more than anything in the world。 But there was a crucial question still
to be answered。
Slowly she turned the knob and drew open the door。 Fearful； she raised
her eyes to his。 And she saw love； surely she did； unless she wanted it
so bad that she was imagining it。
〃Do you love Rachel； too？〃 she asked in a faltering whisper。
When he reached for her arms； she didn't resist。 Neither did she melt
toward him； but held her line； waiting； waiting for his answer。
His smile was sad but tender。 〃Yes； I love Rachel。〃 His hands tightened
when she would have pulled free。 〃But I love her in a very different way
from how I love you； Annie。 Rachel is my daughter。〃
Anne was shocked。 His daughter？ She had been jealous of his daughter？
〃Why didn't you tell me？〃 she cried； wanting to hit him but slipping her
arms around his neck instead。
He held her tightly。 〃I've wanted to so many times。 But it never seemed
appropriate。 At the beginning； there was a part of me that wanted…God
forgive me…that wanted to forget her existence while I was up here。
Fatherhood has its merits； but it's been my greatest challenge since
Bey's death。〃
He had a daughter。 Anne could only begin to imagine that； much less the
challenge of going it alone。 〃Maybe I could have helped。〃
〃You've had enough to face without having to cope with a child。〃
〃How old is she？〃
〃She turned six last week。 And she came down with the chicken pox the
day after her birthday。 It's the first time she's been sick…really
sick since her mother died。〃
Anne understood。 〃That's why you were late arriving last weekend？〃
He nodded against her head。 〃My parents have been wonderful； taking her
for weeks at a stretch。 They're often more cheerful than me。〃 He looked
down at her。 〃But I couldn't leave them with a sick child who only
wanted her mother to hold her。〃 His voice broke at the last。
〃Why didn't you bring her up here with you？〃 Anne scolded。
He studied her closely。 〃I wasn't sure how you felt about kids。 We've
never talked about that； you and me。 I only know you have none of your
own。〃
〃Not through choice； Mitch； not through choice。〃
〃But to foist a sick child on you？ How could I do that？〃
Anne spoke from the heart。 〃I would have loved to have met your
daughter。 I'd have loved helping you take care of her。 She's your
daughter。〃 Her voice fell。 〃And I love you。〃
He crushed her in his arms。 The force of it said all that he didn't； but
seconds later he was kissing her。 If she hadn't already gotten the
message； he did then。 There was a vow in his kiss； a declaration； a
promise。
〃I love you 。。。 love you 。。。 love you；〃 she whispered at the very first
chance； loving being able to say it at last。
When his hands moved down to frame her face and tip it up； she savored
the devotion she saw。 His eyes asked a question； hers answered。 Then he
lifted her into his arms and carried her back down the narrow staircase
to the room with the large bed； his bed。
This time； when he lowered her and reached for the hem of her sweater；
she caught his hands and stilled them。 〃Let me；〃 she said。 〃I need to
know you。〃
He searched her eyes for a minute。 Then； silently； he sat back on the
bed and let her undress him。 When his big body was bare； she could only
marvel at its beauty； at the beauty of the love she felt。 She explored
his every sinew； touching him with innocent wonder from his shoulders to
his thighs； skimming lean planes； tracing manly swells； delighting in
his arousal。
When his patience was exhausted； he made a gutteral sound。 〃That's it；
honey。 That's it。〃 With bullet speed； he flipped over her and removed
every stitch of her clothes。
They lay naked then on the cool sheets； facing one another。 Their
breathing was heavy with need and want； but he held her off for those
last few infinitely trying seconds。 His eyes ran the length of her once
more before searching her soul。
〃Are you sure？〃 he asked softly。
〃I love you；〃 she replied。
〃But it's different for a woman； isn't it？〃
〃Not when she's in love。〃
〃Then you'll be mine？〃
She grinned。 〃If you keep me waiting much longer； I may attack you。〃
The waiting ended。 He possessed her as the pale purple of early evening
bathed them in its glow； and it was good from the very first。 Good 。。。
better 。。。 all…consuming 。。。 exhausting 。。。 absolutely； positively
mind…blowing。
Arms and legs entwined； they slept； the deep and satisfied sleep of two
who were spent and content。 Long forgotten was the maple syrup on the
stove； cooling to a thick amber perfection； and the French toast that
was to have showcased it。 They were oblivious when dusk faded to a dark
and moonlit night。
When Anne awoke some time later； the only things she cared about were
the warm chest pillowing her head and the lean hip under her palm。 Her
first movement brought a tightening of the arm across her back and the
reverent caress of a hand。 Smiling； she kissed the matted hair on his
chest； then tipped her head to see him。 His chin was strong but relaxed；
the angled jaw likewise。 His hair fell in waves over his forehead；
lending a boyish charm。 But his eyes…his eyes held hers； speaking of
love。
〃How are you？〃 he asked gently。
She traced the line of his jaw。 〃I've never been better。〃
〃I love you。 You know that now； don't you？〃
She nodded。 He could never have made love to her the way he had if it
hadn't e from the heart。 But he repeated the words as the night
passed； reassuring her again and again； and Anne had never known such a
night。 She would collapse； breathless； weary of limb and shuddering in
the aftermath of passion； only to discover before long that Mitch had a
new way to say it。
The sun was high in the late…morning sky when they finally awoke。 They
lay in bed； face to face； studying； marveling； smiling。
〃How am I going to drive back to New York today？〃 she finally asked。
Forget her heart。 Her body was done in。
〃You're not。 When I go to make my phone call later today； I'll make any
you need to make。 I'm sure the O'Gradys won't mind。〃
〃The O'Gradys？〃
〃Our neighbors； about two miles to the east。 I found them by accident
once； but they're used to me now。 I always call Rachel from there。〃
Anne smiled。 〃Rachel。 You're daughter。 That's so special； Mitch。 I'm
glad you keep in touch with her while you're away。 I feel guilty that
you left her at all to meet me； especially when she was sick。〃
〃She was better by the time I left。 But don't worry your pretty head
about that。 What you need to worry about is whether I'll let you out of
this bed before Monday。〃
She feigned shock。 〃You wouldn't keep me here that long。〃
〃No？〃
She took another tack。 〃You couldn't。〃
〃No？〃 His eyes held a naughty gleam。 Then he slid over her and proved
her wrong。
Saturday night they had cause to celebrate； toasting each other by first
and last names； making merry despite the fact that they had both decided
to leave the next day。 Mitch had a Monday morning board meeting； Anne
needed to deliver a promised piece of work。 The real world waited。
She dreaded the moment of parting。 What they had was so new； so fragile；
so precious that she would have liked nothing more than to stay in the
cottage forever。
But Mitch grew preoccupied as that moment of parting drew near。 Finally；
cautiously； he said； 〃The next few weeks are going to be impossible for
me； Annie。 I have some business matters ing to a head； and I'll want
to spend extra time with Rachel。 Let me call you as soon as things clear
up。 Is that okay？〃
Given their intimacy and the number of times he'd said he loved her；
Anne might have been puzzled by his unsureness； but she was starting to
grow preoccupied herself。 The court hearing on the matter of her law
suit was only a week and a half off。
She took a resigned breath and gave him a hopeful smile。 〃I'll be
waiting。
Wait she did； day after day； night after night。 The knowledge that Mitch
was suffering through a busy spell was small solace。 Only the belief
that he loved her carried her through to the evening before her court
appearance； when the phone finally rang。
〃How are you； Annie？〃 He sounded caring； but a little guarded。
〃Fine。 But I miss you。〃 She had no pride。
〃Same here； honey。 Are you all set for tomorrow？〃
She was touched that he remembered the date； touched that he was calling
to give her last…minute encouragement。 〃I don't think I'll ever be
ready；〃 she answered honestly。 〃But my family and Jeff's will be ing
to get me first thing in the morning。 I think they're not sure that I'll
show up on my own。〃
〃They'll all be there？〃
〃Most of them。 I'll have plenty of emotional support。〃
〃I'm glad。〃
A silence fell。 To lighten it； she asked； 〃How's Rachel？〃
〃Fine。 Thanks for asking。 A few scabs still left； but she's back at
school。〃 Again a pause； even heavier this time。 〃Anne？〃
〃Yes？〃
〃I love you very much。〃 His voice was melancholy。 Anne wanted to believe
that he was as bothered by the separation as she was。
〃I love you； too。 When will I see you？〃
〃Soon； honey； soon。 I'll talk with you again soon。 Just remember that I
love you。〃
Tears filled her eyes。 Something felt wrong。 But he said he loved her。
She had to hold on to that。
The next day was warm by April standards； but Anne woke up feeling
chilled。 At nine o'clock sharp； Jeff's father rang her bell。
She kissed him； feeling the same fondness she always had； and reached
for her coat and purse。 〃Are the others downstairs？〃 She was eager to be
gone。 The sooner the day was done； the better。 She had been unable to
touch any breakfast； and her stomach continued to knot。
〃Actually； no。 There's been a slight change。 Our lawyer got the call
this morning。〃
〃What kind of change？〃
He took her arm and directed her back into the room。 〃Sit for a minute
and I'll explain。〃 When they were seated on the sofa； he said； 〃The
hearing has been called off。〃
〃What？〃 After dreading the day for so long； the last thing Anne wanted
was to have to go through the agony of anticipation all over again。
〃Why？〃
〃It's good news； really。 There will probably be an out…of…court
settlement。〃
A wave of relief swept her。 〃You mea