第23部分(第5/7 頁)

could　believe　him；　he　had　a　point。　If　he　did　have　a　key　and

would　eventually　open　the　door　whether　she　liked　it　or　not；　she　could

save　him　the　effort　and　spare　herself　his　anger。　Cautious；　she　reached

for　the　knob。　She　opened　the　door　a　few　inches；　leaving　her　weight

against　the　wood　in　case　she　didn't　like　what　she　saw。

Without　warning；　a　heavier　weight　thrust　it　full　open；　throwing　her　back

into　the　room。　Startled　by　the　unexpected　force　and　cursing　herself　for

her　nerves；　Anne　lost　her　balance　and　tripped；　falling　backward　onto　her

bottom　with　a　thud。　From　that　vantage　point　she　watched；　wide…eyed；　as　a

huge　man　entered；　savagely　dripping　water。　He　tossed　in　several　large

bags　before　slamming　the　door　shut　and　leaning　against　it。

The　fire　had　begun　to　die；　leaving　only　the　faintest　glow　to　light　his

face；　but　it　was　enough　to　show　a　tight　jaw；　sneering　lips；　and　eyes

that　impaled　her。

〃You　bitch！　What　took　you　so　long？　Why　didn't　you　open　the　door？

Can't　you　see　what　the　weather　is　like？　And　who　sent　you　anyway？　Was　it

Joe？〃　Narrowed　eyes　gave　her　an　insolent　once…over。　〃No；　it　must　have

been　Lennie。　He　goes　in　for　the　plain；　scrawny　type。〃

Anne　was　dumbstruck　by　the　sudden　turn　of　events。

〃What？〃　he　went　on。　〃No　denials？　No　coy　protestations？〃　He　unbuttoned

his　heavy　wool　jacket；　shrugged　it　off；　and　tossed　it　onto　an　empty

chair。　Even　without　its　bulk；　with　only　snug　denims　and　a　dark

turtleneck；　he　was　imposing。

To　her　horror；　he　advanced　until　he　towered　directly　over　her。　〃Well？

Don't　you　have　anything　to　say？　Or　are　you　just　going　to　lie　there；　all

helpless　and　inviting？〃

Anne　found