第32部分(第6/7 頁)

ntrollably。

〃Lift　your　arms；　like　a　good　girl；〃　he　said　softly　and；　one　at　a　time；

drew　the　sleeves　of　her　heavy　sweater　off　and　pulled　it　over　her　head。

〃I　thought　I　was　lost；　Mitch。　I　walked　for　so　long　and　I　couldn't　find

the　house。〃

〃Shhh。　You're　safe　now。〃

She　clutched　at　his　shoulders　for　support　when　he　knelt　to　pull　off　her

boots；　then　her　socks。　〃Lie　down；　honey。　Your　jeans　are　drenched。〃　With

infinite　tenderness　he　eased　her　back　and　pulled　them　off；　tugging

impatiently　only　when　the　sodden　denim　resisted　his　hands。

〃I　feel　so　sick；〃　she　said　in　a　hoarse　whisper；　throwing　an　arm　over　her

forehead。

In　an　instant　he　was　bending　over　her。　〃I　know；　Annie。　But　you'll　be

fine　now。　I　just　have　to　warm　you　up。　Okay？〃　She　didn't　answer；　not　even

to　protest　when　he　drew　off　her　cold；　drenched　panties。　He　tucked　the

lower　half　of　her　body　under　the　weight　of　the　quilt　before　turning　to

remove　her　turtleneck　and　bra。　With　the　covers　bunched　around　her

shoulders；　he　crossed　the　room　to　his　suitcase；　pulled　out　a　clean

cotton　shirt；　and　returned　to　the　bed。

Sitting　beside　her；　he　pressed　cool　lips　to　her　burning　forehead。

〃You'll　be　fine；〃　he　repeated　and　quickly　dressed　her　in　the　shirt；　then

covered　her　up　again。　Anne　sneezed。　〃You　shouldn't　have　taken　off　my

sweater。〃

〃Forget　modesty。　You　were　soaked　to　the　skin　and　freezing。〃

〃That　sweater。。　。〃…a　fit　of　coughing　interrupted　her；　but　she　managed　to

catch　her　breath…〃I　wore　it　for　you。　Did　you　notice？〃

His　lips　twitched。　〃I　did　notice；　Annie。　It　was　pink。〃　He　brushed　a

strand　of　hair　from　her　forehead。　〃Thank　you。〃　With　the　back　of　his