Page 61 of Unexpected Union

And hestill had to tell herhewas leaving in two days.

ChapterEighteen

Audrahad mixed emotions when Mitch told her about accepting theCarmichaels’sinvitationto dinner. She was glad not to have to prepare dinner but sheresented the fact she’d have to share Mitch. She would havepreferred to keep him all to herself.

Such aselfish wish, she thought as she brushed her short hair and put ona trace ofmakeup.Wearing a sundress, and taking a sweater for when the evening grewcool, she descended the stairs. Mitch stood at the doorway, gazingout toward the lake. He leaned slightly on the cane.

Surprised, Audra realized she expected him to be on thesofareading one of thebriefs or jotting notes. Had he spent the entire day doing nothingabout work?

Or hadhe handled those tasks while shenapped?

He heardherand spun around,watching her descend the final steps. She felt self-conscious andvery aware of how sexy Mitch looked. He’d picked up a tan sincehe’d arrived and the tight look around his eyes was gone. His hairwas a bit longer than he usually wore it, but it only added to hisrugged good looks.

Exceptfor the cast, and the cane, he looked fit and strong and ready to slaydragons.

Only thedragons in their lives, she thought sadly, were the ones they’ddevised.

“Let’snot stay late,” Mitchsaid.

Surprised, shenodded, her mood lightening. Did he want to spend time with herlike she wanted to be with him?

“That’s fine.Though we can’t just eat and run.”

He raised aneyebrow.

“Sure we can.I’ll develop a dizzy spell.”

“Thatwon’t work,” she saidalmost laughing at his teasing tone. “You’d just have to lie downthere until it passed and that could be hours.”

“Then you getvery sleepy and demand to go home to bed.”

Shelooked away wishing fervently that going home to bed meant sharingone with Mitch again.She missed his presence in the night. Missed the closeness they’dhad in the first few months of their marriage.

As theywalked the short distance to the Carmichaels’s cottage, Audra beganto wonder if she should have put more effort into getting him to slow down. Taking thecell phone had worked. Mitch had yet to ask for it back.

And hehadn’t stopped at theguest office either yesterday or today.

Struckby his odd behavior, Audra didn’t have any time to explore theramifications. The elderly couple greeted them and in only moments they weresitting beneath the trees, the delicious aroma of barbecue porkfilling the air.

Duringthe evening Audra noticed Mitch’s gaze on her frequently. Sheraised her eyebrows once in silent question, buthe just shook his head and lookedaway.

It wasafter ten when they returned to their own cottage. Audra hadenjoyed herself andsuspected Mitch had as well. For her it seemed to prove he wascapable of avoiding reference of work. What would he be like if hekept more regular hours and developed other interests? Such as arenewed interest in her and in their baby.

“They’re nice,aren’t they?” she asked as he switched on the lamps.

“Yes. Theyseem to have a lot in common, wouldn’t you say?”

“Iguess. I lovedhearingthem talk about their family traditions. I want that. Theexpectation, the anticipation, the contentment in doing some thingson a regular basis. I expect to establish a lot with thebaby.”

“Do youthink we have anything in common, Audra?” heasked.

Shehesitated, leaningagainst the banister.

“Wedidn’t make enough effort, did we, Mitch?” she askedwistfully. “We both had ourcareers already started when we married and both tried to keep onthe same way we’d been before. By the time I realized I wantedsomething different, it was too late.”

She satdown on the third step and rested her elbows on herlegs, her chin in her hand. “Ithink we should have met the Carmichaels long ago or someone likethem. Someone to give us some suggestions.” She was pensive for amoment. “As to something in common, we liked fishingtogether.”

He shrugged,his gaze steady.

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