第37部分(第2/9 頁)

　〃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　her