〃　he　said　against　her

hair；　then　drew　back　enough　to　smooth　a　loose　strand　from　her　cheek。

〃Did　you　enjoy　yourself。？〃

She　looked　up；　leaving　her　hands　locked　behind　his　back。　〃I　didn't

realize　it　was　you　until　I　got　the　note。　Why　didn't　you　e　say　hello？〃

〃That's　off　limits；　isn't　it？　Socializing　in　the　real　world？〃

In　that　instant；　Anne　sensed　she　didn't　want　it　that　way；　not　anymore。

But　she　needed　to　get　used　to　the　thought；　so　she　blocked　out　words　by

dropping　her　head　to　his　chest。　Her　arms　told　him　that　she'd　missed　him。

The　speed　of　his　heartbeat　said　he'd　missed　her；　too。　Okay；　so　they

didn't　use　words。　That　was　fine　for　now。

Mitch　shifted　her　to　his　side　and；　with　an　arm　over　her　shoulder；　led

her　to　the　living　room。　He　drew　her　down　beside　him　on　the　sofa；　tucked

her　head　in　the　crook　of　his　arm；　and　stretched　out　his　long　legs。　〃Tell

me　about　Christmas。〃

She　spoke　tentatively。　〃It　wasn't　as　bad　as　I'd　expected。〃

〃No　downs？〃

〃A　few。　Jeff　and　I　always　went　from　house　to　house　on　Christmas　Day。　It

was　more　simple　this　year。　Dinner　with　his　parents。〃

〃Who　were　your　friends　that　night？〃

〃At　the　restaurant？〃

〃Uh…huh。〃

〃People　I　work　with。〃

〃Tell　me　about　your　work。〃　He　hadn't　ever　asked　her　that　before；　but　his

eyes　said　that　he　wanted　to　know。　So　she　explained　her　interest　in

languages　and　described　the　evolution　of　her　career。　He　asked

thought…filled　questions；　clearly　catching　on　to　what　she　did。　When　she

was　least　expecting　it；　he　said；　〃That　professor…what　did　you　say　his

name　was；　Alex？…looked　interested　in　you。　Have　you　gone　out　with　him？〃

〃I　told　you　that　I　d