rekindled(英文版)- 第46部分

〃Tell　me。〃

〃He　was　on　a　business　trip。　The　plane　went　down。〃

In　the　silence　that　followed；　she　raised　her　eyes。　Mitch　looked　pale。
〃When　did　it　happen？〃　he　asked。

〃Last　January。〃　He　flinched。　It　was　a　while　before　he　said；　〃It's　been
nearly　a　year。　Do　you　date　at　all？〃

〃No。〃

〃You　should。〃

〃Now　look　who's　being　sanctimonious。　When　did　your　wife　die？〃

〃Last　winter。〃　He　held　her　gaze。

〃Do　you　date？〃　It　was　a　foolish　question。　She　knew　it　the　minute　she　saw
the　wry　twist　of　his　mouth。

〃I'm　not　sure　you'd　call　it　dating。　When　I　want　a　woman；　I　get　one。〃　He
took　a　breath；　paused　on　the　verge　of　saying　more；　then　dropped　it。　〃At
any　rate；　I　have　other　obligations。〃

〃Female…related　obligations？〃

He　watched　her　closely。　〃Yes。〃

〃see。〃

〃No；　I　doubt　you　do。　But　maybe　that's　better　for　now。〃

She　didn't　know　what　he　meant；　but　she　wasn't　asking。　She　had　too　much
pride。　Besides；　questions　weren't　part　of　the　deal。　If　she　hadn't　asked
that　last　one；　she　wouldn't　be　feeling　suddenly　low。

Mitch　stirred。　〃Do　me　a　favor？〃　His　eyes　were　softer。　〃Take　those　pins
out　of　your　hair　and　put　a　red　ribbon　in　it。〃

〃I　don't　have　a　red　ribbon。〃

〃Anything　bright　will　do。〃

〃Am　I　that　depressing　to　be　with？〃

He　left　his　seat　then　and　circled　the　table。　〃No；　Annie。　I've　never
found　you　depressing。〃　He　began　removing　the　hairpins　and　didn't　stop
until　he　had　her　hair　spread　over　her　shoulders。　Then　he　hunkered　down
so　that　he　was　closer　to　eye　level。　〃But　I　think　you　overdo　the
starkness。　You　don't　have　to　punish　yourself　for　your　husband's　death。
Losing　him　is　ample　punishment　all　by　itself。〃

She　had　to　hand　it　to　him。　He　was　perceptive　enough；　but　she　assumed
that　he　spoke　from　experience。　So　what　was　his　punishment？　His　arm？

Those　other　obligations　he　mentioned？

But　he　didn't　appear　to　be　thinking　of　other　obligations　just　then。　He
was　fingering　her　hair；　seeming　entranced　by　its　sheen。　〃You　look　so
pretty　with　your　hair　down；　Anne。〃

When　his　eyes　rose；　her　stomach　flipped　over。　They　could　talk　all　they
wanted　about　not　being　ready　for　this；　but　when　they　were　close；　it　just
happened。　His　eyes　fell　to　her　lips。　He　rubbed　them　with　a　thumb；　then
leaned　forward　and　touched　them　with　his　tongue。　The　tip　of　his　tongue。
'tracing　her　mouth　from　corner　to　corner　with　devastating　leisure。

Anne　liked　what　he　did。　She　closed　her　eyes　and　sighed；　enjoying　each
small　touch　for　the　pleasure　it　brought。　When　she　began　to　tremble；　she
clutched　Mitch's　shoulders。　They　were　made　for　that；　for　clutching。　They
were　large；　solid；　and　warm。

But　part　of　being　pleasured　was　pleasuring　back。　It　was　instinctive；　and
no　hardship　at　all；　because　she　was　hungry。　What　he　did　satisfied　her
for　only　a　short　time。　She　moved　her　mouth　and　found　more；　moved　her
tongue　and　found　even　more；　and　above　it　all　were　the　throaty　sounds
Mitch　made；　telling　her　that　he　was　getting　hotter。

When　he　murmured；　〃Christ；〃　there　was　awe　in　his　tone。　Incredibly；
though；　he　backed　up。　He　sat　down　hard　on　the　floor；　draped　his　forearms
over　bent　knees；　and　his　forehead　on　his　wrists。　〃Christ；　〃　he
whispered；　then　raised　his　head。　His　eyes　were　filled　with　amusement　and
sex。

It　was　a　minute　before　the　sex　part　faded。　Then　he　threw　back　his　head；
dragged　in　a　long　breath；　and　hauled　himself　to　his　feel。　From　a　safe
distance；　he　said；　〃About　your　hair。　You'll　need　to　wear　something　red
or　orange　if　you're　going　to　hike　with　me　tomorrow　morning。　It's
deer…hunting　season。〃

They　spent　the　better　part　of　the　next　morning　in　the　woods。　It　was
cold；　but　Mitch　kept　her　moving；　leading　her　over　trails　she　had　never
explored；　through　gullies　she　had　never　seen。　A　red　wool　cap　kept　her
head　warm；　mittens　warmed　her　hands。

With　the　trees　bare　of　leaves；　vistas　were　open　as　they　hadn't　been　in
September。　Mitch　led　her　from　hilltop　to　hilltop；　one　view　more
far…reaching　than　the　next。　The　land　was　quiet。　Forest　creatures　were
hidden　away。　The　doe　that　had　stood　on　her　hind　legs　to　chomp　on　a　crisp
apple　now　hid　from　the　hunter。　Chipmunks　and　squirrels　were　burrowed　in
their　dens。　There　was　the　rustle　of　evergreen　boughs　in　the　wind；　the
icy　gurgle　of　the　brook　as　it　charged　downstream；　the　crunch　of　their
boots　on　the　near…frozen　ground。

Anne's　cheeks　were　as　red　as　her　cap　when　they　returned；　tired　but
exhilarated；　and　it　was　a　harbinger　of　the　days　ahead。　They　settled　into
the　fort　of　easy　panionship；　sharing　not　only　meals；　but　most
every　other　time　of　the　day。　Mitch　read　when　Anne　did；　his　eye
occasionally　catching　hers。　They　played　backgammon　in　front　of　the　fire；
and　worked　together　on　a　jigsaw　puzzle。　The　weather　held；　offering
pleasant　days　with　clear　skies；　and　an　invigorating　chill　to　the　night。
They　walked　together　and　worked　together；　Anne　on　her　translating；　Mitch
on　papers　dug　from　an　overstuffed　briefcase。　They　lived　in　the　here　and
now；　avoiding　talk　of　the　city　like　the　plague。

All　too　soon；　Anne　loaded　up　her　car　for　the　return　trip　to　New　York。
Slinging　an　arm　across　her　shoulder；　Mitch　walked　her　from　the　house　a
final　time。　The　silence　had　been　heavier　that　morning　than　at　any　other
point　in　the　week。　Anne　knew　its　cause。

〃Will　you　be　spending　Thanksgiving　with　your　family？〃　he　asked　quietly。

〃Yes。〃　She　took　in　his　handsome　features；　studying；　memorizing。　〃And
you？〃

〃The　same。〃　He　held　her　just　a　little　closer。　〃Plans　for　New　Year's
Eve？〃

They　had　reached　the　car。　She　faced　him；　smiling　sadly。　〃Funny。　I　used
to　worry　about　New　Year's　Eve。　Would　I　have　a　date？　Would　I　not？　Would
he　be　tall；　dark；　and　handsome？　Now　it　doesn't　seem　to　matter。〃　She
sighed。　〃No；　I　don't　have　a　date。　I　may　just　plant　myself　on　my　sofa
with　a　bottle　of　Chablis　and　a　book。〃

〃Why　not　do　it　here？〃　His　eyes　were　deep　green；　the　color　of　saying
something　important。

Her　pulse　raced。　〃What？〃

〃Spend　New　Year's　Eve　here。〃

〃Will　you？〃　she　asked　without　premeditation。　He　pulled　her　close；　into
the　warmth　of　his　sheepskin　jacket。　〃Yes。〃

〃What　about　your　other　obligations？〃　Unpremeditated　also；　but　the　answer
mattered。

Mitch　was　a　minute　in　answering。　〃She　goes　to　bed　too　early　for　my
tastes；　certainly　too　early　to　make　it　to　midnight。　No；〃　he　grinned；
〃she　wouldn't　be　much　fun　on　New　Year's　Eve。　Besides；　she's　not　a　fan　of
Chablis。〃

Anne　didn't　know　what　to　say　to　that；　but　his　good　humor　was　infectious。
She　relaxed　in　his　arms　and　rested　her　hands　on　his　chest。

〃How　about　it？〃　he　coaxed　softly。　〃New　Year's　Eve　here？〃

〃I　don't　know；　Mitch。　This　thing　is　so　bizarre。〃

〃Are　you　afraid？〃　His　hands　drew　light　circles　on　her　back。

〃A　little。〃

〃Of　me？〃

She　was　acutely　aware　of　the　swell　of　his　broad　chest　beneath　her　palms。
〃No。〃　She　eyed　the　ribbed　pattern　of　his　sweater；　and　whispered；　〃Of
me。〃

〃You　have　nothing　to　fear；　Annie；〃　he　assured　her　gently。　He　took　her
chin　with　his　fingers　and　tipped　up　her　face。　It　was　the　closest
physically　that　they'd　been　since　that　first　day。　〃I　know　what　my　own
needs　are　right　now；　and　they　don't　include　making　things　harder　for
you。　By　helping　you　through　New　Year's；　I　may　just　help　myself；　so