Page 28 of Unexpected Union

“And we’llwant an early start,” he said, rising.

Holding hishand for her, he clasped hers when she offered it and pulled hergently to her feet.

Only hedidn’t let go. Audra felt tongue-tied. She tried to see his expression, but it was toodark.

“Good night,”she said softly, wondering if that would release her from thespell.

“Good night,Audra.”

Hedidn’t move. Didn’t release her. But his head seemed to be comingcloser. Was he planning to kiss her?

Herheart skipped a beat andbegan a frantic beat. Panic flared. She hadn’t been kissed inmonths except for his angry kiss that first day. Was she ready forthis?

Sidesteppingto her left, she tugged her hand free.

“I’llmake a picnic lunch tomorrow. But be warned, I’m leaving right at nine.”

“I’ll beready.”

Was there athread of amusement in his tone? Audra didn’t stop to analyze it,she opened the door and practically ran up the stairs.

ChapterNine

By thenext morning she’d put the evening inperspective. Mitch was sharing her cabin. And hehad agreed to go on a hike today. That was all.

The thought of his kissing her had been afigment of her imagination. She’d ignore her flight of fancy andconcentrate on why she’d come to the resort—to figure out what thenext step should be. While they were both here, she should bring upthe matter of a divorce. They could discuss it like rationaladults.

But the thought of actually having aconversation that would end her marriage for all time almost madeher sick. She’d wanted so much from their marriage and hated thefact nothing had turned out the way she’d dreamed. Stalling didn’tchange things, but it gave her some kind of hope. Foolish that itmight prove to be.

Maybe one day she’d meet another man to fallin love with, but she couldn’t imagine it right now.

How would she ever forget Mitch?

He was not in the living room when she wentdownstairs. She saw no sign of him and wished she’d noticed if hisbedroom door was shut. Was it possible he hadn’t awakened yet?

She prepared coffee and herbal tea thenbegan making French toast. It was quick and easy to prepare. To hersurprise, the back door opened just as she placed the firstegg-drenched piece of bread in the pan.

“Good morning,” Mitch said, closing the doorbehind him. He carried his computer in his left hand.

“Hi, you’re up and out early.”

She turned her attention to the cookingbread, trying to ignore how her heart had leaped when he walked in.Her hand shook a bit and she pressed her lips together tightly. Shewasnotgetting any ideas about their relationship.

“I jotted some notes after you went to bedlast night and then wanted to send them to my secretary so she canget working on it today.”

“You’ve been to the lodge already?”

He nodded. “Clearing the decks, so to speak.I’m ready for that hike now.”

“Good.”

The glow of happiness that spread was not tobe ignored, though Audra tried. She felt like a kid in a candyshop—she’d have Mitch to herself for hours.

He placed the computer on the table andwalked over to stand beside her. Too close. Audra wanted to saysomething, but remained silent, trying to concentrate on the breadbrowning in the pan and not notice how her entire body seemed to beattuned to his.

She longed to turn around and talk to him,find out every drop of information she could about what he’d beendoing over the last six months. Find out more about the accident.Get him to talk so she could listen to his voice. She’d missed himso much.

“Audra.”

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