Page 44 of Unexpected Union

“I wishwe’d caught enough to invite the others over,” she said to takehermind off herthoughts.

“Maybetomorrow.”

“Maybe not. Idon’t want to get up at the crack of dawn two days in arow.”

“Then we cango hiking tomorrow up to the meadow and explore those caves.”

“Soundslike a great plan. You’ll love them. You can recaptureyour childhood. I’llplay Thomas’s part as a pirate.”

Mitchdropped his arm acrossher shoulders. “Somehow it won’t be the same thing. Not that I’mcomplaining, understand.”

“I’ll make agreat pirate.”

“I thinkyou’d make a better captive. The beautiful lady captured for a ransom.”

“Whowould ransomme?”

“Ah, butif I don’t get theransom, I get to have my wicked way with you.”

He twirled animaginary mustache.

Audralaughed, though her heart pounded at the thought of Mitch havinghis way with her. Of his mouth against hers, his hard body merged withhers.

Shecould hardly speak asthe vision danced before her eyes, of her in Mitch’s embrace. Ofhis mouth pressed against hers, of his hands roaming like a pirateover every inch of her. Inflaming her, captivating her, enchantingher.

Thoughtsof sleeping fled.Fatigue vanished. Suddenly her blood was rushing through her, herskin tingled in awareness and excitement.

It wasmadness. Not midsummer’s madness, but vacation insanity all thesame. They had tried onceand it hadn’t worked. His hopes were vastly different fromhers, his goals and dreams diametrically opposed tohers.

Only thetenuous strand of physical compatibility had held them together.She would be foolish to think anything had changed.

Whenthey reached thecottage, Mitch went straight to the kitchen, cleaning the fish,wrapping them and stowing them in the refrigerator. Audra watchedfor a while, but the smell began to make her feel sick. She wishedhe’d say something or do something to show he was as aware of heras she was of him.

Somuchfor mutualfeelings, she thought as she trekked up the steps to take her dailynap. Pulling over a light cover, she turned on her side, tried toget comfortable, to relax. Tried to talk some sense intoherself.

But she wasdisappointed he so easily ignored the fun morning they’d shared.Truly there was no hope for workaholics like Mitch. No matter what,work came first. She’d learned that once, why couldn’t she holdthat thought?

Audraslept fitfully, waking late in the afternoon, not feeling refreshed. Alone in thecottage, she took her time in a warm shower, washing her hair. Ittook only minutes for the short style to dry, and she spent thetime on the porch, enjoying the serenity of the lateafternoon.

Shebeganto wonder whenMitch would return. Then frowned when she realized what she wasdoing.

She wasself-sufficient. She didn’t need him to complete her vacation. Shehad books to read, magazines to glance through and some seriousthinking to do.

But,instead,she remained onthe porch, watching the road, listening for the sound of a Jeep,daydreaming the afternoon away.

Checkingher watch some time later, she realized it would soon be seven andshe was getting hungry. She’d spent too many nights in the pastwaiting in vain forMitch to return home at a reasonable hour.

Grilling thefish fillets, she prepared a salad and corn bread. When dinner wasready, she set the table and sat alone while she ate. The view fromthe window was delightful, the sun still a fiery ball in the sky,sinking behind the tall trees.

Theprick of loneliness wasto be expected, she comforted herself. She’d spent a lot of timewith Mitch over the past few days, now alone once more she missedhim. But just as a companion, someone to talk with during dinner,she assured herself.

Whydid she feellike she was lying?

Covering hisplate, she put it away. He could warm it up when he returned—if hehadn’t already eaten at the lodge.

Mitchopened the door and braced himself forrecriminations and complaints.

The living room was empty. Two lampsprovided soft illumination. There was a lingering hint of cookedfish in the air. His mouth watered. Walking to the kitchen, hepushed open the door. It was dark and empty.

---