第33部分(第3/7 页)

the　names　and　addresses

of　the　renters。　Yes？〃

He　looked　amused。　〃Yes。〃

〃Then　you　know　who　I　am。〃

〃No。〃

〃But　you　have　that　information。〃

〃Miles　has　that　information。　I　suppose　I　could　see　it　if　I　wanted　to；

and　I've　been　tempted　a　time　or　two；　but　I　haven't　peeked。〃

Anne　wasn't　sure　whether　to　be　relieved　or　hurt。

He　laughed。

〃What's　so　funny？〃　she　grumbled。

〃You。　Your　face　hides　nothing！〃

〃I'm　that　transparent？　It's　not　fair；　y'know。〃

〃What　isn't　fair？〃

〃Me　。。。　here　。。。　at　your　mercy。　With　my　transparent　face　and　all；　I　feel

naked。〃

〃Except　for　the　good　graces　of　my　shirt；　darling'；　you　are；〃　he　drawled。

〃That's　not　what　I　mean；　and　you　know　it；〃　she　scolded　and　broke　into　a

spasm　of　coughing。　When　she　quieted；　he　ran　cool　fingers　across　her　hot

cheek。　It　felt　good。

〃You　talk　too　much；　Annie。　Rest　your　voice　now。〃

At　the　silence　that　followed；　a　sound　filtered　in　from　outside。　〃The

plow！〃　Mitch　was　on　his　feet；　stopping　only　at　the　bedroom　door　to　call；

〃Don't　move　until　I　get　back！〃　Then　he　was　gone。

She　lay　there　for　what　seemed　hours。　Finally；　she　struggled　out　of　bed

to　use　the　bathroom。　Her　reflection　in　the　mirror　appalled　her…pale

skin；　red　cheeks；　dark　and　sunken　eyes。　Her　hand　trembled　as　she　sorted

through　Mitch's　toiletries　for　a　b。　Halfway　bing　her　hair；　her

knees　began　to　knock。　Dropping　the　b；　she　clutched　at　the　edges　of

the　sink　for　support。　That　was　when　the　bathroom　door　opened。

〃What　are　you　doing　out　of　bed？〃　He　scooped　her　up　and　carried　her　back；

and　the　bed　felt　like　heaven；　the　quilt　even　more　so。　〃Next　time；〃　he

taunted；　〃you