第25部分(第5/7 頁)

r　gleam　in

his　eye。

Anne　tried　to　think　up　a　sensible　reply。　When　none　came　she　turned　on

her　heel　and　retraced　her　steps。　She　was　hungry；　she　told　herself。　She

needed　breakfast。　But　she　didn't　do　more　than　nibble　on　the　scrambled

eggs　and　toast　that　she　made。

What　to　do。　If　she　wasn't　so　far　away　from　home　and　so　badly　in　need　of

that　distance；　she　might　have　simply　packed　up　and　left。　But　she　wasn't

staying　out　of　pride。　She　did　need　the　distance。

〃Aren't　you　eating？〃　Again　his　voice　startled　her。　This　time；　though；　he

was　fully　dressed。　His　jaw　was　clean…shaven　and　smelling　of　a　lime

aftershave。　His　hair　was　neatly　bed　and　reached　back　collar　of　his

wool　plaid　shirt。　A　wide　leather　belt　hugged　his　hips；　dark　blue　jeans

his　legs。　Tan　desert　boots　color…coordinated　with　his　hair。　His　eyes

were　light　green　and　calm。

He　repeated　the　question。　〃You're　not　hungry？〃　The　way　he　looked　at　her

plate　said　that　if　she　wasn't；　he　was。

With　a　sigh　of　defeat　she　pushed　the　dish　across　the　table。　〃Help

yourself〃

With　an　exaggerated；　〃Thank　you；〃　he　lowered　himself　into　a　chair　and

took　her　up　on　her　offer。　She　was　starting　to　think　that　he　might

actually　have　manners；　when　he　said；　〃Geez；　no　wonder　you're　so　thin。

You've　scrambled　these　eggs　so　dry　they're　impossible　to　swallow。　If

this　is　the　way　you　always　cook；　it's　a　miracle　you　haven't　wasted　away

to　nothing。〃

Anne's　jaw　dropped。　Jeff　had　never　plained　about　anything；　least　of

all　her　cooking。

Sitting　straighter；　she　said；　〃If　you　don't　like　my　cooking；　then　don't

eat　it！　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　don't　like　you　very　much；　so　why　don't　we