and　neck　with　a　damp　cloth。　〃That's　quite　some　cold；〃　he　muttered。

〃It　just　hung　on。　I　thought　it'd　be　better　by　now。〃

〃Why　did　you　leave　New　York　in　the　first　place？　You　should　have　stayed

in　bed。〃

He　was　annoyed　with　her。　She　thought　that　was　unfair。　〃It　wasn't　snowing

at　home；〃　she　argued。　〃I　had　no　idea　I'd　run　into　this　mess；　or　that　it

would　get　so　bad　so　fast。〃

〃Forget　the　weather。　You　should　have　been　in　bed　anyway；　with　a　cold

like　this。〃

〃Good　God；　Mitch；　I　can't　put　my　life　on　hold　every　time　I　get　a　cold。〃

〃Yeah；　well　if　you　don't　take　better　care　of　yourself；　you　may　put　your

life　on　permanent　hold。　Colds　can　turn　into　pneumonia；　and　people　die

from　pneumonia。〃

She　teared　up。　〃I　just　wanted　to　be　here　with　you。〃　She　turned　onto　her

side；　away　from　his　glower；　and　pulled　the　covers　up　around　her　ears。

She　was　startled　when　Mitch　lifted　her；　covers　and　all；　and　held　her

tightly。　From　time　to　time　he　dipped　his　head；　touching　his　lips　to　her

hair；　her　brow；　or　her　eyes。　His　voice　was　softer　when　he　finally　spoke。

〃Don't　think　I　didn't　want　to　see　you　as　much。　I　did。　But　we　could　have

e　next　week。〃

〃Someone　else　may　be　here　next　week。〃

〃No　one　will　be　here。〃

〃How　do　you　know？〃　she　cried　with　a　touch　of　indignance。

Looking　suddenly　resigned；　he　shifted　her　in　his　arms　and　ran　a　hand

back　through　his　hair。　〃Because　this　is　my　house。　Miles　Cooper　works　for

me。　He　rents　it　out　when　I'm　not　planning　to　be　here。〃

The　puzzle　piece　fell　into　place。　Hoarsely；　she　said；　〃Oh；　my。　It

figures；　I　guess。　Helps　explain　the　original　mix…up。　And　why　you　prefer

this　bed。　It's　yours。〃