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His stare was chilling。 〃You wake up in a lovely mood； don't you？ Very
different from my usual women。〃 He looked her over； head to toe。 〃That's
quite an outfit； also different from my usual women。〃
Naturally； Anne had left her robe hanging in the closet。 Whirling on her
heel； hair flying out behind； she returned to her room； put on the robe；
then； with a wave of weariness； sank down onto the edge of the bed；
elbows on knees； face buried in her palms。 Inhaling deeply； she tried to
still the throbbing at her temples。 His women。 His women； indeed。 She
wasn't his or anyone else's。
The sorrow of that thought deflated her。 If Jeff could only see her now！
Ashamed； she gathered up a towel and soap in the hope that a long； hot
shower would ease her tension and improve her mood； and for a short time
it did。 The water pressure was strong； sending steamy trails over the
taut muscles of her neck and back。 Rich…lathering shampoo left her hair
squeaky clean and shiny； hanging in damp clusters about her shoulders
when she finally emerged； toweled herself vigorously； and returned to
her room。
Half an hour later； wearing a navy sweater； jeans； and sneakers； she
headed for the kitchen to make coffee。 It was already hot on the stove。
To her surprise the floor was free of debris； the offending cookware
stacked neatly in the cupboard。
She smiled a bit smugly。 So he had cleaned up himself Take that； male
chauvinist pig！ And he had made himself scarce。
Helping herself to coffee； she took a seat at the table。 Despite the
outburst； she had actually slept until ten…thirty。 Now she heard
footsteps on the stairs and the slam of the bathroom door。 All she had
to do was to wait until he finished his shower and dressed。 Then they
would face their dilemma like adults。
When the shower started； she relaxed back in the chair； bing her
still…damp hair with slender fingers； spreading it out over her
shoulders to dry。 Her gaze was drawn through the three…sided window of
the breakfast nook to the backyard。 She hadn't seen it the afternoon
before and found instant pleasure in the rustic scene； the well…kept
lawn； the scattering of maples and pines； the intermixing of apple trees
with fruit hanging ripe and ready for picking。 The morning mist had
begun to burn off； speared here and there shafts of sunlight。
The scene was exactly what she had hoped to find； so peaceful and quiet；
that she was unprepared for the roar behind her。
〃You used up all the hot water！ Damn it； don't you have a considerate
bone in your body？〃
Mitch stood in the door of the kitchen； dripping wet； wearing nothing
but a towel around his hips。
For a second； she couldn't breathe。 He was incredibly well built。 Arms
and shoulders of granite flanked a chest that was tanned； sinewed； and
matted with fair hair made darker by the water。 His stomach was flat and
firm； his slim hips a solid start for muscled thighs and lower legs。
Swallowing convulsively； Anne forced herself to look away。 〃I'm sorry；〃
she murmured。 〃I didn't realize there would be a shortage。〃
〃Didn't realize？〃 he mocked loudly。 〃Well； next time； realize。 I like my
showers long and hot； too！〃
Annoyed that he was annoyed； since this was her house for the week； she
took a mouthful of coffee and then nearly choked。 〃My God；〃 she cried
when she finally swallowed； 〃this coffee is like mud！ What did you put
in here？ Or should I ask〃…her eyes narrowed…〃how much of my coffee did
you put into that pot？ I don't see any groceries of yours around here。
Make yourself right at home； thanks a lot。〃
His anger faded。 Lips twitching； he leaned nonchalantly against the
doorjamb。 〃Why shouldn't I make myself at home？ I plan to spend the week
here。〃
She sputtered out a furious laugh。 〃Oh； no； you're not。〃 She rose
quickly； forgetting every good intention to keep calm。 〃You'll have to
find another place。 I'm sure you'll have no trouble； what with your
delightful personality and winning smile。〃
With an arrogant shift of his shoulders； he left the doorjamb and
placidly headed away。 〃You find the substitute；〃 he called over his
shoulder。 〃I'll be staying here。〃
She trailed him。 〃You can't！〃
At the bathroom door he turned so suddenly that she nearly bumped into
him。 She took a defensive step back。
He raised his right arm to rest high on the door。 His left； with an
angry red scar glaring from its upper half； hung by his hip。 His body
was a solid wall of stunning man。
〃Are you going to stop me？〃 he drawled with an insolent silver gleam in
his eye。
Anne tried to think up a sensible reply。 When none came she turned on
her heel and retraced her steps。 She was hungry； she told herself。 She
needed breakfast。 But she didn't do more than nibble on the scrambled
eggs and toast that she made。
What to do。 If she wasn't so far away from home and so badly in need of
that distance； she might have simply packed up and left。 But she wasn't
staying out of pride。 She did need the distance。
〃Aren't you eating？〃 Again his voice startled her。 This time； though； he
was fully dressed。 His jaw was clean…shaven and smelling of a lime
aftershave。 His hair was neatly bed and reached back collar of his
wool plaid shirt。 A wide leather belt hugged his hips； dark blue jeans
his legs。 Tan desert boots color…coordinated with his hair。 His eyes
were light green and calm。
He repeated the question。 〃You're not hungry？〃 The way he looked at her
plate said that if she wasn't； he was。
With a sigh of defeat she pushed the dish across the table。 〃Help
yourself〃
With an exaggerated； 〃Thank you；〃 he lowered himself into a chair and
took her up on her offer。 She was starting to think that he might
actually have manners； when he said； 〃Geez； no wonder you're so thin。
You've scrambled these eggs so dry they're impossible to swallow。 If
this is the way you always cook； it's a miracle you haven't wasted away
to nothing。〃
Anne's jaw dropped。 Jeff had never plained about anything； least of
all her cooking。
Sitting straighter； she said； 〃If you don't like my cooking； then don't
eat it！ As a matter of fact； I don't like you very much； so why don't we
dispense with breakfast and get to work finding a solution to this
mess。〃 Only when she stopped； did she realize she'd been shouting。 There
were also tears in her eyes again。 Again。 Jamming her knuckles against
her mouth； she looked away。
More softly； Mitch asked； 〃How did you get into this mess； as you call
it； Anne？ Why aren't you with your husband？〃
〃That's none of your business。〃
〃Are you divorced？〃
〃No。〃
〃Are you working on the separate…vacation concept？〃
〃No。〃
〃He doesn't know you're here？〃
She gave a bitter laugh。 〃No。〃
〃You've run away？〃
Her posure cracked。 〃Will you leave me alone？ Just go！ Get out！
Let me be！〃
He didn't move。 〃Why did you leave your husband？〃
〃That's none of your business！〃
〃No？ In my book； marriage is a precious thing。 Some people treasure it
and then lose it through no fault of their own。 Others throw it away。 If
we're going to spend the week together； I want to know which it is。 So
tell me why you left him。 If it was just your lousy cooking