kneeling and reaching for her knee。 〃It"s all right；〃 she insisted。 He raised his head。 His jaw was hard； his cheeks lean； but his eyes were surprisingly soft。 Something stirred inside her。 〃I"ll do my best not to hurt you； but it should be cleaned。〃 Very gently； he pushed the jeans past her knee。 He applied disinfectant to the scrape there； blotting it to ease the sting。 Anne watched his shoulders flex as he worked； easy to see since his turtleneck fit him as snugly as each of his others had。 This one was dark green。 By contrast； the silvery…blonde of his hair was striking。 〃There； now；〃 he murmured。 〃That wasn"t so bad； was it？〃 With both hands cradling her leg； he surveyed his work。 His tone was gentle； his touch even more so； and when he raised his eyes； they were the gentlest yet。 Her breath faltered。 He curved a hand to her neck。 His thumb feather…touched the soft swell of her lips。 For an instant he hesitated； and Anne"s breath held。 With eternal slowness； he raised his mouth to hers in a kiss that was little more than the tantalizingly light movement of his lips。 When she made no protest； he deepened it； coaxing her mouth open with a gentleness that was worlds away from the first night"s force。 Anne was entranced。 She couldn"t think； because this wasn"t part of her plan。 But she could feel； and what she felt was overwhelming； the purest pleasure in a meeting of mouths； a touching of tongues。 Abruptly he pulled away； and sanity returned。 With a gasp she bolted from the chair and； ignoring a twinge in her knee； went to the far side of the room。 Mitch stood； keeping his back to her as his breathing steadied。 When he finally faced her； he had his passion in check。 By that time； she was trying to understand herself。 Because she couldn"t； she lashed out at him。 〃You had no business doing that。〃 His lips thinned。 〃I don"t seem to recall your objecting。〃 〃You didn"t give me much of a chance。〃 He approached； studying her eyes； the heat on her cheeks； the tiny quiver of her lips。 He frowned。 〃It"s been a long time； hasn"t it？〃 〃I don"t want your pity！〃 〃Pity？〃 His features tensed。 〃I don"t deal in pity。 I"ve seen enough of it in the past year to make me sick。 No； Anne； if you can"t recognize a basic physical need； then you"re deluding yourself〃 His gaze narrowed。 〃Let"s just say I took my reward for playing nursemaid to a bad…tempered tomboy。〃 She gasped in dismay； but he was on his way out of the room； which was probably just as well。 That way she didn"t have to eat crow； because he was right。 She would be lying if she refused to admit that she liked his kiss。 She had been physically roused by a physical act。 But it had been only a kiss； only a kiss in the midst of bizarre circumstances。 e next week； the cottage； the kiss； the man would all be memory。 Gradually； she calmed。 She began paring and slicing apples； piling skins on a piece of paper towel； turning the slices into a large glass pie plate and sprinkling them with cinnamon。 Her supplies were dwindling； but she found adequate amounts of flour； butter； and sugar for the topping。 Once the pie was in the oven； she spotted the unused apples。 She washed each； polished it to a high gloss； and set it in a dish in the center of the table。 It wasn"t until the dish was filled that she saw Mitch eyeing her from the doorway。 She was quickly defensive； 〃Is something wrong？〃 〃Just looking to see that you"re all right。〃 〃I am。 I actually forgot。。 。〃 She gestured toward her bruises with a sheepish grin。 〃Glad to hear it。〃 With a dip of his head； he left the room and； soon after； the house。 Anne immersed herself in the last of her work； while the scent of baking apples filled the air。 The pie was delicious； by her immodest estimate； a perfect finish for the early dinner she ate alone。 Again； dusk found her reading before the fire。 〃Anything good？〃 She looked up and blushed。 〃Just a romance。〃 She was actually enjoying it without thinking of Jeff at every turn of the page。 When Mitch set off for the kitchen； she called； 〃There"s apple pie on the counter。 Help yourself〃 She grinned when he looked back and arched a brow。 〃Even bad…tempered tomboys have their merits。〃 〃Thanks。〃 〃You"re wele。〃 〃By the way； I put the peels out for the deer。〃 〃I wondered where they"d gone； but I wasn"t about to look a gift horse in the mouth。 Do deer like apples？〃 She learned the answer the next morning。 A warm hand shook her awake。 〃e； Anne。 There"s something you have to see！〃 She was disoriented only until she saw Mitch in his robe at the window； waving her along。 Rolling out of bed； she joined him there and followed his pointing finger。 Under a patch of mist in the yard； by the base of the old apple tree； a young doe was munching at the remains that Mitch had tossed out。 As they watched； the lithe animal stood on her hind legs to pick a fresh piece of fruit。 〃Deer do like apples； wouldn"t you say？〃 His breath fanned her ear； its warmth enhancing the moment"s pleasure。 〃That was beautiful；〃 she murmured when the doe finally moved off into the mist。 〃Thank you for waking me。〃 She turned to find him very； very close； and she thought about that kiss。 All he did this time； though； was to give her arm a gentle squeeze； then leave。 By the time she showered and went to the kitchen； he was dressed。 As he gazed absently out the window； the freshness of morning gentled his features。 〃Coffee？〃 she offered quietly。 〃Ummm。〃 He paused； slowly turning to look at her。 〃And a piece of that apple pie。 My pliments to the baker。〃 〃Apple pie？ For breakfast？〃 〃Sure。 Call it danish； if the thought disturbs you。 But it was good。〃 She set to making coffee； somehow lost count and thought that maybe she added an extra scoop to the basket。 She let it stand。 〃Swedish apple pie。 My mother"s recipe。 Easy and good。 Actually； now that I think about it； my dad used to have it for breakfast； too。〃 Fearful that she"d spoken too personally； she quieted。 He must have wondered about that quiet； because he asked； 〃Is your father dead？〃 〃Oh； no。 But it"s been y