rekindled(英文版)- 第52部分

She　tried　to　remember。　〃I　think　I　put　them　in　the　pocket　of　my　jeans。〃

He　vanished　and　returned　moments　later　with　the　keys　in　hand。　〃I'm
hitching　a　ride　with　the　plow　down　to　your　car。　It　may　take　me　a　little
while　to　dig　it　out。　Does　it　have　snow　tires？〃　When　she　nodded；　he　said；
〃Good。　I'll　be　back　as　soon　as　I　can；　then　I'm　taking　you　to　the
doctor。〃

〃Mitch…〃　Her　hoarse　call　caught　him　at　the　door。　〃Your　arm…is　it　all
right　to　shovel？〃

She　heard　a　sharp　intake　of　breath；　then　a　grunt。　〃It'll　do。〃

While　he　was　gone；　she　suffered。　Her　head　hurt；　her　sinuses　hurt；　her
throat　hurt；　her　chest　hurt；　her　legs　hurt。　Curled　up　in　misery；　she
prayed　for　sleep。

She　must　have　dozed　off；　because　it　seemed　only　minutes　before　Mitch
returned　with　a　gruff　foot…stamping　at　the　front　door。　Lacking　the
strength　to　call　out；　she　waited　until　he　appeared　by　her　bedside；　ruddy
checked　from　the　cold；　but　eager　to　pack　her　up　and　leave。

He　did　it　without　a　fuss；　simply　snatching　her　up；　quilt　and　all；　and
carrying　her　out。　He　stopped　short　at　the　front　door。　Swearing　softly；
he　back　tracked　and　deposited　her　on　the　sofa；　went　into　the　kitchen；
and　returned　with　her　wool　hat；　which　was　now　warm　and　dry。　He　put　it　on
her　head；　scooped　her　up　again　and　didn't　put　her　down　until　they
reached　his　car。

She　wheezed　heavily　for　most　of　the　trip　into　the　village。　Between
darkness　and　the　new　walls　of　snow　lining　the　roads；　there　wasn't　much
for　the　headlights　to　pick　out。

He　parked　in　front　of　a　tiny　clinic；　ran　around　the　car；　and　hoisted　her
up。　He　had　had　the　driver　of　the　plow　call　ahead。　A　doctor　was　waiting
inside。

Thirty　minutes　later　he　carried　her　back　to　the　car。　〃Bronchial
pneumonia。　Good　show；　Annie；〃　he　teased　gently　as　he　tucked　her　into　the
passenger's　seat　again。

Weary；　she　caught　his　eye。　〃Do　you　have　my　pills？〃

He　patted　the　spot　where　the　upper…left　breast　pocket　of　his　shirt　would
be。　〃Right　here。　Are　you　fortable？〃

〃fortable？〃　she　shot　back　hoarsely。　〃I've　been　poked；　X…rayed；　stuck
with　needles；　and　carted　around　like　I　had　no　feelings　at　all。〃　She
scowled。　〃I　feel　hot　and　cold　and　achy。　And　you　ask　if　I'm　fortable？〃

She　looked　away。　〃Don't　ask。〃

Mitch　chuckled。　Slamming　the　door；　he　circled　the　car　to　the　driver's
side　and　slid　behind　the　wheel　with　remarkable　ease；　given　his　length。
〃At　least　your　good　humor　is　intact；〃　he　teased。　〃Let's　go　home。　The
doctor　ordered　warmth；　rest；　and　lots　of　hot　liquid。　We'd　better　get　to
it。〃

For　the　next　three　days　they　followed　the　doctor's　orders　to　a　tee；　with
Mitch　in　mand；　dictating　when　each　pill　was　to　be　taken；　when　she　was
to　eat　and　sleep。　She　felt　miserable　for　another　full　day　before　the
medication　began　to　take　effect。　Only　then　did　she　dare　to　balk　at　the
strict　regimen。

〃I'm　going　to　turn　into　a　chicken　if　I　drink　one　more　drop　of　this　soup。
It's　awful；〃　she　plained　when　he　appeared　on　Tuesday　morning　with
another　mug　of　broth。　〃I　feel　better　today。　Honestly　I　do。〃　She　was
sitting　up　against　the　headboard　of　the　bed；　dressed　in　her　own　flannel
nightgown。

〃You　still　sound　lousy；〃　he　informed　her；　as　though　that　settled　that；
but　she　was　impatient。

〃If　you　don't　want　to　hear　my　noise；〃　she　croaked；　〃don't　good　me　into
conversation。　Isn't　it　about　time　I　went　upstairs　to　the　other　bedroom？〃

He　grinned。　〃You　don't　like　sleeping　with　me？〃

〃I'm　not　'sleeping'　with　you；　as　the　expression　goes。　It's　more　like
sleeping　in　spite　of　you。　You　may　think　that　I'm　out　of　it；　but　I　feel
you　beside　me。　I　know　you're　there　。。。　all　night！　You　touch　me　just
enough　to　make　sure　I'm　all　right；　but　that's　all。　What　fun　is　that？〃

She　broke　into　a　fit　of　coughing　from　which　only　Mitch's　firm　slap　on
the　back　saved　her。　He　stayed　to　gently　rub　her　neck　and　shoulders；　his
touch　growing　more　seductive　by　the　minute。　She　hadn't　been　aware　of　his
other　hand　on　her　midriff　until　it　moved　upward。　Her　breast　tingled　at
its　touch。　She　gasped；　but　couldn't　pull　away。　His　palm　passed　around
and　over　her　nipple；　teasing　it　through　the　soft　flannel。　She　gripped
his　arm；　as　much　to　hold　it　there　as　for　support。

〃It　isn't　much　tin；　is　it？〃　he　said；　〃but　you'll　stay　down　here　for　now；
where　I　can　keep　an　eye　on　you。　In　a　few　days　you　can　go　back　upstairs。〃

〃In　a　few　days　I'll　be　going　home。〃　A　sad　thought；　indeed。　At　his　urging
she　lay　back　on　the　pillow。　Her　eyes　held　his。　She　waited。　〃Something
has　to　give；〃　he　said。　〃You　know　that；　don't　you；　Annie？〃

She　nodded。　They　were　nearing　the　point　where　a　kiss　alone　wasn't
enough。　Same　with　the　occasional　week　together。

〃Are　you　ready　for　more？〃　he　asked。

〃Are　you？〃

〃I　asked　first。〃

〃I　can't　answer　until　I　know　more。　Tell　me　about　your　family。〃

His　eyes　held　hers。　〃There　isn't　much　to　tell。　My　parents　are　alive　and
well　in　Manhattan。　My　father　is　retired。　He　has　been　for　several　years
now。　It's　nice。　Gives　him　time　to　spend　doing　other　things。〃

〃What　did　he　do？〃

Mitch　grinned。　〃He　was　a　concert　pianist。　I'm　sure　you'd　recognize　the
name　if　I　told　you。〃　He　didn't　offer　it；　nor　did　she　ask。　That　part　of
the　bargain　held。

Anne　was　intrigued。　〃That's　quite　a　switch…from　concert　pianist　to
business　tycoon　in　one　generation。　Was　the　musical　ability　passed　on　at
all？〃

He　smiled。　〃Can　I　carry　a　tune？　Fairly。　Can　I　play　the　piano？　No。　My
sister　does；　though。〃

Her　eyes　widened。　〃You　have　a　sister？　Is　she　older　or　younger　than　you？〃

He　gave　the　ceiling　a　one…eyed　squint。　〃Older　by　。。。　let's　see　。。。
three；　no　four；　minutes。〃

〃Years；〃　she　corrected　quietly。

〃Minutes；〃　he　reasserted；　laughing。

〃TWINS？〃

He　nodded。

〃Oh；　Mitch！〃　She　was　delighted。　〃That's　marvelous！　You　must　have　had　fun
growing　up！〃

〃Not　really。　She　was　always　taller；　smarter；　and　faster　than　I　was。〃

〃And　now？〃

He　grinned。　〃I've　caught　up。〃

〃There　must　have　been　some　advantage　to　being　the　runt　of　the　litter；〃
she　teased。

〃Oh；　there　was。　My　mother　pampered　me　more。　She　felt　sorry　for　me。〃

A　mischievous　gleam　danced　in　his　eyes。　〃I　suppose　that's　why　I　still
have　the　need　to　touch　and　be　touched。〃　He　took　her　hand　between　his
two。　Anne　refused　to　be　distracted。　〃Are　there　other　twins　in　the
family？〃

He　shook　his　head。　〃Just　Liz　and　me。〃

〃Liz？〃　A　bell　rang。　She　smiled　when　Mitch　realized　his　slip。　〃Hmmmm　。。。
Liz；〃　she　repeated　with　an　accusing　lilt。

He　grew　sheepish。　〃Now　you　know　my　secrets。〃

〃That　was　Liz　with　you　at　the　restaurant　before　Christmas。〃

〃Uh…huh。〃

〃Is　she　married？〃

〃It　didn't　work　out。　But　lately　she's　been　seeing　a　nice　guy。〃

〃What　does　she　do　with　her　music？〃

〃Actually；　she's　more　a　harpist　than　a　pianist。〃

〃Beautiful！〃　Anne　exclaimed。

〃Not　while　she　was　first　learning；〃　he　muttered。

Anne　gave　him　a　nudge。　〃You're　jealous　of　her　talent。〃

〃Maybe。〃　He　raised　her　hand　and　kissed　her　fingers　in　true　continental
style；　then　left　her　alone　to　rest。

That　night　Anne　had　a　nightmare。　It　was　more　frightening　than　any　she'd
had　since　she'd　been　a　child。　Bolting　upright　in　bed；　drenched　in　a　cold
sweat；　she　struggled　to　catch　her　breath　until　Mitch's　arms　came　around
her。

〃What