rekindled(英文版)-第18部分

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into　anything。　Especially　once　I　saw　that　wedding　band。　I　don't　fool
around　with　married　women。〃

Tears　threatened　again。　How　bittersweet　that　the　symbol　of　a　marriage
that　had　ended　should　save　her　from　the　unspeakable。　So　she　had　Jeff　to
thank　still。

〃Who　are　you？〃　she　asked　in　a　quavering　voice。

〃You　really　don't　know？　e　on；　you're　holding　all　the　cards。　You　can
confess。〃

Her　voice　came　stronger。　〃Who　are　you？〃

Still　he　persisted。　〃It　was　Lennie；　wasn't　it？　He's　been　trying　to　set
me　up　with　a　woman　for　weeks　now！〃　His　frustration　sounded　sincere。

〃Who　are　you？〃

With　a　sigh　of　defeat；　he　thrust　a　hand　in　his　pocket。　〃Mitch。〃

But　she　knew　that　already。　〃Where　are　you　from？〃

〃New　York。〃

〃You　just　drove　up　from　there？〃

〃Yes。　I；　〃Why？

He　shot　her　a　surprised　look。　〃Why　what？　Why　did　I　just　drive　up；　or　why
am　I　here？〃

〃Both。〃　As　Anne's　pulse　steadied；　she　lowered　the　poker。

〃I　just　got　here　because　I　had　a　late　meeting　this　afternoon　and
couldn't　leave　the　city　until　it　was　done。　I'm　here　because　I　need　a
week's　rest；　free　of　all　human　contact。　All　human　contact。〃

〃Why　are　you　here？〃

〃I　just　told　you。〃

〃But；　why　here；　in　this　house？〃　She　was　beginning　to　think　straight。　He
didn't　look　like　a　thug。　And　he　could　have　taken　advantage　of　her　when
he　was　on　top；　but　he　hadn't。

He　rubbed　the　back　of　his　neck；　much　as　she　had　when　she'd　first
arrived。　〃I　e　here　often。　And　I'm　sure　I　booked　the　weekend　with
Miles。〃

So　he　did　know　the　realtor。　He　deserved　credit　for　that。

She　relaxed　her　grip　on　the　poker。　〃It　looks　like　good　old　Miles　made
mistake。〃　Thinking　about　it；　she　frowned。　Her　eyes　fell。　Absently　she
ran　faintly　shaky　finger　over　the　lip　he　had　bruised。

In　a　single　deft　move；　he　had　the　poker　out　of　her　hands　before　she　knew
he　was　there。　In　that　instant；　terror　returned。　She　had　been　duped。

〃All　right；　ma'am。　Now　you　answer　my　questions；〃　he　ordered。

When　she　tried　to　step　back；　he　grabbed　her　shoulders　and　held　her　in
place。　The　discrepancy　of　their　heights　appalled　her。　Even　accounting
for　the　fact　that　she　had　no　shoes　on；　Mitch　was　nearly　a　foot　taller。

〃Who　are　you？〃　he　asked　with　an　air　of　mand；　even　subtle　threat。

She　began　to　tremble　again。　〃Anne。〃

〃From　。。。　？）

〃New　York。〃

〃So〃…a　smile　touched　his　mouth　but　went　no　further…〃we're　of　the　same
stock。〃

〃Hardly。〃

Her　sharp　gaze　and　clipped　response　erased　his　smile。　〃When　did　you
arrive？〃

She　resented　his　questions。　She　had　a　rental　agreement。　This　was　her
place。　〃I　don't　see　that　this…〃

Hard　fingers　dug　into　her　upper　arms；　stopping　short　of　a　shake。　〃When
did　you　get　here？〃

〃Early　this　evening。〃

〃Why　are　you　here？　Both　versions。〃

He　had　relaxed　his　grip　on　her　shoulders；　but　she　wanted　out　all　the
way。　〃Can　I　sit　down？　My　legs　are　wobbly。〃

He　held　his　hands　out　to　the　sides　for　an　instant；　then　dropped　them。
The　right　went　to　his　waist；　the　left　to　his　pocket。　〃Be　my　guest。　Sit。〃

She　retreated　to　the　wing…back　chair　and　watched　him　add　logs　to　the
fire。　He　used　his　right　hand。　His　left　remained　in　his　pocket。　It　struck
her　that　he　avoided　using　it。

He　approached　her　again；　tall　and　imposing。　〃Why　did　you　e？〃

She　tipped　her　chin　in　defiance　of　his　stance。　〃I'm　here　on　vacation。　I
arranged　it　with　Mr。　Cooper　and　prepaid　for　the　week。〃

〃You　have　proof？〃

〃Of　course。〃

〃Let　me　see。〃

She　scowled。　〃Why　should　I　show　you　anything？　You're　the　one　who　barged
in　here　uninvited。〃

He　leaned　forward；　resting　his　hand　on　the　arm　of　her　chair；　bringing
his　lips　infuriatingly　close　to　her　ear。　〃Get　it；〃　he　demanded　under　his
breath；　then　slowly　straightened　to　let　her　pass。

Moments　later　she　reappeared　to　find　him　studying　the　fire。　He　took　the
paper　she　offered　and　skimmed　it。

〃Looks　authentic　enough；〃　he　conceded。　With　a　muttered；　〃That　fool；〃　he
turned　back　to　the　fire。

〃Where's　your　proof？〃　she　challenged。

He　…clenched　his　jaw。　〃You'll　have　to　take　my　word　for　it。〃

〃No；　thanks。　I　want　proof。　Or　you　can　just　take　your　things　and　leave。　I
didn't　drive　all　the　way　up　here　to　share　a　cabin　with　a　man　I　don't
know。〃

His　mouth　thinned　to　a　grimace。　〃Looks　like　you're　stuck　with　me；　lady。〃

She　was　suddenly　angry。　〃No　way！　I　came　up　here　to　be　alone；　and　that's
what　I　plan　to　be。　If　there　was　a　telephone；　I'd　call　the　local　police
to　get　you　out；　but　there　isn't　one；　and　I　don't　relish　the　thought　of
driving　out　in　this　weather。　So　I'm　asking　you　to　leave　like　a
gentleman。〃　He　stared　at　the　fire。　〃Who　said　that　I　was　a　gentleman？〃

〃I'll　give　you　the　benefit　of　the　doubt。　Now；　do　you　leave；　or　do　I。。
Her　voice　trailed　off。　There　was　no　alternative。

And；　damn　it；　he　knew　it。　Slowly；　he　turned　toward　her。　〃Or　do　you
what？〃

Frustrated　by　the　situation；　infuriated　by　his　calm；　she　gave　in　to　the
need　to　shout。　Loudly。　〃Look　。。。　Mitch　。。。　I　don't　know　who's　to　blame
for　this　fiasco；　but　I'd　like　you　to　leave。　It's　been　a　long　day　and　I'm
tired。　There's　obviously　been　a　misunderstanding；　but　I　have　every
intention　of　spending　the　week　here；　and　I'm　paying　for　that　time　right
now。　So；　do　you　go？〃

His　expression　was　unchanged。　〃Tonight？　No。〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　no？　You　have　no　right　to　be　here。〃

His　voice　was　suddenly　as　loud　as　hers。　〃I　have　every　right　to　be　here；
but　that's　between　Miles　Cooper　and　myself。　Let's　get　one　thing
straight。〃

His　eyes　darkened　to　a　charcoal　green。　〃I　don't　want　you　here　any　more
than　you　want　me　here；　but　for　tonight；　at　least；　we're　stuck　with　each
other。　We'll　work　something　out　in　the　morning。〃

〃But　you　can't　stay　here　tonight。〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃Because　I'm　here！〃

〃So？〃　His　eyes　were　hazel　again；　calmer；　strong。

A　flush　warmed　her　cheeks。　〃I　thought　I'd　made　it　clear　that　I　wasn't
part　of　a　conspiracy。　Well；　let　me　take　it　one　step　further。〃　Her
breathing　faltered；　but　she　let　loose　with　what　she'd　been　trying　to
tell　the　whole　world　for　weeks。　〃I'm　not　interested　in　you；　or　any　other
man。　Can　you　understand　that？〃

〃I　hear　you。　I'm　not　sure　I　believe　you。〃　Audacious　eyes　fell　from　her
face　to　her　neck　to　her　breasts。　Mockery　faded　when　he　looked　at　her
wedding　band。　Frowning；　he　drew　himself　up　straight。　〃I　think　I've　had
it。　Good　night。〃　As　he　brushed　past　her；　she　grabbed　his　arm　in　alarm。

〃Where　are　you　going？〃

〃To　bed。〃　His　words　were　blunt；　his　tone　chilled。

〃Oh；　no；　you're　not。〃

He　arched　a　brow。　〃Are　you　going　to　stop　me？〃　Slowly　he　looked　down　at
the　white…knuckled　hand　on　his　arm。

She　released　him　fast。　〃But　you　can't　stay　here！〃　He　continued　on　toward
his　bags。　Unable　to　think　of　a　better　course；　she　followed。　〃I　said；　you
can't　stay！　There　must　be　some　place　in　the　village。〃

Piling　luggage　under　his　right　arm；　he　headed　wordlessly　for　the　stairs。
Abruptly；　he　stopped；　turning　his　head　only　enough　to　call　over　his
shoulder；　〃I　assume　you're　sleeping　down　here？〃

She　had　no　power；　no　power　at　all。　〃Yes；　but　you　have　to　leave。〃

He　turned　to　face　her。　His　smile　was　polite；　his　eyes　frosty；　his　voice
cool。　〃I　will　in　good　time。〃　Taking　the　stairs　two　at　a　time；　an
astounding　feat；　given　his　bulky　burden；　he　disappeared　into　the　attic；
leaving　her　at　a　total　loss　for　words。

Anne　didn't　budge。　Her　arms　hung　limp　at　her　sides；　her　bare　feet　were
flat　on　the　floor；　her　eyes　were　glued　to　the　attic　door；　which　closed
with　a　resounding　bang。　Even　the　faint　sounds　from　within…the　scrape　of
a　chair　leg；　the　creak　of　the　mattress　under　one　bag；　the　thud　of
another　on　the　floor；　the　jangle　of　metal　hangers　on　a　wooden　rod…failed
to　move　her。

A　crick　in　her　neck　finally　brought　her　back　to　reality。　Hands　bracing
her　lower　back；　she　rolled　her　head　in　a　circular　motion　in　an　attempt
to　release　tension。

Bizarre。　Bizarre　situation。　A　real…life　drama　in　place　of　a　fictional
one；　discarded　now　on　the　floor　by　the　fire。　But　there　wasn't　a　thing
she　could　do。　She　could　agonize　over　it　for　hours；　but　that　fact
wouldn't　change。

Retreating　to　her　bedroom；　she　closed　the　door　tightly　and　propped　a
chair　against　the　knob　the　way　her　heroine　had　done　in　Chapter　Six；　or
thereabouts。　Quickly；　she　slipped　into　a　long　flannel　nightgown；　pulled
her　hair　from　its　knot；　and　took　refuge　under　the　bed's　heavy　quilts。

Despite　the　chair　at　the　door；　she　wasn't　frightened。　Not　really。
Mitch's　story　irritated　her；　but　it　was　believable　enough。　Or；　rather；
he　was　believable。　There　was　something　about　him…his　intelligent　manner
of　speech；　his　clean　appearance；　his　refined　air…that　spoke　of　breeding。
Granted；　he'd　been　pretty　crude　at　the　start。　But　even　that　could　be
explained　away。　He　seemed　neither　malicious　nor　vengeful；　only　angry　at
the　rental　agent's　error。

What　to　do？　She　had　no　choice　but　to　sleep　on　the　matter。　e　morning；
a　solution　would　be　found。　It　would　have　to　be　found。　This　was　her　week。
She　wasn't　sharing　it。

But　sleep　eluded　her。　She　cursed　the　two　cups　of　coffee　that　she'd　had；
the　unfinished　paperback；　the　creaking　that　came　from　the　room　above
her。　She　finally　fell　into　a　restless　sleep；　only　to　be　awaken　at
intervals　by　the　creak　of　that　bed。　It　was　nearly　dawn　when　she　realized
that　she　wasn't　brooding　about　Jeff　for　a　change。　On　that　ironic　note；
and　thoroughly　worn　out；　she　slept　soundly。

What　seemed　only　moments　later；　she　was　jolted　awake　by　a　thunderous
noise　in　the　kitchen。　Livid；　she　bolted　out　of　bed；　whipped　the　chair
from　the　door；　and　stormed　toward　the　source　of　the　racket。

〃What；　in　God's　name；　was　that　noise？〃　she　shouted；　rounding　the　kitchen
door　in　time　to　see　Mitch　picking　up　the　first　of　a　scattered　mess　of
pots；　pans；　and　metal　utensils　that　covered　the　linoleum　by　the　stove。
He　wore　a　navy　velour　robe　that　barely　touched　his　knees；　and　was
barefoot　like　her。　And　disheveled。　And　very；　very　cranky。

Shooting　her　a　sidelong　glare；　he　bellowed；　〃What　kind　of　housekeeper
are　you；　piling　things　in　the　cabi　like　that？　Did　you　really　expect
them　to　stay　put　once　I　opened　the　door？　And　where　in　the　hell　is　the
orange　juice　press？　My　Lord；　woman；　get　to　it　and　clean　up　this　mess！〃

Friends　who　knew　Anne　to　be　easygoing；　even…tempered；　understanding；　and
acmodating　would　never　have　recognized　the　spitfire　she　suddenly
became。　It　had　been　too　long　a　day　yesterday；　too　long　a　night　last
night；　too　disturbing　an　ordeal　for　months；　for　an　ounce　of　poise　to
survive。

Dark　eyes　flashing；　she　confronted　him。　〃You　clean　it　up。　I　didn't　make
the　mess；　and　I'm　not　your　slave！　It　happens　that　I　didn't　touch　that
cabi　when　I　arrived。　Put　your　blame　on　whomever　you　please；　as　long
as　it　isn't　on　me！　And　what　right　do　you　have　to　wake　me　up？　This　is　my
vacation；　or　didn't　you　hear　that　last　night？〃　Only　a　deaf　man　could
have　missed　a　word　now。　Goaded　by　his　indignant　stare；　she　ranted　on。
〃This　noise　was　enough　to　wake　the　dead。　Not　that　I　needed　anything　as
loud　as　that　to　disturb　me。　Your　twisting　around　up　over　my　head　all
night　was　bad　enough！　Just　because　you　have　insomnia　doesn't　mean　that　I
have　to　have　it！〃

His　stare　was　chilling。　〃You　wake　up　in　a　lovely　mood；　don't　you？　Very
different　from　my　usual　women。〃　He　looked　her　over；　head　to　toe。　〃That's
quite　an　outfit；　also　different　from　my　usual　women。〃

Naturally；　Anne　had　left　her　robe　hanging　in　the　closet。　Whirling　on　her
heel；　hair　flying　out　behind；　she　returned　to　her　room；　put　on　the　robe；
then；　with　a　wave　of　weariness；　sank　down　onto　the　edge　of　the　bed；
elbows　on　knees；　face　buried　in　her　palms。　Inhaling　deeply；　she　tried　to
still　the　throbbing　at　her　temples。　His　women。　His　women；　indeed。　She
wasn't　his　or　anyone　else's。

The　sorrow　of　that　thought　deflated　her。　If　Jeff　could　only　see　her　now！

Ashamed；　she　gathered　up　a　towel　and　soap　in　the　hope　that　a　long；　hot
shower　would　ease　her　tension　and　improve　her　mood；　and　for　a　short　time
it　did。　The　water　pressure　was　strong；　sending　steamy　trails　over　the
taut　muscles　of　her　neck　and　back。　Rich…lathering　shampoo　left　her　hair
squeaky　clean　and　shiny；　hanging　in　damp　clusters　about　her　shoulders
when　she　finally　emerged；　toweled　herself　vigorously；　and　returned　to
her　room。

Half　an　hour　later；　wearing　a　navy　sweater；　jeans；　and　sneakers；　she
headed　for　the　kitchen　to　make　coffee。　It　was　already　hot　on　the　stove。
To　her　surprise　the　floor　was　free　of　debris；　the　offending　cookware
stacked　neatly　in　the　cupboard。

She　smiled　a　bit　smugly。　So　he　had　cleaned　up　himself　Take　that；　male
chauvinist　pig！　And　he　had　made　himself　scarce。

Helping　herself　to　coffee；　she　took　a　seat　at　the　table。　Despite　the
outburst；　she　had　actually　slept　until　ten…thirty。　Now　she　heard
footsteps　on　the　stairs　and　the　slam　of　the　bathroom　door。　All　she　had
to　do　was　to　wait　until　he　finished　his　shower　and　dressed。　Then　they
would　face　their　dilemma　like　adults。

When　the　shower　started；　she　relaxed　back　in　the　chair；　bing　her
still…damp　hair　with　slender　fingers；　spreading　it　out　over　her
shoulders　to　dry。　Her　gaze　was　drawn　through　the　three…sided　window　of
the　breakfast　nook　to　the　backyard。　She　hadn't　seen　it　the　afternoon
before　and　found　instant　pleasure　in　the　rustic　scene；　the　well…kept
lawn；　the　scattering　of　maples　and　pines；　the　intermixing　of　apple　trees
with　fruit　hanging　ripe　and　ready　for　picking。　The　morning　mist　had
begun　to　burn　off；　speared　here　and　there　shafts　of　sunlight。

The　scene　was　exactly　what　she　had　hoped　to　find；　so　peaceful　and　quiet；
that　she　was　unprepared　for　the　roar　behind　her。

〃You　used　up　all　the　hot　water！　Damn　it；　don't　you　have　a　considerate
bone　in　your　body？〃

Mitch　stood　in　the　door　of　the　kitchen；　dripping　wet；　wearing　nothing
but　a　towel　around　his　hips。

For　a　second；　she　couldn't　breathe。　He　was　incredibly　well　built。　Arms
and　shoulders　of　granite　flanked　a　chest　that　was　tanned；　sinewed；　and
matted　with　fair　hair　made　darker　by　the　water。　His　stomach　was　flat　and
firm；　his　slim　hips　a　solid　start　for　muscled　thighs　and　lower　legs。

Swallowing　convulsively；　Anne　forced　herself　to　look　away。　〃I'm　sorry；〃
she　murmured。　〃I　didn't　realize　there　would　be　a　shortage。〃

〃Didn't　realize？〃　he　mocked　loudly。　〃Well；　next　time；　realize。　I　like　my
showers　long　and　hot；　too！〃

Annoyed　that　he　was　annoyed；　since　this　was　her　house　for　the　week；　she
took　a　mouthful　of　coffee　and　then　nearly　choked。　〃My　God；〃　she　cried
when　she　finally　swallowed；　〃this　coffee　is　like　mud！　What　did　you　put
in　here？　Or　should　I　ask〃…her　eyes　narrowed…〃how　much　of　my　coffee　did
you　put　into　that　pot？　I　don't　see　any　groceries　of　yours　around　here。
Make　yourself　right　at　home；　thanks　a　lot。〃

His　anger　faded。　Lips　twitching；　he　leaned　nonchalantly　against　the
doorjamb。　〃Why　shouldn't　I　make　myself　at　home？　I　plan　to　spend　the　week
here。〃

She　sputtered　out　a　furious　laugh。　〃Oh；　no；　you're　not。〃　She　rose
quickly；　forgetting　every　good　intention　to　keep　calm。　〃You'll　have　to
find　another　place。　I'm　sure　you'll　have　no　trouble；　what　with　your
delightful　personality　and　winning　smile。〃

With　an　arrogant　shift　of　his　shoulders；　he　left　the　doorjamb　and
placidly　headed　away。　〃You　find　the　substitute；〃　he　called　over　his
shoulder。　〃I'll　be　staying　here。〃

She　trailed　him。　〃You　can't！〃

At