第33部分(第7/7 頁)

w　more。　Tell　me　about　your　family。〃

His　eyes　held　hers。　〃There　isn't　much　to　tell。　My　parents　are　alive　and

well　in　Manhattan。　My　father　is　retired。　He　has　been　for　several　years

now。　It's　nice。　Gives　him　time　to　spend　doing　other　things。〃

〃What　did　he　do？〃

Mitch　grinned。　〃He　was　a　concert　pianist。　I'm　sure　you'd　recognize　the

name　if　I　told　you。〃　He　didn't　offer　it；　nor　did　she　ask。　That　part　of

the　bargain　held。

Anne　was　intrigued。　〃That's　quite　a　switch…from　concert　pianist　to

business　tycoon　in　one　generation。　Was　the　musical　ability　passed　on　at

all？〃

He　smiled。　〃Can　I　carry　a　tune？　Fairly。　Can　I　play　the　piano？　No。　My

sister　does；　though。〃

Her　eyes　widened。　〃You　have　a　sister？　Is　she　older　or　younger　than　you？〃

He　gave　the　ceiling　a　one…eyed　squint。　〃Older　by　。。。　let's　see　。。。

three；　no　four；　minutes。〃

〃Years；〃　she　corrected　quietly。

〃Minutes；〃　he　reasserted；　laughing。

〃TWINS？〃

He　nodded。

〃Oh；　Mitch！〃　She　was　delighted。　〃That's　marvelous！　You　must　have　had　fun

growing　up！〃

〃Not　really。　She　was　always　taller；　smarter；　and　faster　than　I　was。〃

〃And　now？〃

He　grinned。　〃I've　caught　up。〃

〃There　must　have　been　some　advantage　to　being　the　runt　of　the　litter；〃

she　teased。

〃Oh；　there　was。　My　mother　pampered　me　more。　She　felt　sorry　for　me。〃

A　mischievous　gleam　danced　in　his　eyes。　〃I　suppose　that's　why　I　still

have　the　need　to　touch　and　be　touched。〃　He　took　her　hand　between