第30部分(第2/9 頁)

tle　closer。　〃Plans　for　New　Year's

Eve？〃

They　had　reached　the　car。　She　faced　him；　smiling　sadly。　〃Funny。　I　used

to　worry　about　New　Year's　Eve。　Would　I　have　a　date？　Would　I　not？　Would

he　be　tall；　dark；　and　handsome？　Now　it　doesn't　seem　to　matter。〃　She

sighed。　〃No；　I　don't　have　a　date。　I　may　just　plant　myself　on　my　sofa

with　a　bottle　of　Chablis　and　a　book。〃

〃Why　not　do　it　here？〃　His　eyes　were　deep　green；　the　color　of　saying

something　important。

Her　pulse　raced。　〃What？〃

〃Spend　New　Year's　Eve　here。〃

〃Will　you？〃　she　asked　without　premeditation。　He　pulled　her　close；　into

the　warmth　of　his　sheepskin　jacket。　〃Yes。〃

〃What　about　your　other　obligations？〃　Unpremeditated　also；　but　the　answer

mattered。

Mitch　was　a　minute　in　answering。　〃She　goes　to　bed　too　early　for　my

tastes；　certainly　too　early　to　make　it　to　midnight。　No；〃　he　grinned；

〃she　wouldn't　be　much　fun　on　New　Year's　Eve。　Besides；　she's　not　a　fan　of

Chablis。〃

Anne　didn't　know　what　to　say　to　that；　but　his　good　humor　was　infectious。

She　relaxed　in　his　arms　and　rested　her　hands　on　his　chest。

〃How　about　it？〃　he　coaxed　softly。　〃New　Year's　Eve　here？〃

〃I　don't　know；　Mitch。　This　thing　is　so　bizarre。〃

〃Are　you　afraid？〃　His　hands　drew　light　circles　on　her　back。

〃A　little。〃

〃Of　me？〃

She　was　acutely　aware　of　the　swell　of　his　broad　chest　beneath　her　palms。

〃No