第24部分(第3/7 頁)

He

didn't　look　like　a　thug。　And　he　could　have　taken　advantage　of　her　when

he　was　on　top；　but　he　hadn't。

He　rubbed　the　back　of　his　neck；　much　as　she　had　when　she'd　first

arrived。　〃I　e　here　often。　And　I'm　sure　I　booked　the　weekend　with

Miles。〃

So　he　did　know　the　realtor。　He　deserved　credit　for　that。

She　relaxed　her　grip　on　the　poker。　〃It　looks　like　good　old　Miles　made

mistake。〃　Thinking　about　it；　she　frowned。　Her　eyes　fell。　Absently　she

ran　faintly　shaky　finger　over　the　lip　he　had　bruised。

In　a　single　deft　move；　he　had　the　poker　out　of　her　hands　before　she　knew

he　was　there。　In　that　instant；　terror　returned。　She　had　been　duped。

〃All　right；　ma'am。　Now　you　answer　my　questions；〃　he　ordered。

When　she　tried　to　step　back；　he　grabbed　her　shoulders　and　held　her　in

place。　The　discrepancy　of　their　heights　appalled　her。　Even　accounting

for　the　fact　that　she　had　no　shoes　on；　Mitch　was　nearly　a　foot　taller。

〃Who　are　you？〃　he　asked　with　an　air　of　mand；　even　subtle　threat。

She　began　to　tremble　again。　〃Anne。〃

〃From　。。。　？）

〃New　York。〃

〃So〃…a　smile　touched　his　mouth　but　went　no　further…〃we're　of　the　same

stock。〃

〃Hardly。〃

Her　sharp　gaze　and　clipped　response　erased　his　smile。　〃When　did　you

arrive？〃

She　resented　his　questions。　She　had　a　rental　agreement。　This　was　her

place。　〃I　don't　see　that　this…〃

Hard　fingers　dug　into　her　upper　arms；　stopping　short　of　a　shake。　〃When

did　you　get　here？〃

〃Early　this　evening。〃

〃Why　are　you　here？　Both　versions。〃

He　had　relaxed　his　grip　on　her　shoulders；　but　she　wanted　out　all　the

way。　〃Can　I　sit　down？　My　legs　are　wobbly。〃

He　held　his