trip。 Okay？〃
She humored him。 〃Did you get everything at the market？ All the
perishables？ Plenty of wine？〃
〃Behind me！〃 he repeated。
〃Hot chocolate？ And whipped cream？〃
He wiped the smile from her face with a hard； fast kiss； sucking her
lips to his for just an instant before straightening。 Shooting her a
watch…yourself…lady look； he returned to his own car and pulled out in
front。 He drove at a sedate thirty miles per hour。 It was deliberate；
and too slow for the road。 Anne smiled and simply adjusted her foot on
the gas。
Shortly； they reached the cottage。 When the cars were parked in a line
on the snow…packed drive； Mitch carried her luggage inside。 She took the
attic room without a word； because it hadn't been at all unfortable；
warmer if anything than the larger room downstairs。 And she didn't have
to listen to him over her head。 It was bad knowing that he had once
slept in this bed。 Hearing things would have driven her imagination
wild。
She was in the process of storing groceries when she felt him at the
kitchen door。 He looked her up and down。 She still wore the gray wool
pantsuit that had been warm and fortable for driving。 Bul its white
cowl…neck sweater was a switch from the somber navies and blacks he'd
usually seen her in。 And then； her hair was loose。
〃Well？〃 she asked； growing self…conscious when he just kept looking。
〃e here；〃 he said in a low； deep voice。
She didn't hesitate。 Within seconds； she was across the room and in his
arms。 They were warm and intimate； very dear in a way that said friend
before lover。
〃You looked beautiful that night in the restaurant；〃 he said against her
hair； then drew back enough to smooth a loose strand from her cheek。
〃Did you enjoy yourself。？〃
She looked up； leaving her hands locked behind his back。 〃I didn't
realize it was you until I got the note。 Why didn't you e say hello？〃
〃That's off limits； isn't it？ Socializing in the real world？〃
In that instant； Anne sensed she didn't want it that way； not anymore。
But she needed to get used to the thought； so she blocked out words by
dropping her head to his chest。 Her arms told him that she'd missed him。
The speed of his heartbeat said he'd missed her； too。 Okay； so they
didn't use words。 That was fine for now。
Mitch shifted her to his side and； with an arm over her shoulder； led
her to the living room。 He drew her down beside him on the sofa； tucked
her head in the crook of his arm； and stretched out his long legs。 〃Tell
me about Christmas。〃
She spoke tentatively。 〃It wasn't as bad as I'd expected。〃
〃No downs？〃
〃A few。 Jeff and I always went from house to house on Christmas Day。 It
was more simple this year。 Dinner with his parents。〃
〃Who were your friends that night？〃
〃At the restaurant？〃
〃Uh…huh。〃
〃People I work with。〃
〃Tell me about your work。〃 He hadn't ever asked her that before； but his
eyes said that he wanted to know。 So she explained her interest in
languages and described the evolution of her career。 He asked
thought…filled questions； clearly catching on to what she did。 When she
was least expecting it； he said； 〃That professor…what did you say his
name was； Alex？…looked interested in you。 Have you gone out with him？〃
〃I told you that I don't date；〃 she chided。
〃Ah；〃 he drawled。 〃That's right。 I forgot。 He's asked you out； though；
hasn't he？〃
Anne saw no point in denying it。 〃Several times。 I'm not interested in
dating him； though。 That dinner was a group get…together。〃 When she saw
him relax； she made her move。 〃What about your date that night…excuse
me； your panion？〃 Jealousy was a tough thing to hide。
Mitch played it up with a knowing grin。 〃What about her？〃
〃Who is she？〃
〃Her name's Liz。〃
〃Do you see her often？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Oh。〃
〃Aren't you glad you asked？〃
〃Not particularly。〃 She pried herself away from him and slid to the far
end of the sofa。 He didn't seem bothered； simply lifted her feet to his
thighs。 He slide a lazy hand under the wool of her slacks to massage her
calf。 It felt too good for Anne to object。
〃Jealous？〃 he asked。
〃Yes。〃
〃That's good。〃 He was grinning more broadly than before。
Anne scowled。 〃You're an arrogant brute；〃 she began and turned the
discussion around。 〃So tell me what you do。 You must have some line of
work。 Is it in the city？〃
He answered her calmly and clearly。 〃My corporation has headquarters in
the city； but we operate all over the country。〃
〃Your corporation？〃
Strangely； where it might have been appropriate； the arrogance vanished。
〃I head a corporation。 Does that bother you？〃
With a sudden； irrational anger； she asked； 〃Why would it bother me？
It has nothing to do with me。〃
He leaned forward and pulled her again to his side。 〃All I meant；〃 he
said； teasing； 〃was that…well； to be perfectly honest； I've been told I
make a good catch。 Being the president of a large corporation doesn't
help to discourage overeager women。〃
Anne snorted。 〃Any woman who'd want your strong black coffee and your
long hot showers has to be crazy。 As for me〃…she put her nose in the
air…〃no amount of money can pensate for your squandering my
macadamias。〃
He gave her middle a playful squeeze。 She was acutely aware of the arm
beneath her breasts。 More breathlessly； she said； 〃So。 What does your
corporation do？〃
〃We develop real estate； office parks； shopping centers； and so on。〃
〃Define 'and so on。〃'
〃Oh； we have 。。。 other interests。〃
〃Confidential ones；〃 she surmised。
〃For now。〃
〃The mystery of the year。〃
He responded to that by shifting her sideways and down。 He followed；
holding himself on his elbows。 〃You talk too much。〃 His eyes caressed
her face； but it wasn't her face he was talking about when he said； 〃You
not only look good； you feel good。〃 His body inched over hers； giving
her a good feel in return。
If Anne hadn't been breathless before； she was now。 She wasn't fighting
him； because she realized that the attraction wasn't only physical； at
least on her part。 It had gone beyond that。
She wrapped her arms around his neck and exerted the slightest pressure
at his nape。 It brought him in for a kiss that held all the passion
missing from the earlier hug。 She shivered when his tongue slid into her
mouth and their breath mingled。 With his shoulders flexing under her
palms； her head began to spin。 He intoxicated her。 But she didn't want
him leaving her； and said so with a cry when he angled his body off；
then cried out again； differently now； when his hand found her breast。
He trailed kisses from her eyes； down her cheeks to her neck； while she
unbuttoned his shirt。 His bare chest was an Eden of sinew and fuzz； a
potent aphrodisiac。 She was ready to burst when his hand left her breast
and held her neck so that he could kiss her harder。 She weled it；
needed it。 〃Annie； Annie； Annie；〃 he groaned； ragged against her lips；
〃what am I going to do with you？〃
She held his head； then dropped her fingers down his throat and； again；
into the tawny hair on his chest。 〃Look who started it；〃 she whispered
but she was fascinated by the bunch of muscles under her hand。 She moved
her palms around； then over his nipples。
He made a frustrated sound and sat up； hauling her along with him。
Abruptly he released her and leaned forward。 He put his elbows on his
knees and his head in his palms。
Everything about him cried of sudden distress。 Anne rubbed the taut
muscles at the back of his neck。 〃What is it？〃
He gave her a sidelong glance。 〃You don't know？〃 When she didn't answer；
he shrugged off her hand and pushed himself into a far corner of the
sofa。 〃I thought I'd be able to chalk what we have here up to a vacation
thing； but each time I go home； I can't put you out of my mind。 I want
you； Anne。 Want you bad。〃
She was dizzy with pleasure。 〃Why does that upset you？〃
He stared； then came forward。 〃Do you know what I'm talking about here？〃
〃Yes。 I'm not stupid。 You're asking yourself the same questions I've
spent hours asking myself。 What am I doing here？ Why did I e？ What do
I want to happen？ Where's my sense of propriety？ The list goes on and
on。〃 She caught a breath。 〃What do you want me to say？ I know what
you're saying； but I don't know what to do either！〃
Mitch sighed and drew her back to his chest。 〃It's gone past that； Anne。
I'm asking myself whether I'm ready to see you in public； in New York；
and whether you're ready for that。 I'm asking whether I'm ready for more
of a mitment than just a physical one； and whether you're ready for
that。〃 He tipped up her face。 〃I want to sleep with you； Anne； but I
can't do that and then walk away when it's done。 For the first time in
so long it's not just a physical need。〃
He had echoed her thoughts。 Anne was more interested in him than in
anyone else since Jeff's death； but she wasn't ready for a full…time；
open relationship。 There was still that loose end to tie up in court；
still that emotional barrier。
He pressed her cheek to the beat of his heart。 〃I wouldn't want to hurt
you for the world； Annie。 You deserve the best。 You need a guy's full
attention and devotion。 I have too many other responsibilities right
now。〃
It was the right answer； still she felt discouragement and loss。 She
held on； and was held for long seconds。 When she looked up； he brushed a
tear from her cheek。
〃I won't ask much；〃 she whispered falteringly。 〃I'm not sure what I want
any more than you are。 The only thing I ask is that you be here for me
to e to every once in a while。〃
He tightened his arms around her。 〃I will； honey； I will。〃
The New Year arrived with a surge of high spirit that neither of them；
weeks before； would have imagined possible。 They ate at a small inn
where the restaurant was elegant； intimate； and quaint。 For Anne it was
like a first date。 She wore her favorite navy knit； which she had packed
for the occasion。 Its softness offset her darkness； its gentle wrap
showed curves that had begun to return。 She wanted to look
sophisticated； and to that end； wore makeup for the first time here。
Mitch rewarded her with a glow in his eyes。 He looked gorgeous in his
fine wool slacks and tailored blazer。 They made a stunning duo； drawing
the attention of more than one pair of curious eyes。
He avoided intimacy beyond a light hand on her waist when he escorted
her to their table。 Later； back at the cabin； they rang in the midnight
hour with champagne toasts。
And the light…hearted tone held through the week。 They took daily walks
in the crisp； cold air。 The woods were an enchanted place in winter； a
safe harbor from winds that whipped across the meadow but couldn't
perate the evergreens。 Bundled in woolen and down； they hiked over
ponds of solid ice and followed the crusty line of the brook from
mountaintop to valley。 The snow squeaked under their boots； but； aside
from their voices； it was the only noise in the forest。
Shielded by spruce； pine； and cedar； they walked for hours through the
blue…shadowed land； returning to the cabin only when their hands and
feet were numb。 More often than not then； they settled in at the kitchen
window to watch chickadees at the feeder that Mitch had staked into the
ground。