《rekindled(英文版)》第53章

and　stack　it　by　the　fireplace。　Shortly　after　that；　they　left　for　the
village。
In　the　confines　of　the　car；　he　was　more　imposing　than　ever。　His　hands
were　strong　on　the　wheel；　his　thigh　strong　when　he　braked。　In　profile；
his　hair　was　a　thick　silver…blond；　his　eyes　alert；　his　nose；　lips；　and
chin　classically　chiseled。　Everything　about　him　spoke　of　mand；　of　a
man　with　a　mind　of　his　own。　But　she　knew　that　already。
They　bought　food。　They　drove　home。　They　did　fine　right　through　dinner；
sticking　to　general　topics　like　politics；　the　economy；　and　the　oning
winter　in　the　mountains。　They　disagreed　on　some　things；　but　could　listen
to　the　other"s　point　of　view。
They　didn"t　run　into　trouble　until　the　last　of　the　peach　melba
disappeared。　Then　he　asked；　〃Why　did　you　decide　to　e　up　here　this
time；　Anne？〃
It　was　inevitable　that　the　talk　would　turn　personal　on　some　level；　and
she　had　nothing　to　hide。　〃I　realized　that　you　were　right。　The　holidays
are　closing　in。　I"m　hoping　to　take　home　a　little　extra　strength。　They"ll
be　tough。〃
His　voice　iss　him　a　lot？〃
〃Yes。　It　isn"t　as　bad　as　it　was。　I　can　accept　that　he"s　gone　now。　I"m
used　to　waking　up　without　him。　The　people　around　me　are　having　more
trouble。　They"re　sometimes　so　solicitous　it"d　make　you　sick。
Thanksgiving"s　apt　to　be　one　long　let"s…cheer…up…Anne　ordeal。〃
Mitch　blew　out　a　breath。　〃Oh；　boy。　I　know　what　you　mean　there。〃
〃How　so？〃　she　asked；　not　letting　it　go　this　time。　〃Are　you　married？〃
Lips　pursed；　he　studied　his　hands。　〃No。〃
〃Have　you　ever　been　married？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Are　you　divorced？〃
〃No。〃
〃Separated？〃
〃No。〃
There　was　only　one　other　possibility。　It　made　sense　on　many　different
levels。
〃My　wife　died；〃　he　said；　looking　at　her　now。
Anne　saw　the　pain　in　his　eyes。　〃I"m　sorry。　You　must　have　loved　her　very
much。〃
&（l　did。〃
〃How　did　she　die？〃
His　jaw　clenched；　and　anger　joined　the　pain。　She　was　wondering　if　the
anger　was　directed　at　her；　when　he　grew　mellow　again。　〃I"d　rather　not　go
into　it。　That"d　be　getting　more　personal　than　we　planned。〃
〃But　it　helps　to　talk　sometimes。　Doesn"t　it？　I　mean；　if　you"re　angry…〃
〃Who"s　angry？〃
〃I　thought　I　saw…〃
〃What　about　your　anger？　I"ve　heard　it；　you　know。　Do　you　talk　about　it？〃
He　pushed　his　chair　back　but　didn"t　rise。　Both　hands　clutched　the　edge
of　the　table。　〃You　don"t　know　what　I"m　feeling。　You　don"t　know　anything
about　me；　about　my　work；　my　responsibilities。　How　can　you　be　so
sanctimonious？〃
She　recoiled。　〃Sanctimonious？　I　was　just　trying　to　help。　After　what　I
went　through　not　so　long　ago；　I　may　be　feeling　some　of　what　you　are；　and
yes；　I　may　want　to　talk　about　it。　I　may　want　a　little　help；　myself。〃
The　confession　startled　her。　She　was　wondering　where　it　had　e　from；
when　Mitch　sat　back　and　asked　quietly；　〃How　did　Jeff　die？〃
She　glanced　around　the　room；　but　there　was　no　avoiding　the　issue。　So　she
studied　her　wedding　band。　〃He　was　in　an　accident。〃
〃I　know　that。　But　what　kind？　Were　you　with　him？〃
She　shook　her　head。　〃No。〃
〃Tell　me。〃
〃He　was　on　a　business　trip。　The　plane　went　down。〃
In　the　silence　that　followed；　she　raised　her　eyes。　Mitch　looked　pale。
〃When　did　it　happen？〃　he　asked。
〃Last　January。〃　He　flinched。　It　was　a　while　before　he　said；　〃It"s　been
nearly　a　year。　Do　you　date　at　all？〃
〃No。〃
〃You　should。〃
〃Now　look　who"s　being　sanctimonious。　When　did　your　wife　die？〃
〃Last　winter。〃　He　held　her　gaze。
〃Do　you　date？〃　It　was　a　foolish　question。　She　knew　it　the　minute　she　saw
the　wry　twist　of　his　mouth。
〃I"m　not　sure　you"d　call　it　dating。　When　I　want　a　woman；　I　get　one。〃　He
took　a　breath；　paused　on　the　verge　of　saying　more；　then　dropped　it。　〃At
any　rate；　I　have　other　obligations。〃
〃Female…related　obligations？〃
He　watched　her　closely。　〃Yes。〃
〃see。〃
〃No；　I　doubt　you　do。　But　maybe　that"s　better　for　now。〃
She　didn"t　know　what　he　meant；　but　she　wasn"t　asking。　She　had　too　much
pride。　Besides；　questions　weren"t　part　of　the　deal。　If　she　hadn"t　asked
that　last　one；　she　wouldn"t　be　feeling　suddenly　low。
Mitch　stirred。　〃Do　me　a　favor？〃　His　eyes　were　softer。　〃Take　those　pins
out　of　your　hair　and　put　a　red　ribbon　in　it。〃
〃I　don"t　have　a　red　ribbon。〃
〃Anything　bright　will　do。〃
〃Am　I　that　depressing　to　be　with？〃
He　left　his　seat　then　and　circled　the　table。　〃No；　Annie。　I"ve　never
found　you　depressing。〃　He　began　removing　the　hairpins　and　didn"t　stop
until　he　had　her　hair　spread　over　her　shoulders。　Then　he　hunkered　down
so　that　he　was　closer　to　eye　level。　〃But　I　think　you　overdo　the
starkness。　You　don"t　have　to　punish　yourself　for　your　husband"s　death。
Losing　him　is　ample　punishment　all　by　itself。〃
She　had　to　hand　it　to　him。　He　was　perceptive　enough；　but　she　assumed
that　he　spoke　from　experience。　So　what　was　his　punishment？　His　arm？
Those　other　obligations　he　mentioned？
But　he　didn"t　appear　to　be　thinking　of　other　obligations　just　then。　He
was　fingering　her　hair；　seeming　entranced　by　its　sheen。　〃You　look　so
pretty　with　your　hair　down；　Anne。〃
When　his　eyes　rose；　her　stomach　flipped　over。　They　could　talk　all　they
wanted　about　not　being　ready　for　this；　but　when　they　were　close；　it　just
happened。　His　eyes　fell　to　her　lips。　He　rubbed　them　with　a　thumb；　then
leaned　forward　and　touched　them　with　his　tongue。　The　tip　of　his　tongue。
"tracing　her　mouth　from　corner　to　corner　with　devastating　leisure。
Anne　liked　what　he　did。　She　closed　her　eyes　and　sighed；　enjoying　each
small　touch　for　the　pleasure　it　brought。　When　she　began　to　tremble；　she
clutched　Mitch"s　shoulders。　They　were　made　for　that；　for　clutching。　They
were　large；　solid；　and　warm。
But　part　of　being　pleasured　was　pleasuring　back。　It　was　instinctive；　and
no　hardship　at　all；　because　she　was　hungry。　What　he　did　satisfied　her
for　only　a　short　time。　She　moved　her　mouth　and　found　more；　moved　her
tongue　and　found　even　more；　and　above　it　all　were　the　throaty　sounds
Mitch　made；　telling　her　that　he　was　getting　hotter。
When　he　murmured；　〃Christ；〃　there　was　awe　in　his　tone。　Incredibly；
though；　he　backed　up。　He　sat　down　hard　on　the　floor；　draped　his　forearms
over　bent　knees；　and　his　forehead　on　his　wrists。　〃Christ；　〃　he
whisper