over bent knees； and his forehead on his wrists。 〃Christ； 〃 he whispered； then raised his head。 His eyes were filled with amusement and sex。 It was a minute before the sex part faded。 Then he threw back his head； dragged in a long breath； and hauled himself to his feel。 From a safe distance； he said； 〃About your hair。 You"ll need to wear something red or orange if you"re going to hike with me tomorrow morning。 It"s deer…hunting season。〃 They spent the better part of the next morning in the woods。 It was cold； but Mitch kept her moving； leading her over trails she had never explored； through gullies she had never seen。 A red wool cap kept her head warm； mittens warmed her hands。 With the trees bare of leaves； vistas were open as they hadn"t been in September。 Mitch led her from hilltop to hilltop； one view more far…reaching than the next。 The land was quiet。 Forest creatures were hidden away。 The doe that had stood on her hind legs to chomp on a crisp apple now hid from the hunter。 Chipmunks and squirrels were burrowed in their dens。 There was the rustle of evergreen boughs in the wind； the icy gurgle of the brook as it charged downstream； the crunch of their boots on the near…frozen ground。 Anne"s cheeks were as red as her cap when they returned； tired but exhilarated； and it was a harbinger of the days ahead。 They settled into the fort of easy panionship； sharing not only meals； but most every other time of the day。 Mitch read when Anne did； his eye occasionally catching hers。 They played backgammon in front of the fire； and worked together on a jigsaw puzzle。 The weather held； offering pleasant days with clear skies； and an invigorating chill to the night。 They walked together and worked together； Anne on her translating； Mitch on papers dug from an overstuffed briefcase。 They lived in the here and now； avoiding talk of the city like the plague。 All too soon； Anne loaded up her car for the return trip to New York。 Slinging an arm across her shoulder； Mitch walked her from the house a final time。 The silence had been heavier that morning than at any other point in the week。 Anne knew its cause。 〃Will you be spending Thanksgiving with your family？〃 he asked quietly。 〃Yes。〃 She took in his handsome features； studying； memorizing。 〃And you？〃 〃The same。〃 He held her just a little closer。 〃Plans for New Year"s Eve？〃 They had reached the car。 She faced him； smiling sadly。 〃Funny。 I used to worry about New Year"s Eve。 Would I have a date？ Would I not？ Would he be tall； dark； and handsome？ Now it doesn"t seem to matter。〃 She sighed。 〃No； I don"t have a date。 I may just plant myself on my sofa with a bottle of Chablis and a book。〃 〃Why not do it here？〃 His eyes were deep green； the color of saying something important。 Her pulse raced。 〃What？〃 〃Spend New Year"s Eve here。〃 〃Will you？〃 she asked without premeditation。 He pulled her close； into the warmth of his sheepskin jacket。 〃Yes。〃 〃What about your other obligations？〃 Unpremeditated also； but the answer mattered。 Mitch was a minute in answering。 〃She goes to bed too early for my tastes； certainly too early to make it to midnight。 No；〃 he grinned； 〃she wouldn"t be much fun on New Year"s Eve。 Besides； she"s not a fan of Chablis。〃 Anne didn"t know what to say to that； but his good humor was infectious。 She relaxed in his arms and rested her hands on his chest。 〃How about it？〃 he coaxed softly。 〃New Year"s Eve here？〃 〃I don"t know； Mitch。 This thing is so bizarre。〃 〃Are you afraid？〃 His hands drew light circles on her back。 〃A little。〃 〃Of me？〃 She was acutely aware of the swell of his broad chest beneath her palms。 〃No。〃 She eyed the ribbed pattern of his sweater； and whispered； 〃Of me。〃 〃You have nothing to fear； Annie；〃 he assured her gently。 He took her chin with his fingers and tipped up her face。 It was the closest physically that they"d been since that first day。 〃I know what my own needs are right now； and they don"t include making things harder for you。 By helping you through New Year"s； I may just help myself； so there"s a selfish motive involved。〃 She nearly drowned in the deep； deep green of his eyes。 〃So； what do you say？〃 he asked。 〃I say this is starting to sound like a Neil Simon script。〃 She wanted reassurance that meeting again was right。 She wanted him to say； There"s reason why that script made millions for the guy； it"s a damned good plot； it makes a whole lot of sense。 But Mitch only shrugged。 Dropping his arms； he moved back。 〃It"s your choice。 I"ll be here anyway。〃 She hated the sudden sound of indifference； but it made it easier to leave。 When he opened the door； she slipped behind the wheel。 〃Drive carefully；〃 he said。 〃I will。〃 Backing the car around； she straightened the wheel。 She gave Mitch a last； longing glance before putting a foot on the gas。 The car had barely moved forward when his voice echoed in the winter wood。 〃Hey； wait！〃 She braked。 His long…legged gait quickly brought him alongside the car。 His breath misted the air when he leaned into the window。 〃Don"t forget to pack a dress。 We"ll be going out。〃 He grinned and popped a featherlight kiss on the tip of her nose。 〃Now； go； before the snow gets here。〃 She went。 Thanksgiving wasn"t nearly as bad as Anne had expected。 She spent it at her parents" house with their usual crowd； and； yes； she missed Jeff。 But there were interesting people to talk with； and chaos enough to pretend that Jeff might just be off in another room。 Her major disfort proved to be a stomachache from eating more heavily than she had in a year； but an antacid and a long walk with her father eased that pain。 Work kept her busy； as did； to her dismay； unfinished business relating to the plane crash。 The FAA had finally e through with its findings； and Anne"s lawyer had filed suit against the airline…a small； privately owned one…for the inadequate upkeep and safety…check procedure of its craft。 Anne had always known that the suit was a possibility； but her appetite for it had waned。 Not so Jeff"s parents" appetite。 They kept the lawyer on the case even af