free and loose to her
elbows。 A wide sash of contrasting aqua enhanced both the slimness of
her waist and the porcelain of her skin。
Her voice was steady and well…modulated。 〃Thank you； Mr。 Hart； for your
kind introduction。 Let me say how pleased I was to have been approached
by your representatives last spring。 Not only do I have a professional
interest in your coastline； but I have an emotional involvement with the
entire New England coast； since it's my home of choice。 In keeping with
this； let me begin by saying that I am not opposed to the Rye Beach
Resort and Condominium plex per se。 What Mr。 Stephenson has outlined
for you sounds like a project that could benefit this area。 But I
question the ecological wisdom of the plan as it stands。 The thought of
a beachfront condominium may appeal to the romantic in us all； but this
plan isn't environmentally wise。〃
As she proceeded to explain the core results of her tests； she was
oblivious to all else but her work。 The most powerful tool she had was
genuine concern。 〃In terms of storm surge alone； the Hansen proposal is
risky；〃 she argued； pointing to the carefully calculated figures now
projected on a slide screen。 〃Once every six or seven years you folks
get a storm strong enough to do significant damage to structures built
so close to the beach。 If the entire plex were to be moved back an
additional two hundred feet； the risk would be lessened。〃
Again she explained her theory in detail； using statistics where
applicable。 By the time she finished and opened the floor to questions；
she felt that her arguments had been well received。 She answered the
questions po