Chapter Two

As the endless moments passed, he considered her question—what would he have done? Insisted she move back into their apartment? Learned everything he could about babies in the months he had until it arrived? Readjusted his thinking to accept the 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 from the room, her knees feeling as shaky as a wet noodle. She couldn’t think straight. His kiss had been angry, but it hadn’t mattered. For one glorious moment, she’d been immersed in the delight of his embrace—which she’d thought she’d never experience again. She certainly had never envisioned a kiss under these circumstances.

Why had things gone so wrong between them?

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

Seeing him had been a shock. The feelings that had initially flared gave way to guilt when he appeared so stunned at the discovery.

And hurt?

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

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

All the excuses in the world wouldn’t justify her keeping the news a secret. She took a deep breath. She had to make things better—or as better as she could given the situation.

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

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

“Mitch?” she said pushing open the screen door.

He turned slowly, studied her, giving nothing away in his expression.

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

He held up his cast.

“I needed a place to recuperate. Thomas insisted I use the cabin. They’d already paid the deposit when their plans changed.” He shrugged. “It was easier to come than argue with him.”

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

Her eyes darkened. She hesitated for a long moment, then reluctantly said, “I knew about the accident. Tessa assured 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 good driver.”

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

He looked surprised, then swayed, reaching out to grasp the porch column again.

“Are you all right?” she asked, taking a step forward.

“I received a concussion in the wreck and still get dizzy spells. According to the doctor, they’ll stop one of these days.”

“Why don’t you sit down? Want a cup of tea?”

She reached out to him as if to place her hand on his arm. His look had her dropping her arm and stepping back. Nothing could be clearer—he didn’t need her or want her. Hadn’t she learned that when they were together?

Mitch walked carefully to the nearest chair.

She hovered nearby, wishing she still had the right to fuss over him.

The accident had scared her. Before that she’d never imagined a world without Mitch in it—even if they had separated. She wished she could tell him that. But the words didn’t come. Just a weary acceptance of the way things had gone and the fact there was nothing to do to change the past.

Mitch leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. The dizziness was starting to fade but he didn’t want to watch Audra. He shouldn’t have reacted so strongly to discovering she was pregnant.

And he for sure should not have kissed her.

“I apologize, Mitch. I should have told you about the baby as soon as I found out,” she said stiffly.

The anger simmered. He slitted his eyes, seeing her lean against the porch column, gazing sadly out toward the lake. She still moved with such grace despite her pregnancy. He’d always liked watching her. She was so very feminine.

Not for the first time he began to wonder what his life would have been like had his mother not deserted her family. Or if his father had remarried a loving, giving woman, instead of growing into the bitter, withdrawn man he’d become.

Maybe then he would have known how to hold on to his wife, how to stay married.

Closing his eyes again, he reminded himself he’d made it thirty-four years without a woman in his life, he could manage the next thirty-four. The months he and Audra had been married didn’t count.

Though, he corrected himself, technically, they were still married.

And now had a baby on the way.

“Did you think I’d make a lousy father, is that why you didn’t tell me about the baby?” he asked when the silence stretched out.

“No, not a lousy father, merely an absent one. When would you see the baby?” She shrugged. “I guess I didn’t think your knowing would have changed anything—especially your working hours.”

He motioned to the chair opposite. “Sit down. We have a situation to deal with.”

She sat gingerly on the edge of a chair.

“I don’t expect anything from you,” she said quickly.

“It’s my baby, too, right?”

Nodding her head emphatically, Audra looked far calmer than he felt.

“Do you need anything?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Last month I moved into a two-bedroom apartment, fixed up the second bedroom for the baby. We’ll be fine.”

He didn’t like her answer. But what could he say? She’d made her feelings clear when she’d left.

“And about the cottage–”

She watched him warily. “There might be another cottage available you could use,” she offered.

“Or one you could use.”

“I’m not moving, I’m all unpacked.”

“So am I.”

He must have by chance taken the available bedroom. Had he seen her clothes earlier would he still be so surprised to see her?

Impasse.

Out of nowhere, Mitch raised his left hand to his forehead shakily and tried to look injured. “I’m recovering from a serious automobile crash.”

Audra burst out laughing.

“I don’t believe it. Surely you’re not trying to play on my sympathies?” she asked. “That doesn’t sound like you at all.”

At least not the man she’d married echoed in the silence.

“Not working, huh?”

He frowned, he couldn’t imagine what had led to that pathetic attempt at humor.

“Not a chance. You’ll do a lot to get your own way, but I’m not leaving. You’ll have to find other accommodations.”

The light discussion was a relief after the intensity of his emotions. It would take a while to adjust to the coming change in his life. Seeing her balanced on the edge of the chair reminded him how he’d missed her when she first left. How empty the apartment had seemed. How long the nights.

“I’m sure there’s some legal precedence for my staying,” he said slowly, feeling the anger gradually dissipate. He had a lot to think about, but first, he wanted to get their lodging settled.

“If there were, I’m sure you’d find it. We could draw straws,” she suggested, ignoring his feeble attempt to bluff.

“Or I could just stay.”

“I’m staying,” she retorted firmly.

She hadn’t moved an inch but for some reason Mitch felt as if she were digging in for the long haul. He knew she could be tenacious and stubborn. Hadn’t he seen her going toe to toe with the senior members of her firm when she felt strongly about something?

And watched her win her point.

And hadn’t she walked out exactly as she’d threatened when he hadn’t changed his lifestyle to suit her?

For a long moment they stared at each other. Mitch wasn’t a top-notch assistant district attorney for nothing. He had years of experience in negotiation, in cutting deals with criminals to appear to cooperate while getting them—and others of their like—off the streets.

He’d call her bluff.

“All right, we both stay.”

Audra blinked. “Both?” It was almost a squeak.

“I could say, all three. Or you can leave.”

The gauntlet was thrown. Mitch was curious to find out what she’d do now.

Leaning back in her chair, Audra stared at the man. Was he out of his mind? A husband and wife who had separated didn’t share a house together. Audra had come to the resort to make plans for the future and enjoy the serenity of the place.

She didn’t want to have Mitch around while she made that tough decision–whether to ask for a divorce or not.

She had never been able to ignore him. There was too much energy surrounding the man, too much sex appeal.

She frowned and dropped her gaze. She had no business feeling anything. Their marriage had ended six months ago. She was doing fine on her own. And soon she’d have her precious baby. She had to get things settled in her life so she’d be ready to focus on her baby when he or she arrived.

“I was planning to stay the three weeks Thomas and Tessa booked,” she said slowly.

Maybe he’d stay a day or two and grow bored—that was too long a time for him to stay away from work.

For a moment the old bitterness rose. Work would soon claim his total attention—she knew that firsthand.

“I’m under strict orders to stay away from work for three full weeks,” he said wryly.

She looked up at that–meeting his gaze again. The fluttering in her heart surprised her.

“Whose orders?”

She couldn’t imagine Mitch taking orders from anyone. He was too self-assured, self-confident. Sometimes she had thought him too arrogant. She’d loved teasing him about that.

“My doctor,” he replied.

“Oh. To recover fully from the accident?”

He looked away, his expression impassive. “Among other things. So do we agree to stay or fight it out now?”

She looked away sadly. That’s what they’d come to? Fighting? She remembered their whirlwind courtship. She’d felt so cherished, so desired.

“I suppose we could share the place. I mean, if we were staying in the main lodge, we might have ended up with adjacent rooms. So this wouldn’t be much different.”

Even as she said the words, she scrambled around for another idea. Nothing came to mind. Could they really share?

She felt at a loss. If they agreed to share a cabin, what else would he expect? To spend time together? Share their vacations?

She’d been looking forward to the solitude. So how could she decide whether to take that next step in severing their marriage with her own emotions muddled by Mitch’s presence?

He still had the ability to start her heart racing and she didn’t know how she was going to keep a cool head if faced with him every day.

Would he try to kiss her again?

Heat flared through her at the memory of that kiss. She couldn’t allow that, that would truly muddy the waters.

“Do we have a deal?” he asked.

“I guess.”

Should she bring up the kiss? No, that would attach more importance than it deserved. If staying got to be too much, she could always cut short her trip and return home.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad with them both on neutral territory, so to speak.

“Fine. I have to call the office. I’ll see you later.”

She watched as he rose and entered through the front door. Had she thought being here would make a difference? Nothing had changed. She should be more surprised he’d lasted this long without being in touch with his precious office. Obviously he viewed his doctor’s orders to rest meaning a change of venue, not complete abstinence from work.

A few moments later she heard the murmur of his voice. The whole purpose of coming was to escape the normal routines of life. To relax and recharge.

But not for Mitch. He still had that restless energy, that same inability to stay away from work. It had been that obsession that had ended their marriage.

And made her wary about trusting her heart to another man again.

His inability to reach a balance between their marriage and work had been the cause of her leaving. Even now, she searched for ways she could have changed things. No solution had ever appeared.

The cold, hard, unpalatable fact was Mitch preferred fighting with the criminal element to spending time with his wife.

And learning they were having a baby obviously hadn’t changed that.