Page 37 of Unexpected Union

“And howam I supposed to know how long you planned to be on the phone?Usually all day, fromwhat I can tell.”

His hands on herarms warmed her. His scent filled her. She longed to lean just abit closer and bury her nose against his chest, relish being thisclose to him.

“I thought wewere going to spend time together, do things together.”

“Yesterday showedme how unrealistic that is.”

“Didn’t youenjoy the hike?”

“Sure, but Iwasn’t ready to call it a day when you were.”

“There—”

She heldup her hand. “I do not want to hear about it. If you left that joband went elsewhere, would the city of Boston come to a screeching halt?”

“I’m notleaving to go anywhere else.”

“Answer thequestion, counselor.”

“No, of coursenot.”

“Then Isuspect it won’t come to a screeching halt if you take a few daysoff.”

DaringlyAudra reached out and took the phone from his pocket. “Starting now, no more phonecalls.”

Slowly he drewher closer, until she could feel the warmth from his body, hisbreath brush across her cheeks.

“If Idon’t have work, I’ll need to occupy my time some how,” he saidslowly, his other hand capturing the back of her head. “Are you offering to helpfill the time?”

Audrastared into his teasing eyes, her breath hitching, her heartracing. The rest of the world seemed to fade away. There were justthe two of them and the pounding excitement thatstirred between them.

“You can putyourself completely in my hands.”

She’d meant itto be a joke, but her voice came out sultry, sexy. Good grief, wasshe flirting with him?

“Now that’sthe best offer I’ve heard in a while.”

He kissedher.

Rightout on the front porchwhere anyone walking by could see!

Kissed her asif they were lovers, deep and sexy and consuming.

And long—as ifhe had all the time in the world and planned to spend every minuteof it with her.

Audracould scarcely think she could only melt against him and rejoice in the desire thatseemed to expand as his mouth again taught hers what pleasuremeant.

When she wasfree, she couldn’t move. Her gaze locked with his, seeing the heatin his eyes, the desire, the sheer wanting.

“Isuspect your idea of myputting myself in your hands and mine are a bit different,” hesaid, slowly, resting his forehead against hers.

She clearedher throat, wishing he’d stop talking and kiss her again.

“I thought wecould go fishing,” she said.

Mitchlaughed and releasedher. “I haven’t been fishing since I was a kid. The best time isearly in the morning. Are you up for that?”

So much forpassion, she thought wryly. He could turn it off so quickly. Did itmean nothing to him?

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