from the familiar； a good three miles from a shred of civilization。 Spooked； it took her a minute to realize that what she"d assumed to be the thundering of her pulse was the thunder outside。 Lightning followed quickly； brightening the dark side of the room for a shocking instant； its blue…white gleam icy in parison to the warm orange glow of the fire。 Hastily she added several more logs； desperately needing to put the book down； desperately needing to read on； knowing that she wouldn"t be able to sleep until the last page had been turned and the mystery solved。 She raised the book again to another deafening clap of thunder。 It vibrated through the house along with tongued bolts of lightening。 Anne"s nerves prickled then； because； in the thunder"s wake came another noise。 This one was more human and threatening。 A car was approaching； ing nearer； loud enough to be heard above the storm。 It reached her front door and stopped。 Huddled in the chair； she held her breath。 It was twelve thirty…five； well past normal calling hours even in the city。 Perhaps one of the villagers wanted to warn her about the storm。 Perhaps someone was lost。 Perhaps 。。。 perhaps 。。。 A furious pounding came at the door。 Had it been a gentle knock； Anne might have dared answer it。 But this knock was angry； clearly no neighbor expressing concern。 At least the door was locked； though she wished fervently for the dead bolt she had in New York。 〃Open up！ It"s wet out here！〃 The voice was deep； gruff； and angry。 〃Open the damn door！〃 Anne didn"t budge。 This was her cottage for the week； and she had the papers to prove it。 She didn"t have to open the door。 But the banging went on； hard knuckles on wood。 〃e on； whoever you are； open the door！ I"m getting soaked and I can"t reach my key。〃 His key？ Was this a mon visiting place？ Had the realtor forgotten to tell her something？ Feeling vaguely guilty at being warm and dry while someone was out there wet and cold； she approached the door。 〃Who is it？〃 she yelled； resting her forehead against the smooth oak。 〃It"s Mitch； dammit。 Open up！〃 An impatient hand jiggled the doorknob from the outside。 〃I don"t know any Mitch；〃 she shouted over the storm。 〃What do you want？〃 What came back was a menacing growl。 〃I want to get dry。 For God"s sake； open up。 I do have a key； but if I have to put these bags down to get it； I"ll be madder"n hell when I get in there！〃 Assuming she could believe him； he had a point。 If he did have a key and would eventually open the door whether she liked it or not； she could save him the effort and spare herself his anger。 Cautious； she reached for the knob。 She opened the door a few inches； leaving her weight against the wood in case she didn"t like what she saw。 Without warning； a heavier weight thrust it full open； throwing her back into the room。 Startled by the unexpected force and cursing herself for her nerves； Anne lost her balance and tripped； falling backward onto her bottom with a thud。 From that vantage point she watched； wide…eyed； as a huge man entered； savagely dripping water。 He tossed in several large bags before slamming the door shut and leaning against it。 The fire had begun to die； leaving only the faintest glow to light his face； but it was enough to show a tight jaw； sneering lips； and eyes that impaled her。 〃You bitch！ What took you so long？ Why didn"t you open the door？ Can"t you see what the weather is like？ And who sent you anyway？ Was it Joe？〃 Narrowed eyes gave her an insolent once…over。 〃No； it must have been Lennie。 He goes in for the plain； scrawny type。〃 Anne was dumbstruck by the sudden turn of events。 〃What？〃 he went on。 〃No denials？ No coy protestations？〃 He unbuttoned his heavy wool jacket； shrugged it off； and tossed it onto an empty chair。 Even without its bulk； with only snug denims and a dark turtleneck； he was imposing。 To her horror； he advanced until he towered directly over her。 〃Well？ Don"t you have anything to say？ Or are you just going to lie there； all helpless and inviting？〃 Anne found her tongue。 〃You shouldn"t be here。 Get out！〃 A coarse laugh filtered through the sounds of the storm。 〃Ah； having second thoughts； are you？ Reneging on your little deal so fast？〃 Anne slid backward on the floor。 〃I think there"s been a misunderstanding。〃 〃Right in one！ I don"t know who you are； but I don"t want you or any other woman up here。 So〃…he lowered his voice but failed to relax his jaw…〃I"d suggest you pick up your little carcass and get out。〃 Anne was incredulous。 〃I will not。〃 Her eyes didn"t leave his for a second； though she inched farther away。 Suddenly he was crouched before her； steel…muscled shins imprisoning hers and making movement impossible。 〃What did you say？〃 Willing a strength she didn"t feel； Anne held his gaze。 〃I said that I wouldn"t leave。 I"m here for the week。 If anyone is leaving； it"s you。 Now！〃 She practically shrieked the last。 Between frustration and fear； she was losing posure。 But her order had the opposite effect。 The man moved forward； resting his weight on his right hand； on the hard floor inches from her hip。 〃So this is a new kind of game；〃 he taunted。 〃I don"t know what you"re talking about；〃 she said； but her voice fell to a whisper when his face came closer。 〃This is no game。〃 Lit by the pale orange cast of the fire； his lips were firm and grinning wryly。 His eyes narrowed again； homing in now on her mouth； which quivered。 She couldn"t move。 Terror rose up from the pit of her stomach。 〃No game？〃 he echoed as she struggled to pull herself free of his leghold。 With the grace of an athlete and the power of a lion； he stretched fully over her； flattening her onto the cold floor。 Panic hit then。 〃Let go！ Get off me！〃 Futilely she pushed against him； but his body weight was awesome； stealing her breath。 Gasping for air； she continued to push as his mouth lowered。 〃No！〃 she cried and wrenched her head to the side。 He brought it back with a firm hand。 〃No game； you say？ We"ll see about that。〃 His lips seized hers with a steadiness that held her head flush against