Page 43 of Unexpected Union

She’dbeen surprised afterthat first return to find him at the dock waiting for her. Herheart did that funny little flip and settled down to beating fasterthan normal. Or normal when away from Mitch. She was beginning tothink that rapid pace was her standard whenever in his proximity.Surely she should be over that reaction by now.

She offered tostay on the dock, but he insisted he didn’t want to fish alone.

Ofcourse, she’d done more than her fair share oftalking. He’d ask a question and she’dtalk for twenty minutes. No wonder he was so terrific as anattorney; getting witnesses to talk had to be a piece of cake forhim. She wondered if she could see him in action one day. Odd she’dnever found the time before. Maybe Tessa would know when he was incourt and she could slip into the back and listen tohim.

Not that shewanted to think that far ahead. Today was enough. They’d had agreat morning.

“I’mimpressed,” she said as he tied up the boat.

“With myboating skills?” heasked, handing up the rods, and the heavy creel after she clamberedonto the dock. He lightly jumped up beside her.

“Okay, that,too, but the fact you never mentioned your caseload a single timeall morning.”

“Ithought about it every timeyou ran up to the cabin,” he said, tapping her on the chinwith his finger. “And I’m going down to the main lodge while youtake your nap.”

“So muchfor thinking you were reformed,” she said in mock distress as theyturned and began walking to the cottage.

TheCarmichaels came down the path,stopping to greet them.

“We’re on ourway to do some fishing—hope you didn’t catch all the fish,” JohnCarmichael said.

“Ithought you had to get an early start for fishing,” Audra said,turning her suspicious gaze onMitch. “At least that’s what I was told.”

Johnlaughed. “That works,too, but we’re on vacation and didn’t want to get up early. Theymay not bite as much now, but being together is what we’re after,not necessarily fish.”

“Goodluck,” she said as the older couple continued toward the dock.

“They’renice, aren’t they?” she said watching them wistfully.

“Ithought we established that after dinner the other night. They arenice. They are in love. They have a happy marriage. And they mostlikely are the exceptionthat proves the rule,” Mitch said as they entered the shadyarea.

The coolnessfelt good after the warmth of the sun.

“Cynic.”

“Realist.”

“Thomas andTessa are in love and have a happy marriage.”

“Andit’s lasted two years so far. Is that some kind ofrecord?”

Sheheard the teasing in histone, but refused to rise to the bait. It hurt too much in light ofthe fact their marriage had not reached the two-year mark.Shrugging she changed the subject.

“So areyou going to clean these fish? Or at least showme how?”

“I’ll cleanthem.”

“I’dwatch, except I’m reallysleepy.”

“It’s all thisfresh air and sunshine.”

“Maybe.”

Or maybeit was because she had trouble falling asleep last night aftertheir discussion about the baby. She longed for the perfectfamilyand instead hadcome to the point of considering a divorce from herhusband.

Not that she’dthought about that in days.

She wasn’tthinking about staying married, was she?

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