Page 19 of Unexpected Union

“Feeling better?” she asked, tilting herhead back to see him.

“The dizziness has passed. Ready to headback?”

“Maybe I will use that help,” she said,wondering if she should scoot back from the edge of the dock beforeattempting to stand. The baby threw her balance off.

He reached down his good hand andeffortlessly pulled her to her feet. He didn’t release her, butstood close, crowding her, taking the air until Audra wondered howshe was going to move. And where. Stepping backward was out of thequestion. Stepping forward would put her right up againstMitch.

Her nerves began to hum. Her body yearnedfor his, for a fleeting touch of his hand, for a searing kiss thatwould ignite her passion and sweep her away. As it had been onceupon a time.

“I’ll be able to manage on my own again oneday,” she said, tugging gently on her hand, refusing to dwell onthe thoughts and memories that crowded her mind.

They walked slowly, finding the path, thendiscovering how dark it was beneath the branches. Twice Audrastumbled, Mitch caught her both times. After the second incident,he took her hand firmly in his.

“If we’re going too fast, we’ll slow down,”he said. “No taking chances with my son or daughter.”

Heart racing at his touch, Audra tried toconcentrate on walking. His concern was for the baby, not her. Butthe sensations that danced along her arm belied that belief. Itseemed the path had disappeared. Instead of paying attention to theuneven track, every inch of her was attuned to the man at herside.

His hand was firm and warm. His gripreassuring. His unique scent mingled with that of the trees and thelake. She wanted to imprint the memory on her mind to bring out inthe future. A stolen night.

All the more special for beingunexpected.

Audra was almost sorry when they reached thecottage. Reluctantly she released his hand to climb the threeshallow steps leading to the porch. The door was unlocked.Switching on the living-room lamps a moment later, she felt blindedafter the enclosing darkness.

She turned, surprised to find Mitch soclose. She smiled, hoping her nervousness wasn’t obvious. Her heartseemed caught in her throat, racing out of control.

“I thought I’d take a long walk in themorning. Do you wish to go?”

If he could make a gesture, so couldshe.

“Or will that be when you work?” she askedquickly, hoping her voice sounded normal. She refused to bedisappointed if he said no.

“I’ll catch up tonight, so tomorrow morningshould be free.”

Walking up the stairs seconds later, Audrahad the feeling he’d already forgotten her presence. Totallyfocused on his laptop, Mitch didn’t seem to know anyone or anythingelse existed.

Don’t expect anything to change, she warnedherself as she closed her bedroom door. As someone to take anoccasional ramble with, Mitch might be fine. Any hope for more wasstrictly forbidden.

Unconsciously she raised her hand to hercheek, rubbing it absently against her skin. She could smell him onher palm. The awakening sensations in her body did not proveconducive for quickly falling asleep. But that’s what she plannedto do. No more thoughts of Mitch or what might have been.

Time enough in the morning to see if hemeant what he’d said. Not that she cared. She refused to letherself fall into that trap a second time. The two of them weresharing a cottage for a few short weeks and once the time was over,they’d go their separate ways.

The next morning when Audra descended thestairs, she was surprised to see Mitch up and dressed and alreadyhip deep in paper. He wrote on a yellow pad, sheets of paper on thesofa beside him, a stack on the coffee table and a few more pieceson the floor.

“Goodmorning,” she called softly.

Heglanced up and nodded,returning immediately to his notes.

Somuch forexpecting companionship on her vacation, she thought wryly as sheprepared pancakes for breakfast.

Sittingin solitary splendor a few minutes later, she began to eat,savoring each mouthful.As the minutes ticked by, she wondered if Mitch had already eaten.Or if skipping meals was the norm for him.

Shades oftheir past.

Only this timeshe refused to get upset.

“Not good foreither of us,” she murmured, patting her stomach.

Insteadof fretting that the manwas so caught up in business he ignored his own need for food, sheplanned her day. If Mitch still wished to accompany her, fine. Ifnot, she’d still go on her ramble—maybe try to walk around thelake.

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