Chapter Eighteen

Audra had mixed emotions when Mitch told her about accepting the Carmichaels’s invitation to dinner. She was glad not to have to prepare dinner but she resented the fact she’d have to share Mitch. She would have preferred to keep him all to herself.

Such a selfish wish, she thought as she brushed her short hair and put on a trace of makeup. Wearing a sundress, and taking a sweater for when the evening grew cool, she descended the stairs. Mitch stood at the doorway, gazing out toward the lake. He leaned slightly on the cane.

Surprised, Audra realized she expected him to be on the sofa reading one of the briefs or jotting notes. Had he spent the entire day doing nothing about work?

Or had he handled those tasks while she napped?

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

Except for the cast, and the cane, he looked fit and strong and ready to slay dragons.

Only the dragons in their lives, she thought sadly, were the ones they’d devised.

“Let’s not stay late,” Mitch said.

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

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

He raised an eyebrow.

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

“That won’t work,” she said almost laughing at his teasing tone. “You’d just have to lie down there until it passed and that could be hours.”

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

She looked away wishing fervently that going home to bed meant sharing one with Mitch again. She missed his presence in the night. Missed the closeness they’d had in the first few months of their marriage.

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

And he hadn’t stopped at the guest office either yesterday or today.

Struck by his odd behavior, Audra didn’t have any time to explore the ramifications. The elderly couple greeted them and in only moments they were sitting beneath the trees, the delicious aroma of barbecue pork filling the air.

During the evening Audra noticed Mitch’s gaze on her frequently. She raised her eyebrows once in silent question, but he just shook his head and looked away.

It was after ten when they returned to their own cottage. Audra had enjoyed herself and suspected Mitch had as well. For her it seemed to prove he was capable of avoiding reference of work. What would he be like if he kept more regular hours and developed other interests? Such as a renewed interest in her and in their baby.

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

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

“I guess. I loved hearing them talk about their family traditions. I want that. The expectation, the anticipation, the contentment in doing some things on a regular basis. I expect to establish a lot with the baby.”

“Do you think we have anything in common, Audra?” he asked.

She hesitated, leaning against the banister.

“We didn’t make enough effort, did we, Mitch?” she asked wistfully. “We both had our careers already started when we married and both tried to keep on the same way we’d been before. By the time I realized I wanted something different, it was too late.”

She sat down on the third step and rested her elbows on her legs, her chin in her hand. “I think we should have met the Carmichaels long ago or someone like them. Someone to give us some suggestions.” She was pensive for a moment. “As to something in common, we liked fishing together.”

He shrugged, his gaze steady.

She wrinkled her nose again, feeling close to tears.

Did they truly have nothing in common, nothing on which to build a life together? She loved him. She wanted to spend her life with him. Was it impossible?

“We could go again tomorrow. And if your ankle’s better in the next day or two, we could go to the lodge for lunch and go wading at the beach. It’s shallow enough that the water might warm a degree or two above the rest of the lake.”

He shook his head. “I’m leaving, Audra.”

Her heart skipped a beat.

“Leaving? When?”

“Day after tomorrow. I have an appointment the next day to see my doctor.”

She stared at him, feeling shell-shocked.

“But you’ll be back, right? Thomas reserved this place for three weeks. We’d still have the weekend.”

At his silence, she jumped up.

“No, of course you won’t be back. Why make the trip out here a second time? This way you’ll be right in Boston, can stop into the office and get all caught up with your unexpected witness, with the new strategy and plunge right back into your old routine.”

She turned and ran up the stairs, slamming the bedroom door behind her.

The thought of tears fled as anger consumed her. How could she have been foolish enough to think they had a chance together, to think Mitch had changed merely because he managed a day away from work?

She paced the small confines of the room, anger building.

Anger–or a tremendous sadness at the loss of a future that had, for a few days, dangled so enticingly in front of her?

She stopped and took a deep breath. Tomorrow was all she had. One last day. Then the emptiness of a lonely future.

The baby stirred and she patted it gently.

“If tomorrow is all we have it’s going to be the best day ever,” she vowed.

Early the next morning, Audra slipped across the hall and banged on Mitch’s door.

“Hmm? What?” The door flung open, Mitch looked ready to dash out into the world. “What? Audra, are you all right?”

She smiled up at him, struck anew by the sexiness that seemed to call directly to her.

“Yes. Time to go fishing. The best time to catch them is dawn, right?”

He rubbed his hand through his hair. Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t keep her gaze from slipping from that tousled dark hair down across broad shoulders to where his waist narrowed. The pajama pants he wore rode low on his hips. She was tempted to reach out and touch the expanse that beckoned. Clenching her hands tightly to resist temptation, she forced her eyes to meet his.

Then, unable to stop herself, she let her fingertips brush against his chest. Just once more couldn’t hurt.

He captured her hand and drew her into his arms. That warm chest was pressed against her and he lowered his mouth to cover her. He was warm and hard and sexy and she wanted him more than anything else in life.

His morning beard felt familiar and dear against her cheeks. His lips were persuasive and compelling and she returned his kiss with all the fervor in her. She loved this man.

Slowly he ended the kiss and looked into her eyes.

“I don’t want breakfast or to go fishing,” he said in that low, husky, seductive voice that melted across her nerve endings like hot syrup.

If she only dared offer an alternative to breakfast—like returning to bed together and spending the day there.

And why not? They were still married. Had enjoyed each other’s company for more than two weeks. Had touched, kissed, laughed, danced and shared adventures. Why not one last adventure—one to last a lifetime?

Her eyes gazed into his, her heart caught in her throat. Could she suggest such a thing? Once voiced, there’d be no going back.

He watched her warily, as slowly his expression changed. Desire flared in his eyes. Maybe she didn’t have to say anything at all. Maybe he already knew.

“Audra?” he said softly.

“If you don’t want to go fishing, what do you want to do?”

“This.”

He kissed her, drawing her against him as if she was the only thing in his world, and he had to hold on lest it be wrest away.

Maybe Audra could show him how much he was going to miss over the years when he chose work over play.

Her heart slammed into high gear as he deepened the kiss. His hands moved across her back, lifting her to rub against his chest. She could feel the strength of his muscles, of his desire.

“Come with me, Audra, and let’s explore what we have in common,” he said against her mouth, spinning slowly as he eased them across the bedroom to the rumpled bed.

She tried to imprint every move, every touch, every brush of his fingertips, so down through the years she would be able to relive today’s perfection.

Slowly they sank onto the mattress, locked in each other’s arms.

Eons later his eyes opened. She gazed up at him, imprinting every nuance on her mind.

“What will you do when I’m gone?” he asked, brushing back her hair again, letting his fingers linger.

A definite reminder they had only hours left together. Pushing away the hurt, she shrugged.

“I’ll carry on like I planned to when I first arrived. I expected to be alone on this vacation, you know. I’ll be fine. I only have a few more days.”

“Don’t go to the caves alone.”

“I’ll be fine, Mitch. Don’t worry about me.”

He closed his eyes and clamped down on the urge to argue with her.

She was right, he shouldn’t worry about her. But he would. Hadn’t these two weeks proved that she was not beyond taking risks? She walked around the lake by herself. He hadn’t thought about how potentially dangerous it could be until he’d run into difficulties on his own solo hike.

She could fall and no one would have a clue where she was. Or even know to look for her.

He’d speak to the Carmichaels, make sure they kept an eye on her until she left.

Would being on her own again give her time to think about legally ending their marriage? He frowned. He didn’t want to think about that. Though what he thought she’d do was beyond him at the moment.

Truth to tell, he’d been a bit surprised she hadn’t already filed for divorce. Maybe she’d go ahead with her plans once he left. Nothing had changed, had it? He was who he was and she wanted more than he could give. Right?

Not liking the trend of his thoughts, he sat up and forced them away.

She looked at him. “Loving time over?”

“No, I’ll be back. Don’t move.”

She smiled at the comment and Mitch wanted to grab hold of the joy and hold on to it forever. He wanted to hear her laughter again to see the light sparkling in her eyes. The single thing he missed most in his empty apartment was the echo of her laughter.

Or maybe it was her scent.

Or was it the nights in bed, talking far into the dark that he missed most?

Darn, he’d had months to get over her. And done fine. Work was demanding enough to take all his energy. Once he returned he’d make sure he was kept busy—to drive away the ghosts of Audra again.

He rose and went downstairs to get them some breakfast. He didn’t know where the idea of breakfast in bed had come from, but he had to act quickly before giving into needs. He wanted his pretty wife with a desire that seemed to grow hourly. Never mind they’d made passionate love not a half hour before. He still wanted her.

Anything to delay beginning the separation process all over again.

She was surprised and delighted by breakfast in bed. They talked and laughed and later snuggled together to discuss names for the baby.

The hours flew by until wispy clouds reflected the rosy shades of sunset, gradually fading into darkness. They watched from his window, still entwined in each other’s arms.

“I’m glad we had this time together,” Audra said.

“Me, too.”

One part of him didn’t want it to end. Another knew he had to escape if he was to ever have a chance to regain his equilibrium. Being around Audra brought dreams that he knew were futile.

“What time do you leave in the morning?” she asked at last.

“A Jeep will be here at eight to pick me up. I catch the eight-thirty shuttle from the lodge to the airport.”

“Mmmm.”

For a moment he feared tears and recriminations. But Audra had never tried any female tricks to get her way. She’d always been blunt and open and forthright.

And Mitch suddenly felt like a failure. He hadn’t measured up.

He gathered her closer. “Stay the night with me.”

She nodded.

“And then I’ll get up and fix you breakfast.”

“No, sleep in. I’ll get something at the airport.”

He knew it was time to make the break. Time to move back to the life he knew and had chosen. This time had merely been a segment of dream time. Real life didn’t function like this. It was time he let go.