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 o