第24部分(第5/7 頁)

ing　you　to　leave　like　a

gentleman。〃　He　stared　at　the　fire。　〃Who　said　that　I　was　a　gentleman？〃

〃I'll　give　you　the　benefit　of　the　doubt。　Now；　do　you　leave；　or　do　I。。

Her　voice　trailed　off。　There　was　no　alternative。

And；　damn　it；　he　knew　it。　Slowly；　he　turned　toward　her。　〃Or　do　you

what？〃

Frustrated　by　the　situation；　infuriated　by　his　calm；　she　gave　in　to　the

need　to　shout。　Loudly。　〃Look　。。。　Mitch　。。。　I　don't　know　who's　to　blame

for　this　fiasco；　but　I'd　like　you　to　leave。　It's　been　a　long　day　and　I'm

tired。　There's　obviously　been　a　misunderstanding；　but　I　have　every

intention　of　spending　the　week　here；　and　I'm　paying　for　that　time　right

now。　So；　do　you　go？〃

His　expression　was　unchanged。　〃Tonight？　No。〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　no？　You　have　no　right　to　be　here。〃

His　voice　was　suddenly　as　loud　as　hers。　〃I　have　every　right　to　be　here；

but　that's　between　Miles　Cooper　and　myself。　Let's　get　one　thing

straight。〃

His　eyes　darkened　to　a　charcoal　green。　〃I　don't　want　you　here　any　more

than　you　want　me　here；　but　for　tonight；　at　least；　we're　stuck　with　each

other。　We'll　work　something　out　in　the　morning。〃

〃But　you　can't　stay　here　tonight。〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃Because　I'm　here！〃

〃So？〃　His　eyes　were　hazel　again；　calmer；　strong。

A　flush　warmed　her　cheeks。　〃I　thought　I'd　made　it　clear　that　I　wasn't

part　of　a　conspiracy。　Well；　let　me　take　it　one　step　further。〃　Her

breathing　faltered；　but　she　let　loose　with　what　she'd　been　trying　to

tell　the　whole　world　for　weeks。　〃I'm　not　interested　in　you；　or　any　other

man。　Can　you　understand　that？〃

〃I　hear　you。　I'm　not　sure　I　believe　you。〃　Audacious　eyes　fell　from　her