按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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