Chapter Five

Audra banged the frying pan on the stove, amazed at herself. It was no longer any of her business how Mitch Wells lived his life. She’d severed the right to care when she’d packed her bags and left.

Shivering, she brushed her hand over the back of her hair, almost feeling Mitch’s touch. It wasn’t the first time she’d cried since leaving. But it was the first time in front of him. And Mitch had been kind.

That was the only reason she was still thinking about him. Not because of the feeling of being safe she’d experienced in his arms. Not for the rippling excitement that danced across her skin when he was near.

And not for the honest bewilderment he’d shown when she started crying. He truly could not understand her position.

She almost laughed. Great, from tears to laughter. Being pregnant certainly disrupted hormones.

As if on cue, the baby moved. Kicking or rolling over, Audra wasn’t sure which. She stopped and put her hands on her stomach. A surge of love and devotion centered on the precious life she carried. She’d wanted to start a family almost from the first. Yet she had held off talking about it with Mitch—always waiting for the right time. Odd how things worked out, she thought, wondering if he’d ever be happy about their baby.

If she’d known she was pregnant before she left, would she still have taken that step? Or would she have stayed and continued to try to change things?

Futile thinking.

As the meat browned, she tried to imagine the coming event, but her mind returned to Mitch. His body was hard and fit. His arms, even with the cast, had held her as if to shelter her from the dangers of the world. For a moment they seemed to connect. Or was it only wishful thinking?

The next week dragged slowly by. Audra stayed as far from Mitch as she could. Which wasn’t hard as he seemed to be avoiding her at all costs. Sharing the place hadn’t proved a hardship after all—unless one counted feeling like she was balancing on a rim, of never feeling comfortable or content, one false step from disaster.

She resented those feelings. She was supposed to be relaxing, instead she felt constantly on edge.

Mealtime was the worst. She quietly prepared her own meals, but it seemed Mitch often heard her. He’d step inside the kitchen and lean against the counter, watching her until she’d finally offered to add enough for two.

Twice he went to the lodge to connect with his secretary and stayed to eat dinner there.

Tonight, he’d come in as she began to cook stir-fry and hung around until she asked if he wanted some. They ate on the porch enjoying the coolness as the temperature dropped.

“With no television, what do you do in the evenings?” he asked.

She already knew he had enough reports and briefs to read that he’d never run out of things to do.

“I like to sit by the lake. I brought some books, but it’s so beautiful here I want to fully experience that. I like the tranquillity. Sometimes I see some deer or a raccoon.”

“Maybe I’ll walk down with you, tonight. I haven’t seen the lake yet except from the porch.”

Audra’s heart skipped a beat, then resumed its normal tempo. It was the first suggestion he’d made for them to spend time together. Had he gotten over some of his anger about her keeping the baby a secret?

“If you like. I want to do the dishes first. It won’t take long.”

“I’ll clear, you have to wash,” he said holding up his cast.

“I can manage.”

She rose and picked up her plate. He rose at the same time and picked up his.

“You know our rule—that the person who cooked doesn’t have to clean up. Obviously I can’t do the dishes with the cast, but I can pull my own weight.”

Audra nodded remembering when he’d first told her about the rule he and his father and brother had. It had been one of the few snippets of information he’d given about his childhood. Normally Mitch never spoke about his family and what she’d learned had been mostly from Thomas and Tessa.

Including the fact their mother had walked out on her family when Mitch had been five.

In light of her own situation, Audra could understand a woman leaving her husband—given enough provocation. Hadn’t she done that very same thing?

But to leave her babies? Never. Her heart went out to a little five-year-old boy who probably still wondered where his mother was and why she hadn’t come home.

Did he still think about that?

Once the dishes were put away, Audra headed for the stairs. “I’ll run up and get a jacket and be ready in a second.”

“I can get it for you if you like. If you don’t want to be taking stairs and all. In your condition, I mean.”

She laughed softly. “Thanks, Mitch, but exercise is the best thing for me. That’s one reason I’m so excited about being here—I can take long walks to explore. I’m not sick, you know.”

He frowned. “Should you be taking walks alone? What if you fell or something?”

“I watch where I’m going.”

It was a bit too late for him to show concern.

By the time they’d reached the lake, Audra had herself in hand. Twice Mitch had brushed against her as they followed the path from the cottage to the lake shore. Each time that curious tingling had darted hither and yon, making her extremely conscious of the man beside her and of her own reaction.

Not that anyone would be interested in her at this point. She hadn’t been able to keep Mitch’s attention when she wasn’t eight months pregnant.

But she relished the sensations. At least they showed she was alive and capable of being interested again. Maybe one day she’d change her mind and let herself fall for another man–hard as it was to believe.

For now, it was enough to have companionship on her walk.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” she asked, when they came out of the trees and paused.

The lake gleamed in the last rays of the sun. Almost as smooth as glass, it reflected the distant shore. Several boats still dotted the mirrored surface. The sound of laughter skipped across the water.

“Want to sit on the dock?” Audra asked impulsively.

She headed for the wooden structure without waiting for a response. On the far side of the lake the main marina could be seen, lights coming on as twilight enveloped the earth.

Easing herself down on the edge, she dangled her feet over the side. They were still a foot or more above the water level.

Mitch sat beside her. “Are you going to be able to get up again?”

She laughed, sheer joy in the tranquil evening filling her. “If not, you’ll have to hoist me up like a derrick.”

Tied to the right at the end of the dock was a small rowboat and beyond it one of the two-seater paddle boats.

“One day I want to do the paddle boat,” she said. “But I need a partner.”

He studied it for a moment. “Wouldn’t we swamp the thing? Isn’t it for kids?”

“No, it’s for whomever’s staying at our cabin. And I’ve seen several adults out on the lake in them. I think it looks like fun.”

“Fun? We’d probably get soaked, if we didn’t capsize.”

“We?” She laughed again. “I didn’t say you had to be the partner.”

Mitch looked at her. “Who else is there?”

He was fully aware he didn’t want her sharing the paddle wheel with anyone else.

Startled by the realization, he looked back at the paddle wheel. It looked like a toy, barely big enough to hold two adults. They’d be sitting hip to hip, shoulder to shoulder. Her sweet fragrance would envelop them. Her laughter would ring out with the joy she often displayed.

Which wouldn’t be all bad, he mused. Maybe Thomas was right. And the doctor. And Audra. Maybe he did need to broaden his parameters and discover what was out there beyond work.

“I’m game if you are,” he said.

“You can’t get your cast wet,” she reminded him.

“Are you suggesting we can’t master the craft? That we could end up in the lake?” he asked in mock indignation.

“You don’t think there’s the slightest possibility?”

He shook his head firmly.

“That water’s cold. I’ve seen kids playing in it, but when I dipped my hand in yesterday, I don’t know how they do it,” she warned.

“Kids don’t have a thermostat. I remember when Thomas and I played in rivers that no one else would go in because they were too cold. We never noticed at the time.”

“What were the two of you like as kids?”

Secretly thrilled at the fact Mitch was talking about his past, she almost held her breath lest he clam up.

“Hellions, if my dad’s to be believed.”

Audra leaned back on her hands and gazed over the water as she listened to Mitch tell her some outlandish story about him and his brother. She loved listening to his voice. Closing her eyes, she focused on the intonation, the cadence. No wonder he did so well as a prosecuting attorney, his delivery was tremendous.

Suddenly he stopped. She opened her eyes and looked at him. He had his eyes closed.

“Are you all right?” She sat up and put her hand on his arm.

“Dizzy again. It comes and goes.”

“Lie back down on the dock. When it passes, we’ll head for the cabin.”

Mitch lay back and after a moment, Audra did as well. Stars were beginning to appear in the darkening sky. Would they have trouble finding their way back? The path was so easy during the day. But neither had thought to bring a flashlight. And the tree canopy would cut off any illumination from overhead.

“Do these attacks happen often?” Audra asked.

“I was dizzy for an entire two days immediately following the accident, so there is definite improvement,” he said, his eyes firmly shut. “The doctor said they’ll end before long. As soon as my head heals.”

They fell silent and Audra let herself enjoy her hunt for stars and constellations she recognized. How long had it been since she’d done this? Stargazing wasn’t a pastime she did in Boston.

“Actually I was thinking about what you said earlier,” Mitch said a moment later.

“About what?”

“About not working all the time. Maybe I’ll join you on one of your walks. Even go with you out in that paddle boat.”