that。〃 His lips seized hers with a steadiness that held her head flush against the oak planks。 Startling in intensity； relentless in duration； his kiss had an animalism that was primitive and raw。 She fought desperately； writhing beneath him until one large hand seized both of hers and pinned them to the floor above her head。 Only then did his lips finally release hers。 Fighting tears； she gasped for breath； and all the while he studied her。 When he finally spoke； he was calm and cynical。 〃Tears？ That"s not part of the game plan。〃 In an effort to raise himself； his hand tightened on hers； forcing them to bear the brunt of his weight。 She cried out in pain when her wedding band dug in。 He freed her quickly then； and sat back on his haunches。 She recoiled； crawling backward until she hit a wall； then jumping to her feet and racing to the hearth。 She grabbed the only weapon in sight； a heavy iron poker。 〃Don"t e near me；〃 she warned in a high…pitched whine。 Her threat reached its mark。 He didn"t move a muscle。 Silence hung heavy in the air。 Even the rain had eased to a gentle patter on the roof。 The storm was ending。 But what was she to do now？ As the gravity of her predicament settled in； a fit of trembling shook her with such force that the poker waved precariously。 Appearing to sense her terror； the man rose slowly； palms open and out from his sides。 〃Take it easy。 I won"t hurt you。〃 〃You already have。〃 She raised the poker higher。 〃Put that thing down；〃 he ordered； but gently； all anger gone now。 〃You"re apt to hurt yourself〃 She shook her head and held the poker at the ready。 〃Look。〃 He sighed； running his fingers through the damp hair that had fallen across his forehead。 〃Let me turn on a light。 At least then I can see what manner of woman has the upper hand on me。〃 She eased up on her stance。 Light would help her； too。 He crossed to the nearest lamp and turned it on。 It bathed the room a warm yellow。 〃That"s better；〃 he said and turned to face her。 Anne took a good look at her would…be assailant。 He was tall and rugged； thinner than she had first suspected； though the breadth of his chest and shoulders spoke of strength。 His sweater was black； his jeans faded； though darkened by rain at the hem； where they fell over sodden brown leather boots。 She had expected a dark and glowering face。 What she saw were features that were strong but kind； skin that was clear and only faintly tanned； hair that was thick and blond； turning silver； in damp waves。 There was an underlying gentleness。 But his lips were stern； his cheeks lean； his jaw set。 And eyes that were silvery hazel stare " （I at her without a blink。 〃If you"ve finished；〃 he said with a mocking twitch of his lips； 〃would you please put down that poker？ You can see I"m not a thug；〃 She lifted the weapon higher。 〃How about a rapist？〃 She wasn"t being deceived by a sweet…talking； good…looking man。 A muscle flexed in his jaw。 〃I"m no rapist。 I wouldn"t have forced you 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 usin