Page 14 of Unexpected Union

“Neither do I. Once burned, twice shy,”Audra said.

It obviously worked for others, but nother.

“Then we agree on one thing.”

“Absolutely. If they’re harboring anydelusions we’re a happy couple, I’ll make sure they understandyou’re practically a stranger who crashed my vacation and aresharing the house with me because you stubbornly won’t goelsewhere. Maybe you should try for a room in the lodge now thatyou know you’ll have to go there to use a printer. We wouldn’t wantto slow down your ability to get more work done each day.”

Mitch’s gaze narrowed. Was her temper goingto flare again? He almost wished it would. Her eyes sparkled, colorrose in her cheeks. And the passion that emanated from her whenshe’d practically yelled earlier had been startling–and veryinteresting.

She’d been cool and distant when telling himshe was leaving all those months ago. Now, he was seeing a side hedidn’t recognize, except in bed. She’d never held back there.

For a moment he almost groaned. He couldn’twant her—not now. Not after what she’d done.

Yet, his body didn’t seem to recognize therestrictions. He wanted to capture that passion, feel the heat ofher against him and recapture the ecstasy they’d always foundtogether. That, at least, had never changed.

“I won’t interfere with whatever you hadplanned. I think I’ll plan to visit the lodge at a certain timeeach day,” he said, hoping she didn’t read minds.

He’d focus on his need to work. Get Audraout of his system once and for all.

She shook her head and stomped by him,opening the door to the cabin. “Do whatever you want, you willanyway.”

Before she could slam the door behind her,Mitch followed her, catching it with his shoulder. He had enoughmaterial sent from work to keep him busy until morning. Butsomething wouldn’t let him give this up.

“What is it that bothers you so much aboutmy working?” he asked, following her into the kitchen. “I’m tryingto build a reputation, to get ahead. I’d think a wife would want tosupport a husband’s efforts toward that end.”

“I’ll tell you–again.” She spun around. “Youwere already a success when we met. I don’t see how poring overreports at all hours of the day or night and talking for hours tocops and other attorneys gets you ahead. The more you do, the moreyour boss piles on. You don’t know when to cut back. You’ll pushyourself until you end up killing yourself. That’s what you almostdid, right? Too tired to stay awake to drive home? No wonder yourdoctor ordered rest. But you’re too consumed to stop. Too arrogantto listen to him. Too stubborn to slow down when you were luckyenough to get a second chance.”

“Do you resent me for that?”

“Yes, for all the time I wanted to be withmy husband and he wasn’t there. For all the nights I wanted someoneto talk to–and you weren’t there. And I resent the fact you’ve putme in the position of having to ask for a divorce.”

With that, Audra burst into tears.

Nonplused, Mitch stared at her. In all thetime he’d known her, he’d never seen her cry.

For a moment he almost panicked. He didn’tknow how to handle a woman in tears. The people he usually dealtwith were far beyond the concept of tears. Lowering his laptop tothe floor, he took a step forward.

Audra buried her face in her hands, but heheard her sobs, saw her whole body shake with the force of thetears.

Awkwardly, feeling as unsure of himself as ayoung boy, he encircled her shoulders, trying to keep from whackingher with his cast. He pulled her into his embrace and felt her sagagainst him, her body shaking, tears soon dampening his chest.

“Don’t cry.”

He wasn’t sure she’d heard him. Nothingchanged. Could he order her to stop crying?

Somehow he felt that wouldn’t do any good.He wished Thomas was here. Maybe he’d know, though maybe not. Tessaseemed sublimely happy with his brother. Maybe she never cried.

Teresa, his secretary, would probably knowwhat to do. Didn’t she have three daughters?

“Don’t cry, Audra,” he said again, feelingtotally helpless. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

At one time he’d wanted to give her themoon. Give her everything she could ever desire so she wouldn’tleave as his mother had.

But he’d blown it.

And, like his mother, she’d left.

Her hand crept against his shirt, bunchingit. The tears continued.

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