〃Here；　let　me　take　a　look　at　that。〃

Before　she　could　resist；　Mitch　deposited　a　bottle　of　disinfectant　and　a

washcloth　on　the　table；　pulled　up　a　chair；　and　took　her　arm。　His　touch

was　warm。　When　she　tried　to　pull　back；　he　held　her　arm　more　firmly。　She

winced　at　the　antiseptic's　sting。

〃THAT'S　That's　enough！〃

But　he　disagreed；　repeatedly　dabbing　the　dirt　from　the　wound　before

kneeling　and　reaching　for　her　knee。

〃It's　all　right；〃　she　insisted。

He　raised　his　head。　His　jaw　was　hard；　his　cheeks　lean；　but　his　eyes　were

surprisingly　soft。　Something　stirred　inside　her。

〃I'll　do　my　best　not　to　hurt　you；　but　it　should　be　cleaned。〃　Very

gently；　he　pushed　the　jeans　past　her　knee。　He　applied　disinfectant　to

the　scrape　there；　blotting　it　to　ease　the　sting。

Anne　watched　his　shoulders　flex　as　he　worked；　easy　to　see　since　his

turtleneck　fit　him　as　snugly　as　each　of　his　others　had。　This　one　was

dark　green。　By　contrast；　the　silvery…blonde　of　his　hair　was　striking。

〃There；　now；〃　he　murmured。　〃That　wasn't　so　bad；　was　it？〃　With　both　hands

cradling　her　leg；　he　surveyed　his　work。　His　tone　was　gentle；　his　touch

even　more　so；　and　when　he　raised　his　eyes；　they　were　the　gentlest　yet。

Her　breath　faltered。

He　curved　a　hand　to　her　neck。　His　thumb　feather…touched　the　soft　swell

of　her　lips。　For　an　instant　he　hesitated；　and　Anne's　breath　held。

With　eternal　slowness；　he　raised　his　mouth　to　hers　in　a　kiss　that　was

little　more　than　the　tantalizingly　light　movement　of　his　lips。　When　she

made　no　protest；　he　deepened　it；　coaxing　her　mouth　open　with　a

gentleness　that　was　worlds　away　from　the　first　night's　force。

Anne　was