第25部分(第3/7 頁)

　surprise　the　floor　was　free　of　debris；　the　offending　cookware

stacked　neatly　in　the　cupboard。

She　smiled　a　bit　smugly。　So　he　had　cleaned　up　himself　Take　that；　male

chauvinist　pig！　And　he　had　made　himself　scarce。

Helping　herself　to　coffee；　she　took　a　seat　at　the　table。　Despite　the

outburst；　she　had　actually　slept　until　ten…thirty。　Now　she　heard

footsteps　on　the　stairs　and　the　slam　of　the　bathroom　door。　All　she　had

to　do　was　to　wait　until　he　finished　his　shower　and　dressed。　Then　they

would　face　their　dilemma　like　adults。

When　the　shower　started；　she　relaxed　back　in　the　chair；　bing　her

still…damp　hair　with　slender　fingers；　spreading　it　out　over　her

shoulders　to　dry。　Her　gaze　was　drawn　through　the　three…sided　window　of

the　breakfast　nook　to　the　backyard。　She　hadn't　seen　it　the　afternoon

before　and　found　instant　pleasure　in　the　rustic　scene；　the　well…kept

lawn；　the　scattering　of　maples　and　pines；　the　intermixing　of　apple　trees

with　fruit　hanging　ripe　and　ready　for　picking。　The　morning　mist　had

begun　to　burn　off；　speared　here　and　there　shafts　of　sunlight。

The　scene　was　exactly　what　she　had　hoped　to　find；　so　peaceful　and　quiet；

that　she　was　unprepared　for　the　roar　behind　her。

〃You　used　up　all　the　hot　water！　Damn　it；　don't　you　have　a　considerate

bone　in　your　body？〃

Mitch　stood　in　the　door　of　the　kitchen；　dripping　wet；　wearing　nothing

but　a　towel　around　his　hips。

For　a　second；　she　couldn't　breathe。　He　was　incredibly　well　built。　Arms

and　shoulders　of　granite　flanked　a　chest　that　was　tanned；　sinewed；　and

matted　with　fair　hair　made　darker　by　the　water。　His　stomach　was　flat　and

firm；　his　slim　hips　a　sol