Then she was thrown a setback。 Her doorbell rang one evening when she wasn"t expecting anyone。 Leaving the chain latch in place； she opened the door the several inches allowed and peered out to find Mitch there。 She closed the door with a slam。 The bell rang again and again。 She went to the most remote corner of the apartment； crossed her arms on her chest； and vowed to let it ring。 She wasn"t prepared for the loud pounding that followed。 He was making a godawful racket。 Fearing that he would have her neighbors out in no time； she returned to the door。 〃Go away！〃 she yelled； hoping that her voice would carry through his ruckus。 It did。 His returning call was muffled； but she heard every word。 〃Not until I"ve spoken with you； Anne。〃 〃Go away！ I don"t want to talk！〃 〃You"ll have to。〃 Irate； she reopened the door those few allotted inches。 〃I don"t have to do anything。 Now； please leave； or I"ll call the police。〃 It took very ounce of restraint for her to remain calm when she would have liked nothing more than to run him through with a carving knife。 He looked agitated。 〃I"m trying to be patient； Anne； but you refuse to take my calls。 We have to talk。 There are things I have to explain。〃 She seethed。 〃Sorry； bud； but you had your chance； and you passed it up。 You had all those days and nights to tell me who you were and what your business was； but you didn"t。 You were so cagey。 I"ll see you soon； Annie； soon。〃 She contorted her voice to mock him。 〃But you didn"t bother to tell me when； did you； Mitch？ Well； I don"t want to talk now。〃 She leaned against the door to shut it； only to find he had a foot in the way。 〃Move！〃 she ordered hoarsely。 She was wearing down in more ways than one。 He swore。 〃Hell； Anne； but you can be stubborn。 If we were back in Vermont； I"d know just what to do。〃 〃We"re not in Vermont！〃 she screamed； uncaring that others might hear。 〃I"ll never be there again。 Now； leave！〃 Every muscle in her body quivered。 〃Fine；〃 he gave in。 〃I"ll leave； but I"ll be back。 If not here； I"ll catch you somewhere else。 On the street； in a restaurant； even at your parents" house； if need be。 I can be devious。 You can"t stay holed up in this place forever。 And I won"t give up！〃 When his foot slid back into the hallway； Anne slammed the door shut then； she turned and ran； trembling； toward the bedroom； where she huddled against the headboard like a hunted animal。 He could be devious； that was putting it mildly！ She would see him again； and the thought filled her with dread。 Determined not to be made a prisoner in her own home； Anne booked even more jobs。 She was all over town； with varied and interesting people； but the diversion she wanted came only in bits and snatches。 Ever on guard against running into Mitch； she found herself looking over her shoulder wherever she went； half expecting to find him ready to pounce。 It was nerve…racking； to say the least。 After more than a week of running from place to place and feeling haunted； she grew discouraged。 The worst of it was that that she didn"t see him； and that deep inside； in a place she didn"t want to know about； she was disappointed because of that。 The pain went on。 Relief came from her parents in the form of an invitation to spend time with them at the shore。 Yes； they tended to smother her； but she could use a little smothering now。 She wanted to be pampered and loved。 She wanted to be protected from Mitch。 The change of scenery would be good。 She planned to make the most of it。 The first of May found her dressed in a bright yellow sundress； waiting beside her bags at the front entrance of her apartment building。 She checked the street； then her watch。 Her parents had promised to be there at one。 It was one…fifteen now。 They weren"t usually late。 With a brief word to the doorman； she returned to her apartment； dialed her parents" home phone； waited through ring after ring。 Assuming they were on their way； she went back downstairs。 What she found there stopped her cold。 With the doorman"s ready assistance； her bags were being loaded into the trunk of a shiny brown Audi that she didn"t recognize。 But she did recognize the man who stepped from its far side。 He was sun…bronzed and gorgeous in a pullover and white ducks； looking as handsome and masculine as could be； and very； very smug。 Before she could find her tongue； he opened the rear door of the car and leaned in。 When he straightened； he was carrying the most beautiful child Anne had ever seen。 Her breath faltered。 How could he？ He wasn"t playing fair； wasn"t playing fair at all…and he knew it； if the mischief in his grin meant anything。 〃Hi； Annie！〃 He greeted her as though nothing was wrong。 〃Hope we didn"t keep you waiting too long。 Traffic was a bitch。 I think we have all your bags。 Is there anything else inside？〃 Anne may have been thick in the past； but she wasn"t thick now。 He had known she would be waiting。 He had known what time to e。 He would never have brought the child； if he hadn"t been sure of the oute。 That meant her parents were in cahoots with him。 Had it been Mitch； alone； she would have turned and run。 But when she looked at the child； she was lost。 The six…year…old wore pink bib…topped shorts； a white jersey； and clean white sneakers。 Her limbs were tanned； long legs dangling around Mitch"s thighs。 Golden cascades of curly hair fell half％way down her back； held off from her face by gaily painted barrettes above either ear。 But the barrettes were small and couldn"t quite hold all her hair。 Short wisps escaped into tendrils that framed her face。 And that face？ If Anne hadn"t been in love with the rest； that face would have done it。 It was softly rounded and rosy checked； with a swarm of bright freckles over the bridge of a button nose； and eyes that were chocolate…colored and soulful…and staring at her。 〃Oh； my；〃 Mitch said。 〃I"ve almost forgotten introductions in my rush to get going。 Anne； this is my daughter； Rachel Anderson。 Rachel； this is Anne Boulton。〃 With more poise than Anne could seem to muster； the child extended a small hand。 〃Hello； Anne。 I