Page 5 of Unexpected Union

Sensations erupted unexpectedly. The kisswas wild and exciting—and as passionate as ever—despite the angerthat bubbled just below the surface. He hadn’t forgotten a thingabout the complex, confusing woman whom he’d married eighteenmonths ago. For a moment it was like coming home. She tasted thesame—sweet as honey. And the explosion of his senses wasfantastic—like they’d never been apart, as if the differences thatseparated were swept away—

Then the awkwardness of their embracepenetrated as he became aware of her protruding stomach. Shedefinitely didn’tfeellike the woman he’d married.

Raising his head, he gazed down into hershimmering eyes. She pulled back and crossed her arms over herchest again.

“If you didn’t have time for me when welived together, why would I think you’d make time for a baby?” sheasked bluntly.

“That wasn’t your decision to make. Youshould have told me,” he said.

Spinning around he strode from the room,slapping the swinging door out of the way in an effort to dissipatesome of the roiling emotions that still choked him. He didn’t stopuntil he was on the porch. He saw nothing of the beauty before him,not the trees, the lake nor the cloudless sky. The only reality inhis world was the fact he’d just learned his wife was eight monthspregnant. And he hadn’t known.

Chapter Two

As the endless moments passed, he consideredher question—what would he have done? Insisted she move back intotheir apartment? Learned everything he could about babies in themonths he had until it arrived? Readjusted his thinking to acceptthe fact he was soon to become a father?

He was going to be a father.

He knew nothing about the job.

Audra stood still, watching Mitch storm fromthe room, her knees feeling as shaky as a wet noodle. She couldn’tthink straight. His kiss had been angry, but it hadn’t mattered.For one glorious moment, she’d been immersed in the delight of hisembrace—which she’d thought she’d never experience again. Shecertainly had never envisioned a kiss under thesecircumstances.

Why had things gone so wrong betweenthem?

Turning as the teakettle whistled shrilly,she switched off the gas and stared at the kettle, unable tomove.

Seeing him had been a shock. The feelingsthat had initially flared gave way to guilt when he appeared sostunned at the discovery.

And hurt?

She should have told him months ago. Shouldhave let him share in the anticipation of the birth of their baby.Guilt swept through and built. He was right, she’d been wrong. Andshe didn’t like the feeling. But the time had never seemedright.

She’d wanted to shout with jubilation whenshe found out—but their marriage had already ended and she’d feltshe had enough to cope with.

All the excuses in the world wouldn’tjustify her keeping the news a secret. She took a deep breath. Shehad to make things better—or as better as she could given thesituation.

Slowly she walked into the living room.Where was he?

The front door stood open. She saw himstanding at the porch railing, staring off across the expanse ofthe clearing, toward the lake. She’d rather go to the dentist thanface this, but there was no choice. She didn’t know when she’d seehim again, best to get it done.

“Mitch?” she said pushing open the screendoor.

He turned slowly, studied her, givingnothing away in his expression.

“If you didn’t know I’d be here, why did youcome?”

He held up his cast.

“I needed a place to recuperate. Thomasinsisted I use the cabin. They’d already paid the deposit whentheir plans changed.” He shrugged. “It was easier to come thanargue with him.”

She blinked in surprise. She’d heard aboutthe accident, but not how much of a toll it had taken on Mitch. Hemust have been more seriously injured than Thomas and Tessa had leton for him not to argue. Mitch liked nothing better than to debateissues—sometimes taking an unpopular stance for the sheer joy ofthe discussion.

Her eyes darkened. She hesitated for a longmoment, then reluctantly said, “I knew about the accident. Tessaassured me you’d be all right. That’s true, isn’t it?”

“So they say,” he said succinctly.

“How did it happen? You’re such a gooddriver.”

She shivered, folding her arms across herchest. “Tessa called me immediately. Knowing how you felt about me,I didn’t come to the hospital.”

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