her。 She finally fell into a restless sleep； only to be awaken at intervals by the creak of that bed。 It was nearly dawn when she realized that she wasn"t brooding about Jeff for a change。 On that ironic note； and thoroughly worn out； she slept soundly。 What seemed only moments later； she was jolted awake by a thunderous noise in the kitchen。 Livid； she bolted out of bed； whipped the chair from the door； and stormed toward the source of the racket。 〃What； in God"s name； was that noise？〃 she shouted； rounding the kitchen door in time to see Mitch picking up the first of a scattered mess of pots； pans； and metal utensils that covered the linoleum by the stove。 He wore a navy velour robe that barely touched his knees； and was barefoot like her。 And disheveled。 And very； very cranky。 Shooting her a sidelong glare； he bellowed； 〃What kind of housekeeper are you； piling things in the cabi like that？ Did you really expect them to stay put once I opened the door？ And where in the hell is the orange juice press？ My Lord； woman； get to it and clean up this mess！〃 Friends who knew Anne to be easygoing； even…tempered； understanding； and acmodating would never have recognized the spitfire she suddenly became。 It had been too long a day yesterday； too long a night last night； too disturbing an ordeal for months； for an ounce of poise to survive。 Dark eyes flashing； she confronted him。 〃You clean it up。 I didn"t make the mess； and I"m not your slave！ It happens that I didn"t touch that cabi when I arrived。 Put your blame on whomever you please； as long as it isn"t on me！ And what right do you have to wake me up？ This is my vacation； or didn"t you hear that last night？〃 Only a deaf man could have missed a word now。 Goaded by his indignant stare； she ranted on。 〃This noise was enough to wake the dead。 Not that I needed anything as loud as that to disturb me。 Your twisting around up over my head all night was bad enough！ Just because you have insomnia doesn"t mean that I have to have it！〃 His stare was chilling。 〃You wake up in a lovely mood； don"t you？ Very different from my usual women。〃 He looked her over； head to toe。 〃That"s quite an outfit； also different from my usual women。〃 Naturally； Anne had left her robe hanging in the closet。 Whirling on her heel； hair flying out behind； she returned to her room； put on the robe； then； with a wave of weariness； sank down onto the edge of the bed； elbows on knees； face buried in her palms。 Inhaling deeply； she tried to still the throbbing at her temples。 His women。 His women； indeed。 She wasn"t his or anyone else"s。 The sorrow of that thought deflated her。 If Jeff could only see her now！ Ashamed； she gathered up a towel and soap in the hope that a long； hot shower would ease her tension and improve her mood； and for a short time it did。 The water pressure was strong； sending steamy trails over the taut muscles of her neck and back。 Rich…lathering shampoo left her hair squeaky clean and shiny； hanging in damp clusters about her shoulders when she finally emerged； toweled herself vigorously； and returned to her room。 Half an hour later； wearing a navy sweater； jeans； and sneakers； she headed for the kitchen to make coffee。 It was already hot on the stove。 To her surprise the floor was free of debris； the offending cookware stacked neatly in the cupboard。 She smiled a bit smugly。 So he had cleaned up himself Take that； male chauvinist pig！ And he had made himself scarce。 Helping herself to coffee； she took a seat at the table。 Despite the outburst； she had actually slept until ten…thirty。 Now she heard footsteps on the stairs and the slam of the bathroom door。 All she had to do was to wait until he finished his shower and dressed。 Then they would face their dilemma like adults。 When the shower started； she relaxed back in the chair； bing her still…damp hair with slender fingers； spreading it out over her shoulders to dry。 Her gaze was drawn through the three…sided window of the breakfast nook to the backyard。 She hadn"t seen it the afternoon before and found instant pleasure in the rustic scene； the well…kept lawn； the scattering of maples and pines； the intermixing of apple trees with fruit hanging ripe and ready for picking。 The morning mist had begun to burn off； speared here and there shafts of sunlight。 The scene was exactly what she had hoped to find； so peaceful and quiet； that she was unprepared for the roar behind her。 〃You used up all the hot water！ Damn it； don"t you have a considerate bone in your body？〃 Mitch stood in the door of the kitchen； dripping wet； wearing nothing but a towel around his hips。 For a second； she couldn"t breathe。 He was incredibly well built。 Arms and shoulders of granite flanked a chest that was tanned； sinewed； and matted with fair hair made darker by the water。 His stomach was flat and firm； his slim hips a solid start for muscled thighs and lower legs。 Swallowing convulsively； Anne forced herself to look away。 〃I"m sorry；〃 she murmured。 〃I didn"t realize there would be a shortage。〃 〃Didn"t realize？〃 he mocked loudly。 〃Well； next time； realize。 I like my showers long and hot； too！〃 Annoyed that he was annoyed； since this was her house for the week； she took a mouthful of coffee and then nearly choked。 〃My God；〃 she cried when she finally swallowed； 〃this coffee is like mud！ What did you put in here？ Or should I ask〃…her eyes narrowed…〃how much of my coffee did you put into that pot？ I don"t see any groceries of yours around here。 Make yourself right at home； thanks a lot。〃 His anger faded。 Lips twitching； he leaned nonchalantly against the doorjamb。 〃Why shouldn"t I make myself at home？ I plan to spend the week here。〃 She sputtered out a furious laugh。 〃Oh； no； you"re not。〃 She rose quickly； forgetting every good intention to keep calm。 〃You"ll have to find another place。 I"m sure you"ll have no trouble； what with your delightful personality and winning smile。〃 With an arrogant shift of his shoulders； he left the doorjamb and placidly headed away。 〃You find the substitute；〃 he called over his shoulder。 〃I"ll be staying here。