carried the rough edge of a local pickup truck。
〃Mrs。 Boulton？〃 barked a gruff voice。 The stocky form of a farmer； clad
in heavy wool jacket； baggy overalls； and aged work boots； stepped from
the cab of the truck and strode toward her。
〃Yes？〃 She didn't recognize the man。
〃Gut a message for ya。 From a fella named Cooper。 Phoned the police
station。 Sorry for the delay。〃 He handed the crumpled paper into Anne's
outstretched hand； touched a callused hand to his cap's bill； climbed
back in his truck； and was gone。
Nervously she unfolded the paper。 The scrawl was nearly illegible。
〃Unavoidable delay。 Mitch arriving Sunday night。 Miles Cooper。〃
With a tired sigh she cast a glance down the empty road。 Another whole
day to wait。 Unavoidable delay。 She wondered what that meant but it
didn't keep her awake that night。 Exhausted from the night before； she
slept deeply。
Sunday brought rain； and a dark； gloomy day。 Anne went out for a walk
anyway； did a crossword puzzle； sat at the window for what seemed hours。
By midafternoon； she was champing at the bit。 With neither cleaning nor
baking left to do； she did some translating。 When she finally heard a
distant car； the dim light of day had long since yielded to night。 But
the growing purr was familiar。 Without doubt； it was the Honda。
Excited； she opened the front door。 It seemed an eternity before he
finally climbed from the car； wrested his bags from the trunk； and
bolted through the rain toward the house。 When he brushed past her
without a direct glance； she knew something was wrong。
She closed the door on the rawness of the night； and turned to see him
drop the bags； throw off his overcoat； and head for the fire； all
without a word。 Unsure； she sank down on the sofa and waited。
The man reached out to her both physically and emotionally。 He wore a
beige sweater and brown corduroy slacks； and looked as strong and fit as
ever。 But it was the fatigue； suggested by his bent head and the limp
hand in his pocket； that made the greatest impression on her。 She ached
to help； but she feared rebuff。 So she remained silent。
For a time； frowning at the fire； Mitch seemed oblivious to her
presence。 Needing to make some small gesture； she went quietly to the
kitchen and returned with a mug of strong black coffee。
〃Have something hot； Mitch。 It was a long drive。〃
He looked at her so suddenly that she knew his mind had been miles away。
Without a word of either greeting or explanation； he accepted the cup
and returned to his brooding。 Again Anne waited； fearing what was wrong；
but needing to be there。
Finally； he put his head back； drew in a great breath； straightened； and
turned。 His eyes were tired； his face more drawn than she remembered it。
He drank the last of his coffee and set the mug on the mantel。 His smile
was wan； but it was a smile。 〃You're looking well。〃
She rested her chin on her knees； which were drawn up and held by her
arms。 〃I have been； thanks to you。 The antibiotic did the trick。〃
〃No more trouble？〃 When she shook her head； he said； 〃That's good；〃 and
looked back at the fire。
〃What's wrong； Mitch？〃
He shot her a dry look。 〃Don't ask。 I wouldn't know where to begin。〃
〃Was it a bad drive up？〃
〃The usual。〃
A silence followed。
〃I received the message；〃 she tried。 〃Thanks for sending it。〃
〃I didn't want you waiting。〃
Or worrying； she added silently； bitterly。 His aloofness scared her。 It
suggested he hadn't wanted to e at all。 Perhaps he even regretted
having given her the key。
〃Would you like me to leave； Mitch？〃
He looked at her like she was deft。 〃Of course not。 Why do you suggest
that？〃
〃Because you're two days late； then you walk in here like a zombie and
stare at the fire。 It occurs to me that you might just want your house
to yourself〃
〃If I had wanted that； I'd never have given you a key to the place。〃
〃Why did you？ I keep asking myself that； but I can't e up with a good
answer。〃
〃I wanted you to have access to the place whenever you wanted。〃
Gewhy？〃
〃That's a crazy question。〃
〃And this is a crazy situation。〃
He went to the front window and stared out at the darkness。 〃I never
promised you more。〃
Well； he was right。 A heavy weight settled in Anne's stomach。 Head
bowed； she rose from the sofa； reached for the empty mug； and headed for
the kitchen。 At the door； she stopped； but she didn't turn。 〃Have you
had any supper？〃
〃No。〃
〃I'll make something。〃
〃That's not necessary。〃
〃I'll do it。〃
Five minutes later； she sat across from him and watched him down the
club sandwich that she had made with the chicken that had gone uneaten
on Friday night。 Conversation was sparse and cryptic； pounding her
frustration。 〃Thank you；〃 he said when only crumbs remained。 〃That hit
the spot。〃
〃I'm glad I've finally done something right；〃 she murmured； standing to
clear the dishes。
He caught her hand。 〃What's that supposed to mean？〃
〃I think you know。〃 She freed her hand and she continued to the sink。
Suddenly he was directly behind her。 〃You've been vague about something
for the last hour。 What is it？〃
Fiercely； she scrubbed at the dish。
〃You're angry because I showed up late？〃
〃No。〃
〃What else could it be？ I sent word。 I even did it through Miles so you
wouldn't worry that I knew your last name。〃
〃That's not bothering me。〃
He turned her around。 〃Look at me； Anne。〃
Her hands dripped of soap。 She held them out to the sides。
〃I want you to tell me what's wrong；〃 he insisted； and she was suddenly
angry。
〃Why？ I don't owe you an explanation for my behavior； any more than you
owe me one for yours！〃
His eyes held hers for long minutes。 〃Ah。 That's it。 You want an
explanation for my lateness； like this is some kind of a business
meeting。〃
〃I don't want a thing！〃 she cried； whipping out of his grasp to dry her
hands on the towel。 She thrust a damp rag into his hand。 〃Here。 You
finish cleaning。 I'm going to bed。〃
She held off tears until she was safely up in her attic room and sure of
not being followed。 Then they came with a vengeance。 She had loved Jeff
and lost him； through powers that were beyond her。 Now it was happening
all over again with Mitch。
Oh； yes； she loved Mitch 。。。 Mitch； whose last name she didn't even
know。 She knew that she had missed him desperately； that his brooding
upset her； along with her inability to console him。 She knew that she
wanted an explanation for his delay。
For long hours she agonized。 Leave here tomorrow； a tiny voice said；
protect yourself； you don't need this pain。 But a louder voice told her
to wait。 Mitch made her feel。 She wanted to be with him。 There was
always hope。
On that optimistic note she fell into a deep sleep； long after all sound
of life from downstairs had ceased。 The rain continued to pound the
windows； but it was the smell of strong coffee that finally woke her up。
Even before she opened her eyes； she knew he was there in her room。 The
weight by her right hip； a distinct depression in the mattress； the
faint hint of after…shave…all told her so。 She opened heavy eyes and
focused on him。 Through a sleepy haze； he looked soft； gentle； and
caring。 Freshly shaven； showered； and dressed； he was powerfully male。
His face was one big tender smile； broken only when he sipped coffee
from the mug he held。
〃Good morning；〃 he said。 〃I'd begun to wonder whether you'd ever wake
up。 A real sleeping beauty。〃
Anne was relieved enough that his mood had improved to muster a smile。
〃I had trouble falling asleep。〃
〃Tell me about it。〃
〃Hmph。 Got a taste of your own medicine？〃 Pushing higher up on the
pillow； she moved her hair off her cheek。
As the quilt fell away； Mitch's eyes lit。 〃What's this？ Bare arms？ A
negligee？ Where'd the long flannel nightgown go？ It's not that warm
yet。〃
Anne scowled。 〃It's not a negligee。 A negligee is something daring。 This
is just a nightgown。〃 Primly； she pulled the quilt to her throat。
〃We're arguing semantics； Annie。 The fact is； you look like a woman
should look first thing in the morning。〃
〃I look awful；〃 she grumbled； picturing ratty hair； swollen eyes； and
bare features and suddenly wishing she could hide。
〃If you could bottle up and sell what you call awful； you'd make a
million。〃
〃Well； I'm sure you'd know。 You must have seen dozens of women first
thing in the morning。〃
〃Ah。 I think you need coffee。〃 He slid an arm behind her and drew her
up。 〃Jealousy isn't your usual style。〃 Though a smile played around his
mouth； his eyes were serious。
〃I'm not jealous；〃 she said； but she drank his coffee。 The intimacy of
it made a lie of her denial。 She wanted to know who occupied Mitch's
time and thoughts when he wasn't with her。 Oh； yes； she was jealous。
〃Better？〃 he asked and took another drink himself。 He placed the mug on
the nightstand when she lay back against the pillows。 〃Is the nightgown
symbolic？ Like the pink sweater last time？〃
She lifted a shoulder； self…conscious。 〃I suppose。 I'm getting out more
now。 I feel better。〃 Except when she thought about the uping trial；
which she desperately tried not to do。 〃What about you？ Any symbolic
recovery gestures？〃
He gave an evasive smile。 〃Some。〃
Anne waited。 After a minute； she said； 〃Like what？〃
〃It's better told at another time。 I have something more important in
mind right now。〃
〃What？〃 she asked with total innocence； until his eyes fell to her
breasts。 The nightgown was sheer。 Blushing； she crossed her arms over
the pale yellow bodice。
He took her wrists and pulled them away； then murmured a husky； 〃I
haven't properly said hello；〃 and drew her forward。 His lips found hers
unerringly； and proceeded to do all the things Anne loved until she was
dizzy with pleasure。
Had she actually been angry at him the night before？ The only thing she
felt now was love。 She kissed him as deeply as he kissed her； and when
he shifted her； cradled her； she pushed her hands into his hair。
He was everything Anne had waited for and wanted。 His kiss set her
afire； his arms fed the flame。 By the time he set her back； her cheeks
and lips were rosy with heat。
She opened her eyes wide。 〃That was a nice hello。〃
To her delight； he wasn't done。 When he reached for her again； she went
willingly。 Her hands slipped around his waist； fingers burrowing under
his sweater to brush his skin。 She was barely aware that he had pushed
off the slim straps of her nightgown； until he drew back to release her
arms and let the silky fabric fall to her waist。
His gaze caressed her breasts； which tingled and swelled。 〃How lovely
you are； Annie；〃 he said hoarsely。
〃You've seen me before。〃 She felt vaguely self…conscious。
But his eyes were deep green with passion。 〃Then； you were sick with a
fever and a hacking cough。 The beauty was there； but I hardly had time
to admire it。 Now's different。 You are lovely。 I'll say it again and
again； every time I hold you； every time we make love。〃
Her insides quivered； all the more so when he stroked her breast。 When
his fingers rubbed her nipple； she grabbed at his shoulders for support。
〃You're cruel。〃
She felt a grin by her ear。 〃You bring out the worst in me；〃 he sai