第35部分(第5/7 页)

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　hai