into a billowing drift。 Head bowed； panting with exhaustion； she fought hysteria and swayed in the gusting wind。 〃Mitch 。。。 Mitch 。。 。 please help me 。。 。〃 she whimpered。 〃Annie！〃 Mirage or reality； she didn"t care。 When a large form knelt before her； she fell against it； aware only of the support it offered； the warmth it held。 He lifted her from the snow。 〃Hold on； Annie。 It"s not far to the house。〃 〃Mitch？〃 she cried against his jacket as she shielded her face from the driving snow。 〃It"s me； honey。 Quiet now。 Save your strength。〃 The light from the house filtered through the snowy darkness like a beacon。 Once inside； he kicked the door shut with his boot and gently lowered her feet to the floor； only to catch her up again when her knees buckled。 Without a word； he carried her to the downstairs bedroom。 Depositing her on the edge of the bed； he began to quickly remove her wet clothing。 He paused once to throw off his own jacket and pull back the bed"s quilt； then returned to undress her。 Anne didn"t protest。 Chilled to the bone； she trembled uncontrollably。 〃Lift your arms； like a good girl；〃 he said softly and； one at a time； drew the sleeves of her heavy sweater off and pulled it over her head。 〃I thought I was lost； Mitch。 I walked for so long and I couldn"t find the house。〃 〃Shhh。 You"re safe now。〃 She clutched at his shoulders for support when he knelt to pull off her boots； then her socks。 〃Lie down； honey。 Your jeans are drenched。〃 With infinite tenderness he eased her back and pulled them off； tugging impatiently only when the sodden denim resisted his hands。 〃I feel so sick；〃 she said in a hoarse whisper； throwing an arm over her forehead。 In an instant he was bending over her。 〃I know； Annie。 But you"ll be fine now。 I just have to warm you up。 Okay？〃 She didn"t answer； not even to protest when he drew off her cold； drenched panties。 He tucked the lower half of her body under the weight of the quilt before turning to remove her turtleneck and bra。 With the covers bunched around her shoulders； he crossed the room to his suitcase； pulled out a clean cotton shirt； and returned to the bed。 Sitting beside her； he pressed cool lips to her burning forehead。 〃You"ll be fine；〃 he repeated and quickly dressed her in the shirt； then covered her up again。 Anne sneezed。 〃You shouldn"t have taken off my sweater。〃 〃Forget modesty。 You were soaked to the skin and freezing。〃 〃That sweater。。 。〃…a fit of coughing interrupted her； but she managed to catch her breath…〃I wore it for you。 Did you notice？〃 His lips twitched。 〃I did notice； Annie。 It was pink。〃 He brushed a strand of hair from her forehead。 〃Thank you。〃 With the back of his hand； he felt her forehead； then her cheeks。 〃I"m going to heat up some soup for you。〃 She shook her head。 〃No。 I can"t eat。 Just stay here with me for a few minutes。〃 He drew her； quilts and all； into his arms and rubbed her all over to warm her up。 〃I was so frightened；〃 she whispered。 〃It was cold and wet。 And dark。〃 〃You should have known I"d e looking for you。〃 〃I wasn"t sure you were here。 There were no tire tracks…〃 She broke off； coughing again。 He waited until she quieted。 〃I arrived before the storm began。 Snow can be pretty dramatic up here。 It should be beautiful e morning。〃 The thought of wandering through the snow with Mitch was a lovely one。 She smiled then sneezed。 〃I"ll get that soup now。〃 〃No。 Really； I"m not hungry。〃 〃You need something warm inside。〃 〃I don"t think I can keep it down。〃 〃You will。〃 He set her down。 〃Just rest。 I"ll be back。〃 She rolled to her side and tucked up her knees。 The warmth of the bed burned； still she felt chilled。 Turning over； she huddled in a ball and dozed。 She woke up when Mitch returned with a bowl of steaming broth。 He helped her sit； and he fed her himself When she couldn"t take in another drop； he let her sleep。 She awoke an hour later feeling even worse。 Mitch was bathing her face and neck with a damp cloth。 〃That"s quite some cold；〃 he muttered。 〃It just hung on。 I thought it"d be better by now。〃 〃Why did you leave New York in the first place？ You should have stayed in bed。〃 He was annoyed with her。 She thought that was unfair。 〃It wasn"t snowing at home；〃 she argued。 〃I had no idea I"d run into this mess； or that it would get so bad so fast。〃 〃Forget the weather。 You should have been in bed anyway； with a cold like this。〃 〃Good God； Mitch； I can"t put my life on hold every time I get a cold。〃 〃Yeah； well if you don"t take better care of yourself； you may put your life on permanent hold。 Colds can turn into pneumonia； and people die from pneumonia。〃 She teared up。 〃I just wanted to be here with you。〃 She turned onto her side； away from his glower； and pulled the covers up around her ears。 She was startled when Mitch lifted her； covers and all； and held her tightly。 From time to time he dipped his head； touching his lips to her hair； her brow； or her eyes。 His voice was softer when he finally spoke。 〃Don"t think I didn"t want to see you as much。 I did。 But we could have e next week。〃 〃Someone else may be here next week。〃 〃No one will be here。〃 〃How do you know？〃 she cried with a touch of indignance。 Looking suddenly resigned； he shifted her in his arms and ran a hand back through his hair。 〃Because this is my house。 Miles Cooper works for me。 He rents it out when I"m not planning to be here。〃 The puzzle piece fell into place。 Hoarsely； she said； 〃Oh； my。 It figures； I guess。 Helps explain the original mix…up。 And why you prefer this bed。 It"s yours。〃 〃There won"t be any more mix…ups； Annie。 I"ve taken the house off Miles"s rental list。 From now on we"ll be the only ones who use it。〃 Before Anne could grasp the full implication of that； a new shudder shook her。 She burrowed against him； seeking warmth for her extremities。 Gently； he laid her down and disappeared。 He returned moments later and lifted her head。 〃Aspirin；〃 he explained before she could ask。 〃Open your mouth。〃 She was a docile patient； too weak to protest his pampering； too pleased by i