was　possible。　Wrapping　her　arms　around　his　neck；　she　opened　her　mouth；

and　he　moved　right　in。　After　her　mouth　he　kissed　her　cheeks　and　her

eyelids。　Then；　hotly；　he　sought　out　her　tongue。

They　weren't　ready　for　this　emotionally；　but　there　was　no　problem

physically。　Mitch　was　rock…hard　against　her。　His　hands　moved　restlessly

on　her　back；　her　waist；　her　hips。　They　found　her　breasts　and　explored　in

detail；　and　Anne　was　every　bit　as　active。　She　touched　him　everywhere　to

make　sure　he　was　real；　and　he　was；　real　and　ready。　While　their　mouths

tangled　hungrily；　her　fingers　spread　over　his　thigh　and　moved　upward；

upward　and　inward。

With　a　strangled　sound；　Mitch　pulled　away。

Anne　felt　instant　loss；　then　acute　embarrassment。　Mitch's　ragged

breathing　was　small　solace　for　her　aggressiveness。　〃That　shouldn't　have

happened；〃　she　said　in　a　faltering　whisper。

He　made　a　sputtering　sound　and　pushed　a　hand　through　his　hair。　〃Yeah；

but　it　did。　Damn　it；　this　was　a　crazy　idea！〃

She　averted　her　eyes　and　tried　to　edge　away　from　the　sink；　but　he　had

her　pinned　there。　Holding　her　chin；　he　forced　her　face　up。　His　voice　was

rough　as　sand。　〃You　try　my　patience；　Annie。　One　part　of　me　aches　to　pick

you　up　in　my　arms　and　carry　you　out　to　that　bed；　but　the　last　thing　I

need　right　now　is　to　bear　you　calling　for　another　man　in　the　throes　of

passion。　You're　still　mourning　your　husband。　Your　clothes；　your　hair；

your　eyes　all　tell　me　that。　And　I　have　a　past；　too。　The　last　thing　you

need　is　to　hear　me　call　out　another　woman's　name。〃

Anne's　eyes　filled　with　tears。　When　she　pushed　at　him；　he　let　her　go。

She　went　to　the　window；　wrapped　he