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cup； 〃you brought groceries。〃
〃Not this time。 I wasn't sure I'd be staying here。 I made reservations
at an inn in Woodstock just in case。〃
He sat back。 〃Were you afraid I'd attack you again？〃
〃No；〃 she said with care。 〃I wasn't sure you'd be here。 It was tentative
when you mentioned it； and since I had no way of contacting you in
between…〃
〃You could have called Miles Cooper；〃 he suggested lightly。
She looked him in the eye。 〃No； I couldn't。 So there was no fortable
way of my learning your plans。〃
〃Did that bother you？〃
〃No。〃 She didn't look away。 〃I don't want to cope with identities yet。〃
〃Then we agree on that。 No more said。〃
〃No more said。〃 She felt proud of herself； if a little wistful； as she
watched him eat。
When he finished； he ran a napkin over his mouth。 Then he balled it up
in his fist。 〃You can phone from the village later and cancel those
reservations。 But I think you should know that there are two conditions
to your staying here。〃
Conditions？ She arched a brow。
He leaned way back this time； until the chair was on its rear legs。
〃First； we eat together。〃
She had no problem with that。 It pleased her； actually。 She smiled her
agreement。
〃Second；〃 he said； 〃I sleep downstairs。〃
Her smile vanished。 〃Uh； I 。。。 don't think so。 I'm not ready for 。。。
that。〃
His eyes laughed。 〃I'm told that I'm a good lover。 But hey；〃 he
relented； all teasing gone； 〃I'm not ready for 。。。 that； either。 Maybe
soon。 But not yet。 You aren't the only one dealing with ghosts。〃
Startled by that thought； she gathered up the empty dishes and went to
the sink。
He was close behind her。 〃You're a beautiful woman。〃
〃Last time； I was 'plain' and 'scrawny。〃'
〃Last time； I was wet and tired。〃 Strong hands slid around her middle
and drew her back against his body。 His forearms brushed the underside
of her breasts。 Her heart thudded in response。
When he turned her to face him； her lips parted。 He kissed her then；
possessive but gentle； and she responded with a fervor she had forgotten
was possible。 Wrapping her arms around his neck； she opened her mouth；
and he moved right in。 After her mouth he kissed her cheeks and her
eyelids。 Then； hotly； he sought out her tongue。
They weren't ready for this emotionally； but there was no problem
physically。 Mitch was rock…hard against her。 His hands moved restlessly
on her back； her waist； her hips。 They found her breasts and explored in
detail； and Anne was every bit as active。 She touched him everywhere to
make sure he was real； and he was； real and ready。 While their mouths
tangled hungrily； her fingers spread over his thigh and moved upward；
upward and inward。
With a strangled sound； Mitch pulled away。
Anne felt instant loss； then acute embarrassment。 Mitch's ragged
breathing was small solace for her aggressiveness。 〃That shouldn't have
happened；〃 she said in a faltering whisper。
He made a sputtering sound and pushed a hand through his hair。 〃Yeah；
but it did。 Damn it； this was a crazy idea！〃
She averted her eyes and tried to edge away from the sink； but he had
her pinned there。 Holding her chin； he forced her face up。 His voice was
rough as sand。 〃You try my patience； Annie。 One part of me aches to pick
you up in my arms and carry you out to that bed； but the last thing I
need right now is to bear you calling for another man in the throes of
passion。 You're still mourning your husband。 Your clothes； your hair；
your eyes all tell me that。 And I have a past； too。 The last thing you
need is to hear me call out another woman's name。〃
Anne's eyes filled with tears。 When she pushed at him； he let her go。
She went to the window； wrapped her arms around herself； and looked out。
〃Why do you lead me on？〃
There was silence； then a begrudging； 〃I can't seem to help myself。
What's your excuse？〃 When she didn't answer； he approached her and
goaded； 〃Hmm？ Are you that frustrated？〃
She spun around and sent the flat of her hand against his cheek。 He
caught it on the rebound and had her arm behind her； drawing her hard
against him； in an instant。
〃Don't ever do that again！〃 he muttered and； as suddenly as he'd seized
her； let her go。 He took long steps toward the door before stopping
short。
Anne was stunned； short of breath； wondering what was ing next。
One lithe stride brought him back。 To her astonishment he framed her
face with his hands； placed a hard kiss on her lips； then walked off
again。
〃What was that for？〃 she cried。
〃Moist eggs and strong black coffee。〃 He half…turned at the door。 〃I
have a couple of things to do。 Find something to keep you busy for an
hour； then we'll leave for the village。〃
It wasn't a question； and he didn't wait for an answer。 That was what
kept Anne busy while she unpacked her bags in the attic bedroom。 She
brooded。 She agonized。 She wondered why she had e and why she ever
wanted his kiss。 Mitch whoever…he…was was stubborn and selfcentered。 He
was the exact opposite of gentle； caring； generous…to…a…fault Jeff。
But Jeff was dead。
An art teacher had once told her that a painting was successful when it
evoked a reaction； be it positive or negative。 For Anne； the months
since Jeff's death had been devoid of reaction； until Mitch。
So where did she go from there？ Into bed with the man at the very first
chance？
Unsettled by that thought； she exchanged her city skirt for a sweater
and jeans； grabbed her heavy parka； and ran down the stairs。 She needed
fresh air and a long walk。
She barely got out the back door when she spotted Mitch in the yard
splitting logs for the fire。 Bundled in a sheepskin jacket with its
collar raised； he didn't see her。 Time and again he raised the ax and
struck； time and again splitting each new log with a single sweep of the
blade； and all with his right arm。 She wondered how the left had been
injured。 It was none of her business。 Still she wondered。
She joined him in the yard and sat quietly on a pile of logs while he
finished his work； then as quietly helped carry the wood into the house
and stack it by the fireplace。 Shortly after that； they left for the
village。
In the confines of the car； he was more imposing than ever。 His hands
were strong on the wheel； his thigh strong when he braked。 In profile；
his hair was a thick silver…blond； his eyes alert； his nose； lips； and
chin classically chiseled。 Everything about him spoke of mand； of a
man with a mind of his own。 But she knew that already。
They bought food。 They drove home。 They did fine right through dinner；
sticking to general topics like politics； the economy； and the oning
winter in the mountains。 They disagreed on some things； but could listen
to the other's point of view。
They didn't run into trouble until the last of the peach melba
disappeared。 Then he asked； 〃Why did you decide to e up here this
time； Anne？〃
It was inevitable that the talk would turn personal on some level； and
she had nothing to hide。 〃I realized that you were right。 The holidays
are closing in。 I'm hoping to take home a little extra strength。 They'll
be tough。〃
His voice iss him a lot？〃
〃Yes。 It isn't as bad as it was。 I can accept that he's gone now。 I'm
used to waking up without him。 The people around me are having more
trouble。 They're sometimes so solicitous it'd make you sick。
Thanksgiving's apt to be one long let's…cheer…up…Anne ordeal。〃
Mitch blew out a breath。 〃Oh； boy。 I know what you mean there。〃
〃How so？〃 she asked； not letting it go this time。 〃Are you married？〃
Lips pursed； he studied his hands。 〃No。〃
〃Have you ever been married？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Are you divorced？〃
〃No。〃
〃Separated？〃
〃No。〃
There was only one other possibility。 It made sense on many different
levels。
〃My wife died；〃 he said； looking at her now。
Anne saw the pain in his eyes。 〃I'm sorry。 You must have loved her very
much。〃
&（l did。〃
〃How did she die？〃
His jaw clenched； and anger joined the pain。 She was wondering if the
anger was directed at her； when he grew mellow again。 〃I'd rather not go
into it。 That'd be getting more personal than we planned。〃
〃But it helps to talk sometimes。 Doesn't it？ I mean； if you're angry…〃
〃Who's angry？〃
〃I thought I saw…〃
〃What about your anger？ I've heard it； you know。 Do you talk about it？〃
He pushed his chair back but didn't rise。 Both hands clutched the edge
of the table。 〃You don't know what I'm feeling。 You don't know anything
about me； about my work； my responsibilities。 How can you be so
sanctimonious？〃
She recoiled。 〃Sanctimonious？ I was just trying to help。 After what I
went through not so long ago； I may be feeling some of what you are； and
yes； I may want to talk about it。 I may want a little help； myself。〃
The confession startled her。 She was wondering where it had e from；
when Mitch sat back and asked quietly； 〃How did Jeff die？〃
She glanced around the room； but there was no avoiding the issue。 So she
studied her wedding band。 〃He was in an accident。〃
〃I know that。 But what kind？ Were you with him？〃
She shook her head。 〃No。〃
〃Tell me。〃
〃He was on a business trip。 The plane went down。〃
In the silence that followed； she raised her eyes。 Mit