cup； 〃you brought groceries。〃 〃Not this time。 I wasn"t sure I"d be staying here。 I made reservations at an inn in Woodstock just in case。〃 He sat back。 〃Were you afraid I"d attack you again？〃 〃No；〃 she said with care。 〃I wasn"t sure you"d be here。 It was tentative when you mentioned it； and since I had no way of contacting you in between…〃 〃You could have called Miles Cooper；〃 he suggested lightly。 She looked him in the eye。 〃No； I couldn"t。 So there was no fortable way of my learning your plans。〃 〃Did that bother you？〃 〃No。〃 She didn"t look away。 〃I don"t want to cope with identities yet。〃 〃Then we agree on that。 No more said。〃 〃No more said。〃 She felt proud of herself； if a little wistful； as she watched him eat。 When he finished； he ran a napkin over his mouth。 Then he balled it up in his fist。 〃You can phone from the village later and cancel those reservations。 But I think you should know that there are two conditions to your staying here。〃 Conditions？ She arched a brow。 He leaned way back this time； until the chair was on its rear legs。 〃First； we eat together。〃 She had no problem with that。 It pleased her； actually。 She smiled her agreement。 〃Second；〃 he said； 〃I sleep downstairs。〃 Her smile vanished。 〃Uh； I 。。。 don"t think so。 I"m not ready for 。。。 that。〃 His eyes laughed。 〃I"m told that I"m a good lover。 But hey；〃 he relented； all teasing gone； 〃I"m not ready for 。。。 that； either。 Maybe soon。 But not yet。 You aren"t the only one dealing with ghosts。〃 Startled by that thought； she gathered up the empty dishes and went to the sink。 He was close behind her。 〃You"re a beautiful woman。〃 〃Last time； I was "plain" and "scrawny。〃" 〃Last time； I was wet and tired。〃 Strong hands slid around her middle and drew her back against his body。 His forearms brushed the underside of her breasts。 Her heart thudded in response。 When he turned her to face him； her lips parted。 He kissed her then； possessive but gentle； and she responded with a fervor she had forgotten was possible。 Wrapping her arms around his neck； she opened her mouth； and he moved right in。 After her mouth he kissed her cheeks and her eyelids。 Then； hotly； he sought out her tongue。 They weren"t ready for this emotionally； but there was no problem physically。 Mitch was rock…hard against her。 His hands moved restlessly on her back； her waist； her hips。 They found her breasts and explored in detail； and Anne was every bit as active。 She touched him everywhere to make sure he was real； and he was； real and ready。 While their mouths tangled hungrily； her fingers spread over his thigh and moved upward； upward and inward。 With a strangled sound； Mitch pulled away。 Anne felt instant loss； then acute embarrassment。 Mitch"s ragged breathing was small solace for her aggressiveness。 〃That shouldn"t have happened；〃 she said in a faltering whisper。 He made a sputtering sound and pushed a hand through his hair。 〃Yeah； but it did。 Damn it； this was a crazy idea！〃 She averted her eyes and tried to edge away from the sink； but he had her pinned there。 Holding her chin； he forced her face up。 His voice was rough as sand。 〃You try my patience； Annie。 One part of me aches to pick you up in my arms and carry you out to that bed； but the last thing I need right now is to bear you calling for another man in the throes of passion。 You"re still mourning your husband。 Your clothes； your hair； your eyes all tell me that。 And I have a past； too。 The last thing you need is to hear me call out another woman"s name。〃 Anne"s eyes filled with tears。 When she pushed at him； he let her go。 She went to the window； wrapped her arms around herself； and looked out。 〃Why do you lead me on？〃 There was silence； then a begrudging； 〃I can"t seem to help myself。 What"s your excuse？〃 When she didn"t answer； he approached her and goaded； 〃Hmm？ Are you that frustrated？〃 She spun around and sent the flat of her hand against his cheek。 He caught it on the rebound and had her arm behind her； drawing her hard against him； in an instant。 〃Don"t ever do that again！〃 he muttered and； as suddenly as he"d seized her； let her go。 He took long steps toward the door before stopping short。 Anne was stunned； short of breath； wondering what was ing next。 One lithe stride brought him back。 To her astonishment he framed her face with his hands； placed a hard kiss on her lips； then walked off again。 〃What was that for？〃 she cried。 〃Moist eggs and strong black coffee。〃 He half…turned at the door。 〃I have a couple of things to do。 Find something to keep you busy for an hour； then we"ll leave for the village。〃 It wasn"t a question； and he didn"t wait for an answer。 That was what kept Anne busy while she unpacked her bags in the attic bedroom。 She brooded。 She agonized。 She wondered why she had e and why she ever wanted his kiss。 Mitch whoever…he…was was stubborn and selfcentered。 He was the exact opposite of gentle； caring； generous…to…a…fault Jeff。 But Jeff was dead。 An art teacher had once told her that a painting was successful when it evoked a reaction； be it positive or negative。 For Anne； the months since Jeff"s death had been devoid of reaction； until Mitch。 So where did she go from there？ Into bed with the man at the very first chance？ Unsettled by that thought； she exchanged her city skirt for a sweater and jeans； grabbed her heavy parka； and ran down the stairs。 She needed fresh air and a long walk。 She barely got out the back door when she spotted Mitch in the yard splitting logs for the fire。 Bundled in a sheepskin jacket with its collar raised； he didn"t see her。 Time and again he raised the ax and struck； time and again splitting each new log with a single sweep of the blade； and all with his right arm。 She wondered how the left had been injured。 It was none of her business。 Still she wondered。 She joined him in the yard and sat quietly on a pile of logs while he finished his work； then as quietly helped carry the wood into the house and stack it by the fireplace。 Shortly after that； they left for the village。 In the confines of the car；