第28部分(第7/7 頁)

m　eat。

When　he　finished；　he　ran　a　napkin　over　his　mouth。　Then　he　balled　it　up

in　his　fist。　〃You　can　phone　from　the　village　later　and　cancel　those

reservations。　But　I　think　you　should　know　that　there　are　two　conditions

to　your　staying　here。〃

Conditions？　She　arched　a　brow。

He　leaned　way　back　this　time；　until　the　chair　was　on　its　rear　legs。

〃First；　we　eat　together。〃

She　had　no　problem　with　that。　It　pleased　her；　actually。　She　smiled　her

agreement。

〃Second；〃　he　said；　〃I　sleep　downstairs。〃

Her　smile　vanished。　〃Uh；　I　。。。　don't　think　so。　I'm　not　ready　for 。。。

that。〃

His　eyes　laughed。　〃I'm　told　that　I'm　a　good　lover。　But　hey；〃　he

relented；　all　teasing　gone；　〃I'm　not　ready　for　。。。　that；　either。　Maybe

soon。　But　not　yet。　You　aren't　the　only　one　dealing　with　ghosts。〃

Startled　by　that　thought；　she　gathered　up　the　empty　dishes　and　went　to

the　sink。

He　was　close　behind　her。　〃You're　a　beautiful　woman。〃

〃Last　time；　I　was　'plain'　and　'scrawny。〃'

〃Last　time；　I　was　wet　and　tired。〃　Strong　hands　slid　around　her　middle

and　drew　her　back　against　his　body。　His　forearms　brushed　the　underside

of　her　breasts。　Her　heart　thudded　in　response。

When　he　turned　her　to　face　him；　her　lips　parted。　He　kissed　her　then；

possessive　but　gentle；　and　she　responded　with　a　fervor　she　had　forgotten

was　possible。　Wrapping　her　arms　around　his　neck；　she　opened　her　mouth；

and　he　moved　right　in。　After　her　mouth　he　kissed