Page 38 of Unexpected Union

“I canget up early. The boats are at the dock for our use, so we don’t have to worryabout reserving one. But I don’t know about fishingpoles.”

She’d be ascasual about the situation as he was.

“Thereare some in the closet. I saw them a couple of days ago. Withflies. Unless you want to go the old-fashioned way and dig for worms.”

“Yuck, nothanks. I’ll stick with the fake lures.”

Mitch laughed,his eyes never leaving hers. Audra felt a thrill, wondering if hecould be falling for her all over again. Or was that mere wishfulthinking?

“Wheredid you goon your walk today?” he asked as the silence stretchedout.

“I went to thelodge for breakfast and then walked back. Completed the circlearound the lake. And this side is much easier!”

Hefrowned. “Isn’t that a bit far to walk? You’ve beendoing a lot of walkingthe last few days. Why don’t you slow down and take iteasy?”

“And do what,watch you talk on the phone?”

Henodded to the phone, still in her hand. “I guess I won’t be doingmuch of that anymore. There’s ice cream in the freezer, wantsome?”

“Only ifit’schocolate!”

As theyheaded inside, Audra wondered what game Mitch was playing. Shedidn’t for an instant believe he’d leave his phone in herpossession. But for the moment, she felt a heady pleasure inthinking she’d cut off one line ofcommunication. Cut one tie to work. It was astart.

ChapterTwelve

Afterdinner that evening they sat on the porch and watched as the sunsank behind the hills. The night was quiet and still. Lights shonethrough the trees from other cottages. Replete and content, Audra watched as the skydarkened and the first stars appeared.

Mitch rose andwalked to the edge of the porch. “I feel I ought to be doingsomething.”

“You are,you’re resting. Sit down and relax.”

“Easyfor you to say. You did a lot today with that walk, you’re probably tired.”

“Notespecially—I’m just comfy. You worked so you should be tired, too.Sit down. It’ll be full dark soon. We can already see some of thestars.”

He glanced upbriefly, then turned around. “We could go for a walk.”

“Wecould sithere, quietly, and talk,” she countered swiftly. “Honestly, it’s nowonder you were exhausted when you crashed, you don’t cut yourselfany slack. There is nothing pressing to be done, nowhere you haveto be, so try to sit and do nothing.”

Heranhis fingers throughhis hair and walked over, dropping down into the chair.

Audra wouldlike to run her fingers through his hair and mess it up somemore.

“What do youwant to talk about? Why is it women always want to talk?” hegrumbled.

“Why isit men don’t?”

“It’s awaste of time.”

“How so?”

She tried tosee him in the growing darkness, but he was merely asilhouette.

“They alwayswant to talk about feelings. A person feels as he feels, talkingabout it doesn’t change anything.”

“Sometimes it can explain things, open the door for communications.”

He rose againand walked to the stairs turning to look at her.

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