window of the living room。 Then the trouble began。 For nearly ten minutes he looked over her shoulder while she worked as best she could。 Then he made a racket with pots and pans in the kitchen。 When that ended； there was whistling； loud and persistent； the same tune； over and over and over again。 Worst were interruptions of the 〃Hey； where is 。。 。〃 variety。 First it was； 〃Hey； where"s the salt？〃 Then； 〃Hey； where"s the ketchup？〃 Then； 〃Hey； where"s the large spatula？〃 By this time she knew he was baiting her； so she didn"t scream。 Calmly； she put down her pen； set her glasses aside； and made for the kitchen to register a civil plaint。 〃Are there any more？ migod； what are you doing？〃 She ran across the room； only to drop her outstretched arms in disgust and raise her eyes heavenward in search of patience。 〃What"s the trouble？〃 He was all innocence。 She peered once more into the half…empty jar in his hand。 〃Those are my macadamia nuts。 I"ve been saving that itty…bitty jar for this vacation！ 〃 〃So I"ll buy you another jar。 Is money that tight？〃 Anne scowled。 She reached for the jar and clamped on its lid before he could take more。 〃It"s not the money。 It"s the principle。 I love macadamia nuts。〃 〃I"ll get you more；〃 he repeated calmly。 She returned the jar to the cabi。 〃Can I trust you to leave it alone； or do I have to put it in my room？〃 He grinned and folded his arms on his chest。 〃I haven"t had macadamias in ages。 I"d forgotten how good they are。 But you can trust me。 At least； when it es to the nuts。〃 For a split second； she thought she heard something sexual in his drawl。 Then； dismissing it as a figment of her imagination； she turned and stalked off。 By Monday； a pattern emerged。 Anne rose early each morning and hiked the countryside。 Mitch slept late enough to ensure a replenished supply of hot water for a long shower。 Meals were widely scattered and eaten alone from supplies that remained separate and distinct。 By Tuesday Anne felt well rested and relaxed。 If Mitch continued to toss in his sleep； she had either gotten used to the noise or she slept soundly enough herself to blot it out。 He woke up earlier than usual that day； packed a lunch and vanished； leaving Anne with the solitude she wanted。 Strange； though； between work； books； and other incidental activities； she kept thinking about him。 She was living with the guy。 Well； not in that sense。 Still； her friends would be stunned if they knew； her family appalled。 But she was fortable here； physically and emotionally。 This world was divorced from that of New York。 Same with Mitch。 So； she didn"t know his last name。 The anonymity here felt right。 With Wednesday morning came the awareness that her vacation was ing to an end。 By Friday afternoon she would be heading back to the city。 Thinking about it over breakfast coffee； she felt a pang of disappointment。 All things considered； the vacation had been a good one。 She would miss this country when she had to leave it behind。 Determined to make the most of the remaining days； she spent more time in the woods than ever； reveling in the beauty of the flora； the freedom of the fauna； and the luxury of time itself It was past noon when she returned to the cottage。 Leaning against the trunk of an old apple tree in the backyard； bathed in its sweet scent； she tipped her head back and squinted at the sun through the fruit。 Inspiration struck then。 Pulling her jacket off； she spread it on the soft grass。 Then she began to pick apples； selecting only the fullest and deepest red of the lot to add to the growing pile。 When the last of the best lay on her jacket； she calculated her own agility； studying the upper branches； taking stock of her options。 Casting prudence aside； she braced a rubber soled foot against the trunk and carefully hoisted herself onto the first branch； bringing a whole new batch of fruit within reach。 Balanced gingerly； she plucked one； then another； filling her free arm slowly。 Then she looked down and saw Mitch right at the foot of her tree。 Startled； she lost her balance。 Apples rained to the ground in a crimson storm。 When she began to fall； she twisted sideways； grabbing back at the low branch to catch herself。 Mitch caught her before she hit the ground； though not before she"d been scraped by the ragged bark and jutting offshoots。 〃Why did you creep up on me that way？〃 she cried the minute her feet touched ground。 He released her instantly； but not before she saw him flinch in pain。 With a gasp of pain herself； she sank to the grass and rubbed the knee she had bumped on the branch。 〃Are you all right？〃 he asked。 She probed an aching elbow。 〃Fine。 I"m fine。〃 〃Are you always this clumsy？〃 〃I wasn"t clumsy。 You frightened me； sneaking up like that。〃 〃Who did you think it was？〃 he asked dryly。 〃There aren"t a whole lot of other people around here； or hadn"t you noticed？〃 Frowning； he bent to gather apples that had fallen。 〃You should be more careful。 You could break a leg that way。〃 〃Is that the voice of experience talking？〃 His jaw was tight。 〃You could say that。〃 He tossed more apples onto her jacket。 But he only used his right arm。 The left hung idle。 〃Is your arm all right？〃 she asked。 He glanced sharply up。 〃It"s fine。〃 〃You favor your right。〃 〃It"s fine。 Can you walk？〃 As she stood； testing the knee； he pulled her jacket around into a bundle； lifted it； and set off for the house。 She limped after him。 By the time she reached the kitchen； he had put the apples beside the sink and disappeared。 Grateful for the privacy； she collapsed into a chair； twisting her arm to see the scrapes on her elbow。 〃Here； let me take a look at that。〃 Before she could resist； Mitch deposited a bottle of disinfectant and a washcloth on the table； pulled up a chair； and took her arm。 His touch was warm。 When she tried to pull back； he held her arm more firmly。 She winced at the antiseptic"s sting。 〃THAT"S That"s enough！〃 But he disagreed； repeatedly dabbing the dirt from the wound before kneeling and reaching for her knee。 〃It"s all right；〃 she insis