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maple syrup。
No matter that he had done this before； his enthusiasm and genuine
enjoyment of the process were in no way watered down。
As for Anne； she was enchanted watching the thin； colorless liquid
bubble and thicken to a dense golden brown。 On impulse； she slid an arm
around his waist； happier in that moment than in any in recent memory。
Regardless of what the future held； she would cherish this memory。
He grinned down at her。 〃What？〃
She sighed her pleasure。 〃It's been a tin week。 This is a great finish
to it。〃 She was leaving in the morning。 As it was； she had stayed a day
longer than she'd planned； but he had asked her to。
〃I'd rather a more personal finish；〃 he said now。 〃Better still； I'd
rather no finish at all。〃
She basked in the tenderness of his expression； loving him and aching to
say it。 But she wasn't setting herself up for rejection again。 And
anyway； just then the sap gurgled wildly。
〃It shouldn't be long；〃 he said； lifting a large wooden spoon to stir
the solution and test for its thickness。 〃Should we have pancakes or
French toast for dinner？〃
〃For dinner？〃
〃I don't know about you； but I don't have the willpower to wait until
breakfast for this。〃
Anne drew a finger across the back of the cooling wooden spoon and
licked the sweet syrup from its tip。 〃Mmmmmm。 You may be right。〃 She
paused。 〃French toast。〃
〃French toast； it is。〃 Following her example； he tasted the syrup； then
ran his finger over the spoon and held it to her mouth。 The syrup was as
rich and sweet as the moment itself。 Anne thought she could go no
higher。
Suddenly； a faraway gleam entered his eyes。 His voice was filled with
gentleness。 〃Rachel enjoyed this taste…testing stage the most last year；
too。〃
Anne froze。 Rachel？ His 〃obligation〃？ She frowned； then stood
straighter； then backed away from the arm on her shoulders。 Rachel？
With that faraway gleam； and such gentleness？ Oh； yes； he loved Rachel。
Anne didn't doubt it for a minute。
He was frowning。 〃What is it？〃
〃How could you？〃
〃How could I what？〃 His innocence riled her。
〃How could you do that to me？ How could you mention her name at a time
like this？〃 She felt eviscerated； as though he had bee part of her
and was being cut free。
〃Her name？〃 Then he realized what he had done； and his frown gentled。 〃I
mentioned Rachel； didn't I？〃
The softness in his voice at the mention of her name ravaged Anne。 〃How
could you？〃 she repeated。 Tears welled。 When he reached out； she
flinched and took a step back。
〃Annie； listen…〃
She took another step； then another。 〃I don't want to hear about your
love life。〃
〃You're wrong…〃
〃Yes； I'm wrong。 I'm wrong to want to stay up here with you； when I
should be back in New York trying to build a new life。 I'm wrong to
think that you really wanted me here； when in one careless minute you go
wimpy over another woman。 How could you； Mitch？ Can't you see that I
love you？〃
Whirling around； she ran from the kitchen； taking the steps with
reckless speed； stopping only when the door to her bedroom was slammed
and flush to her back。 Trembling hands covered her eyes and grew wet
with tears。 The pounding of her heart drowned out the sound of footsteps
on the stairs。
He rapped on the door。 〃Open up； Anne。〃
〃No。〃 She was mortified by what she had said； and heartsick that it had
e to this。
〃There are things I have to tell you； Anne。 Open the door。〃
Weeping； she only shook her head。
〃Anne 。。 。〃
〃Go away！〃 she pleaded。 She couldn't face him。 Nothing he said mattered。
〃I love you； Annie。〃 His voice filtered soft and sensuous through the
ancient wood of the door； and suddenly it did matter； very much。 If this
was a cruel hoax； she would never forgive him。
Turning； she laid her wet cheek against the door。 Afraid to listen；
afraid not to； she waited。
〃Did you hear me； Annie？〃 Again the velvet sound； too dear to be
dismissed； too real to be denied。 〃I love you。〃
Her pulse raced。 She wanted to believe that he did； wanted to believe it
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 gu