第26部分(第6/7 頁)

the　jar　and　clamped　on　its　lid　before　he

could　take　more。　〃It's　not　the　money。　It's　the　principle。　I　love

macadamia　nuts。〃

〃I'll　get　you　more；〃　he　repeated　calmly。

She　returned　the　jar　to　the　cabi。　〃Can　I　trust　you　to　leave　it　alone；

or　do　I　have　to　put　it　in　my　room？〃

He　grinned　and　folded　his　arms　on　his　chest。　〃I　haven't　had　macadamias

in　ages。　I'd　forgotten　how　good　they　are。　But　you　can　trust　me。　At

least；　when　it　es　to　the　nuts。〃

For　a　split　second；　she　thought　she　heard　something　sexual　in　his　drawl。

Then；　dismissing　it　as　a　figment　of　her　imagination；　she　turned　and

stalked　off。

By　Monday；　a　pattern　emerged。　Anne　rose　early　each　morning　and　hiked　the

countryside。　Mitch　slept　late　enough　to　ensure　a　replenished　supply　of

hot　water　for　a　long　shower。　Meals　were　widely　scattered　and　eaten　alone

from　supplies　that　remained　separate　and　distinct。

By　Tuesday　Anne　felt　well　rested　and　relaxed。　If　Mitch　continued　to　toss

in　his　sleep；　she　had　either　gotten　used　to　the　noise　or　she　slept

soundly　enough　herself　to　blot　it　out。

He　woke　up　earlier　than　usual　that　day；　packed　a　lunch　and　vanished；

leaving　Anne　with　the　solitude　she　wanted。　Strange；　though；　between

work；　books；　and　other　incidental　activities；　she　kept　thinking　about

him。

She　was　living　with　the　guy。　Well；　not　in　that　sense。　Still；　her　friends

would　be　stunned　if　they　knew；　her　family　appalled。　But　she　was

fortable　here；　physically　and　emotionally。　This　world　was　divorced

from　that　of　New　York。　Same　with　Mitch。　So；　she　didn't　know　his　last

name。　The　anonymity　here　felt　right。　With　Wednesday　morning　came　the

awareness