Page 30 of Unexpected Union

“Breakfast is ready.”

He spun around. She stood in the doorway, awary expression around her eyes.

He tried to smile. How did a man go aboutlooking harmless? Especially when just the sight of her had himthinking things she’d be shocked to know. Like how he wanted tobrush his fingers through her short hair and kiss her again. How helonged to nibble the slender column of her neck. Or how his palmsitched to feel the weight of her breasts, the roundness of herstomach.

“Then let’s eat.” He’d put all thosethoughts firmly away—at least until he was alone and could givefull rein to the fantasy of the two of them together.

It was after nine when they left thecottage. Taking the narrow trail leading from behind the cabin,they were soon enclosed in a world of green. The trees met overheadseveral times, shading the trail completely. Small patches of weedsgrew along the cleared path. Birds trilled in the branches,sunlight dappled the path and the air was hushed and still cool. Inspots the path was narrow and they went single file. When theystepped into a meadow they walked side by side.

Audra gazedaround eagerly.

“Isn’t itlovely?” she said. “If it were later, we could have our picnichere.”

Mitchstopped her, his hand onher shoulder. “Look,” he said softly, pointing to the far side.Three deer grazed.

“Oh.”

Shedidn’t move, studying the scene with delight. Closing her eyes, shetried to imprint everything on her mind so she’d never forget. Theweight of Mitch’s hand,the warmth of the sun, the scent of the air and the tranquillity ofthe meadow.

Opening hereyes she smiled. “They’re so sweet.”

“Um,” he said.“Ready to go?”

“Don’t youwant to watch them?”

“We sawthem, maybe we’ll see something else.”

With a lingeringlook at the deer, Audra nodded and began walking again. Theirmovement startled the deer and in less than a second they’ddisappeared into the trees. The rustle of underbrush the only soundof their passing.

“Youmust be paying more attention than I am,” Audra commented as they ambled across themeadow. “I wouldn’t have seen them if you hadn’t pointed themout.”

“Comesfrom paying close attention to juries. I want to make sure they’reon my wavelength when arguing a case. It also helpsthat when Thomas and Iwere younger, we spent a lot of time outdoors, playing pirates orcowboys and Indians.”

“I can’timagine you doing that. Thomas, maybe, but not you.”

“And why not?I was a great pirate.”

Audralaughed.

Mitchstopped and swung her around, capturing her in his arms.

“I alwaysfound the treasure. But that was kids’ stuff. Now I’m older and Iknow what pirates really wanted.”

Pressedagainst him from thigh to breast, Audra knew what pirates wanted,too. The same thing she wanted.

Astonished ather thoughts, she pushed back. She’d shock him if he ever suspectedwhere her imagination was leading. She was certainly not in theproper shape to be attractive. Already feeling like a pumpkin, sheknew she’d only get worse during the final weeks.

“Dazzling damselswho would lure them away from their pirate ships?” she asked,catching her breath.

Laughterdanced in Mitch’s eyes. For the first time since she could rememberhe looked completely relaxed. The hike had been perfect forlooseninghim up andhelping him unwind.

“You’redazzling,” he said, reaching to clasp her hand in his and startingto walk again.

“Hardly.”

But her heartskipped another beat.

By thetime they stopped, they’d crested a small knoll and discovered agreat view of the lake.Audra was breathing hard yet felt exhilarated. She was no moretired than normal and, except for the last stretch, which had beenfairly steep and rock strewn, the hike had been easy.

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