Gewhy？〃 〃That"s a crazy question。〃 〃And this is a crazy situation。〃 He went to the front window and stared out at the darkness。 〃I never promised you more。〃 Well； he was right。 A heavy weight settled in Anne"s stomach。 Head bowed； she rose from the sofa； reached for the empty mug； and headed for the kitchen。 At the door； she stopped； but she didn"t turn。 〃Have you had any supper？〃 〃No。〃 〃I"ll make something。〃 〃That"s not necessary。〃 〃I"ll do it。〃 Five minutes later； she sat across from him and watched him down the club sandwich that she had made with the chicken that had gone uneaten on Friday night。 Conversation was sparse and cryptic； pounding her frustration。 〃Thank you；〃 he said when only crumbs remained。 〃That hit the spot。〃 〃I"m glad I"ve finally done something right；〃 she murmured； standing to clear the dishes。 He caught her hand。 〃What"s that supposed to mean？〃 〃I think you know。〃 She freed her hand and she continued to the sink。 Suddenly he was directly behind her。 〃You"ve been vague about something for the last hour。 What is it？〃 Fiercely； she scrubbed at the dish。 〃You"re angry because I showed up late？〃 〃No。〃 〃What else could it be？ I sent word。 I even did it through Miles so you wouldn"t worry that I knew your last name。〃 〃That"s not bothering me。〃 He turned her around。 〃Look at me； Anne。〃 Her hands dripped of soap。 She held them out to the sides。 〃I want you to tell me what"s wrong；〃 he insisted； and she was suddenly angry。 〃Why？ I don"t owe you an explanation for my behavior； any more than you owe me one for yours！〃 His eyes held hers for long minutes。 〃Ah。 That"s it。 You want an explanation for my lateness； like this is some kind of a business meeting。〃 〃I don"t want a thing！〃 she cried； whipping out of his grasp to dry her hands on the towel。 She thrust a damp rag into his hand。 〃Here。 You finish cleaning。 I"m going to bed。〃 She held off tears until she was safely up in her attic room and sure of not being followed。 Then they came with a vengeance。 She had loved Jeff and lost him； through powers that were beyond her。 Now it was happening all over again with Mitch。 Oh； yes； she loved Mitch 。。。 Mitch； whose last name she didn"t even know。 She knew that she had missed him desperately； that his brooding upset her； along with her inability to console him。 She knew that she wanted an explanation for his delay。 For long hours she agonized。 Leave here tomorrow； a tiny voice said； protect yourself； you don"t need this pain。 But a louder voice told her to wait。 Mitch made her feel。 She wanted to be with him。 There was always hope。 On that optimistic note she fell into a deep sleep； long after all sound of life from downstairs had ceased。 The rain continued to pound the windows； but it was the smell of strong coffee that finally woke her up。 Even before she opened her eyes； she knew he was there in her room。 The weight by her right hip； a distinct depression in the mattress； the faint hint of after…shave…all told her so。 She opened heavy eyes and focused on him。 Through a sleepy haze； he looked soft； gentle； and caring。 Freshly shaven； showered； and dressed； he was powerfully male。 His face was one big tender smile； broken only when he sipped coffee from the mug he held。 〃Good morning；〃 he said。 〃I"d begun to wonder whether you"d ever wake up。 A real sleeping beauty。〃 Anne was relieved enough that his mood had improved to muster a smile。 〃I had trouble falling asleep。〃 〃Tell me about it。〃 〃Hmph。 Got a taste of your own medicine？〃 Pushing higher up on the pillow； she moved her hair off her cheek。 As the quilt fell away； Mitch"s eyes lit。 〃What"s this？ Bare arms？ A negligee？ Where"d the long flannel nightgown go？ It"s not that warm yet。〃 Anne scowled。 〃It"s not a negligee。 A negligee is something daring。 This is just a nightgown。〃 Primly； she pulled the quilt to her throat。 〃We"re arguing semantics； Annie。 The fact is； you look like a woman should look first thing in the morning。〃 〃I look awful；〃 she grumbled； picturing ratty hair； swollen eyes； and bare features and suddenly wishing she could hide。 〃If you could bottle up and sell what you call awful； you"d make a million。〃 〃Well； I"m sure you"d know。 You must have seen dozens of women first thing in the morning。〃 〃Ah。 I think you need coffee。〃 He slid an arm behind her and drew her up。 〃Jealousy isn"t your usual style。〃 Though a smile played around his mouth； his eyes were serious。 〃I"m not jealous；〃 she said； but she drank his coffee。 The intimacy of it made a lie of her denial。 She wanted to know who occupied Mitch"s time and thoughts when he wasn"t with her。 Oh； yes； she was jealous。 〃Better？〃 he asked and took another drink himself。 He placed the mug on the nightstand when she lay back against the pillows。 〃Is the nightgown symbolic？ Like the pink sweater last time？〃 She lifted a shoulder； self…conscious。 〃I suppose。 I"m getting out more now。 I feel better。〃 Except when she thought about the uping trial； which she desperately tried not to do。 〃What about you？ Any symbolic recovery gestures？〃 He gave an evasive smile。 〃Some。〃 Anne waited。 After a minute； she said； 〃Like what？〃 〃It"s better told at another time。 I have something more important in mind right now。〃 〃What？〃 she asked with total innocence； until his eyes fell to her breasts。 The nightgown was sheer。 Blushing； she crossed her arms over the pale yellow bodice。 He took her wrists and pulled them away； then murmured a husky； 〃I haven"t properly said hello；〃 and drew her forward。 His lips found hers unerringly； and proceeded to do all the things Anne loved until she was dizzy with pleasure。 Had she actually been angry at him the night before？ The only thing she felt now was love。 She kissed him as deeply as he kissed her； and when he shifted her； cradled her； she pushed her hands into his hair。 He was everything Anne had waited for and wanted。 His kiss set her afire； his arms fed the flame。 By the time he set her back； her cheeks and lips were rosy with heat。 She opened her eyes wide。 〃That was a