第36部分(第3/7 頁)

　to　the　fire。　When　it　had　begun　to　sizzle　and　smoke；　he

swiveled　to　face　her。

〃Angry？〃　The　fire　behind　him　threw　a　halo　around　his　head；　but　his　face

was　in　shadow。　Unable　to　tell　whether　he　empathized　or　taunted；　she　went

with　the　truth。

〃No。　I　have　no　right　to　be　angry。〃

〃I　needed　to　walk。　Even　wet；　it　was　good。　I　needed　to　think。〃

About　her？　About　another　〃obligation〃？　〃You　sound　like　you　have　the

weight　of　the　world　on　your　shoulders；〃　she　teased。

〃It　sometimes　seems　that　way。〃　His　voice　was　softer；　more　rueful。　〃It's

been　a　bad　week。〃

〃Work？〃　she　asked　with　caution。

〃No。　Work's　fine。　I　have　good　backup　there。　They　keep　things　running

when　I　fade　out。〃

Anne　sat　quietly；　waiting　for　him　to　say　more。　If　his　problem　wasn't

business；　it　had　to　be　personal。　Suddenly；　she　didn't　want　to　know。

She　stood　with　a　start。　〃I'll　go　make　dinner。〃　He　caught　her　wrist。

Suddenly　gentle；　he　said；　〃It's　my　turn。　You　did　it　last　night。　This

time　I'm　cooking　for　you。〃

His　gentleness　threw　her；　as　did　his　eyes；　which　begged　her　to　let　him

do　this。　It　wasn't　exactly　the　begging　she　wanted；　but　it　was　something。

Trying　to　be　as　nonchalant　as　she　could；　she　sank　back　into　the　chair

and　held　up　both　hands。　〃It's　your　house。〃

He　chuckled；　in　a　suddenly　lighter　mood。　One　agile　movement　brought　him

to　his　feet；　another　brought　him　to　her。　He　planted　a　kiss　on　her　cheek

before　she　had　time　to　pull　away。

〃What　was　that　for？〃　she　asked。

〃For　being　a　saint；〃　he　said　and　set　off。　Dinner　was　so　panionable；

that　when　Tuesday　morning　brought　bright　sun；　Anne　wasn't　surprised　to

see　Mitch　up　early　to　joi