r　arms　around　herself；　and　looked　out。

〃Why　do　you　lead　me　on？〃

There　was　silence；　then　a　begrudging；　〃I　can't　seem　to　help　myself。

What's　your　excuse？〃　When　she　didn't　answer；　he　approached　her　and

goaded；　〃Hmm？　Are　you　that　frustrated？〃

She　spun　around　and　sent　the　flat　of　her　hand　against　his　cheek。　He

caught　it　on　the　rebound　and　had　her　arm　behind　her；　drawing　her　hard

against　him；　in　an　instant。

〃Don't　ever　do　that　again！〃　he　muttered　and；　as　suddenly　as　he'd　seized

her；　let　her　go。　He　took　long　steps　toward　the　door　before　stopping

short。

Anne　was　stunned；　short　of　breath；　wondering　what　was　ing　next。

One　lithe　stride　brought　him　back。　To　her　astonishment　he　framed　her

face　with　his　hands；　placed　a　hard　kiss　on　her　lips；　then　walked　off

again。

〃What　was　that　for？〃　she　cried。

〃Moist　eggs　and　strong　black　coffee。〃　He　half…turned　at　the　door。　〃I

have　a　couple　of　things　to　do。　Find　something　to　keep　you　busy　for　an

hour；　then　we'll　leave　for　the　village。〃

It　wasn't　a　question；　and　he　didn't　wait　for　an　answer。　That　was　what

kept　Anne　busy　while　she　unpacked　her　bags　in　the　attic　bedroom。　She

brooded。　She　agonized。　She　wondered　why　she　had　e　and　why　she　ever

wanted　his　kiss。　Mitch　whoever…he…was　was　stubborn　and　selfcentered。　He

was　the　exact　opposite　of　gentle；　caring；　generous…to…a…fault　Jeff。

But　Jeff　was　dead。

An　art　teacher　had　once　told　her　that　a　painting　was　successful　when　it

evoked　a　reaction；　be　it　positive　or　negative。　For　Anne；　the　months

since　Jeff's　death　had　been　devoid　of　reaction；　until　Mitch。

So　where　did　she　go　from　there？　Into　bed　with　the　man　at　the　very