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He turned up the heater and Maryanne arets too hot for you"

"Thanks, I’m fine"

"Hot" seemed to describe their relationship Froot herself into scalding water with Nolan, water that ca point each time a new colunite sparks off each other The radio show had proved thatof "hot"--one she refused to think about

Nevertheless, Maryanne was grateful for the opportunity to bridge their differences, because, despite everything, she genuinely adh until Nolan pulled into the crescent-shaped driveway of The Seattle, the luxury apartment complex where she lived

Max, the door into a snized her When Nolan climbed out of the driver’s side, Maryanne watched as Max’s sh he wasn’t certain Nolan was appropriate co lady

"Max, this is Mr Adams from the Seattle Sun"

"Nolan Adams?" Max’s expression altered immediately "You don’t look like your picture I read your work faithfully, Mr Adaave ol’ Larson hell last month Fron froiven Maryanne hell, too, but she refrained fro it She doubted Max had ever read her work or was even aware that Nolan had been referring to her in some of his columns

"Would you see to Mr Adaht away, Ms Si his hands in his pockets, Nolan and Maryanne walked into the extravagantly decorated foyer with its huge crystal chandelier and bubbling fountain "My apart the elevator button

"Not the penthouse suite?" he teased

Maryanne smiled weakly in response While they rode upward, she concentrated on taking her keys froing against her ribs Now that Nolan was practically at her door, she wondered how she’d let this happen After the things he’d called her, the least of which were Ms High Society, Miss Debutante and Daddy’s Darling, she felt more than a little vulnerable in his coe your hts

"No, of course not," she lied

She noticed--but sincerely hoped Nolan didn’t--that her hand was shaking when she inserted the key

She turned on the light as she walked into the spacious apartht of the modern white leather-and chrome-furniture There was even a fireplace

"Nice place you’ve got here," he said, glancing around

She thought she detected sarcasm in his voice, then decided it hat she could expect froet used to it

"I’ll take your raincoat," she said Considering the fondness hich he wore the thing, he ht well choose to eat in it, too

To Maryanne’s surprise, he handed it to her, then walked over to the fireplace and lifted a family photo from the mantel The picture had been taken several su off Martha’s Vineyard Maryanne was facing into the wind and laughing at the antics of her younger brothers It certainly wasn’t her asping for air after being underwater too long The wind had caught her red hair, its color even ainst the backdrop of white sails

"The two young men are my brothers My mom and dad are at the helm"

Nolan stared at the picture for several seconds and then back at her "So you’re the only redhead"

"How kind of you to mention it"

"Hey, you’re in luck I happen to like redheads" He said this with such a lazy smile that Maryanne couldn’t possibly be offended

"I’ll check the stew," she said, after hanging up their coats She hurried into the kitchen and lifted the lid of the pot The pungent aroetables and basil filled the apart ? About what?"

"The Irish stew"

"No I put it on this ot one of those all-day cookers" After living on her own for the past couple of years, Maryanne had become a competent cook When she’d rented her first apartment in New York, she used to stop off at a deli on her way home, but that had soon become monotonous Over the course of several months, she’d discovered some excellent recipes for si to publish a cookbook written by her, but she did ht the steas an excuse not to have dinner with me," Nolan remarked conversationally "I didn’t knohat to expect You’rehis coerator and expertly reave Nolan his and carried the bottle into the living roo down on one end of the white leather sofa, she slipped off her shoes and tucked her feet beneath her

Nolan sat at the other end, resting his ankle on his knee,himself at home "Dare I propose a toast?" he asked

"Please"

"To Seattle," he said, hishers "May she forever relass with his