rekindled(英文版)-第48章

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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　d