第30部分(第2/7 頁)

don't　have　a　date。　I　may　just　plant　myself　on　my　sofa

with　a　bottle　of　Chablis　and　a　book。〃

〃Why　not　do　it　here？〃　His　eyes　were　deep　green；　the　color　of　saying

something　important。

Her　pulse　raced。　〃What？〃

〃Spend　New　Year's　Eve　here。〃

〃Will　you？〃　she　asked　without　premeditation。　He　pulled　her　close；　into

the　warmth　of　his　sheepskin　jacket。　〃Yes。〃

〃What　about　your　other　obligations？〃　Unpremeditated　also；　but　the　answer

mattered。

Mitch　was　a　minute　in　answering。　〃She　goes　to　bed　too　early　for　my

tastes；　certainly　too　early　to　make　it　to　midnight。　No；〃　he　grinned；

〃she　wouldn't　be　much　fun　on　New　Year's　Eve。　Besides；　she's　not　a　fan　of

Chablis。〃

Anne　didn't　know　what　to　say　to　that；　but　his　good　humor　was　infectious。

She　relaxed　in　his　arms　and　rested　her　hands　on　his　chest。

〃How　about　it？〃　he　coaxed　softly。　〃New　Year's　Eve　here？〃

〃I　don't　know；　Mitch。　This　thing　is　so　bizarre。〃

〃Are　you　afraid？〃　His　hands　drew　light　circles　on　her　back。

〃A　little。〃

〃Of　me？〃

She　was　acutely　aware　of　the　swell　of　his　broad　chest　beneath　her　palms。

〃No。〃　She　eyed　the　ribbed　pattern　of　his　sweater；　and　whispered；　〃Of

me。〃

〃You　have　nothing　to　fear；　Annie；〃　he　assured　her　gently。　He　took　her

chin　with　his　fingers　and　tipped　up　her　face。　It　was　the　closest

physically　that　they'd　been　since　that　first　day。　〃I　know　what　my　own

needs　are　right　now；　and　they　don't　include　making　things　harder　for

you。　By　helping　you　through　New　Year's；　I　may　just　help　myself；　so

there's　a　selfish　motive　involved。〃

She　nearly　drowned　in　the　deep；　deep　green　of　his　eyes。

〃So；　what　do　you　say？〃　he　asked。