669小说网

第34部分（第3页）

His　wistfulness　added　to　Annes　regret。　〃I　wish　I　could。　But　I　promised

my　folks　Id　attend　a　hospital　benefit　with　them　tomorrow　night。　I　cant

let　them　down。〃

He　wrapped　an　arm　around　her。　〃Even　if　youre　letting　me　down？〃　His　eyes

dropped　to　her　lips。　Seconds　later　he　kissed　them。　It　was　a　gentle

caress；　sweet　torture　to　Annes　reawakening　body。　She　wound　her　arms

around　his　neck　and　felt　him　tighten　in　response。　She　was　well　now。　Her

departure　was　imminent。　If　ever　there　was　a　time　for　ardor；　this　was　it。

The　kiss　deepened　and　the　fire　grew　hotter。　With　a　wildness　borne　of

desperation；　he　thrust　his　tongue　deeper　into　her　mouth；　and　Anne　reeled

at　the　sensation。　She　would　have　happily　returned　to　the　house；　to　that

same　bedroom；　that　same　large　bed　if　hed　asked　just　then。　But　he

didnt。

With　a　shaky　breath；　he　drew　back。　He　took　her　hand；　pressed　something

in　it；　and　closed　her　fingers。　〃I　want　you　to　take　this。　Its　a　key　to

the　place。　I　have　a　few　hectic　weeks　ahead；　but　Ill　be　up　again　at　the

end　of　March。　If　you　want　to　e　at　any　time；　I　want　you　to。〃

Anne　was　deeply　touched；　but　that　wasnt　the　only　reason　her　eyes　filled

with　tears。　Frightened　that　she　would　make　a　fool　of　herself；　she

whispered　a　soft　thanks　against　his　cheek　in　a　final　hug；　pulled　away；

and　got　into　her　car。　She　headed　down　the　sanded　road　without　a　look

behind。　Parting　was　getting　harder　and　harder。

March　in　Vermont　was　the　time　of　unlocking；　that　period　during　which　the

frozen　ground　gradually　yielded　one　frigid　layer　after　another　to　the

power　of　an　ever…stronger　sun；　when　the　brooks　and　ponds；　rivers　and

lakes　lost　their　ice　to　the　rush　of　the　downstream　current。　It　was　a

time　of　the　loud　thrashing　of　formidably　cold　waters　against　their

banks。　It　was　a　time　of　mud。

Anne　hadnt　expected　that　when　she　left　New　York。　Taking　Mitch　up　on　his

offer　and　using　his　key；　she　arrived　several　days　in　advance　of　him。　The

excitement　was　in　being　there；　in　these　hills；　in　Mitchs　house。　Nothing

could　have　kept　her　away　longer。

〃Youre　going　again？〃　her　mother　had　asked　in　surprise。

Anne　was　prepared　for　the　question。　She　had　done　her　homework。　〃Its

maple…sugaring　time。　I　wouldnt　miss　it　for　the　world。〃

Her　father　had　remarked；　〃I　wouldnt　be　surprised　if　you　turned　around

and　bought　that　place。　Pretty　soon　youll　be　spending　more　time　there

than　you　do　here。〃