Page 18 of Do Opposites Attract?

A smiling girl with dark curly hair and big brown eyes offered her up a cup. ‘I, umm.’ She could feel the bottle of water weighing heavily in her trouser pocket, but how could she refuse the girl? It seemed far too rude. ‘Thank you. That’s very kind.’ She took the cup and took a tiny sip. She’d throw the rest away when the girl wasn’t looking.

‘Your pleasure.’ The girl gave her a wide, toothy grin.

Brianna laughed and gently touched her cheek. ‘You saymypleasure.’

‘My pleasure.’ She stayed where she was, still smiling, still watching.

Brianna took another sip. ‘Lovely.’

The girl nodded and skipped away.

It wasn’t long afterwards that Brianna started to experience the most intense, griping stomach cramps. She excused herself from the class and flew outside. A few moments later Dan came to find her. He took one look at her white face and clammy skin and bundled her straight into the jeep.

‘Don’t tell me you drank the water.’

‘Only a sip,’ she protested, then moaned as another cramp made her double up in pain.

‘That’s all it takes,’ he told her, but Brianna wasn’t listening. She was too busy retching out of the window.

* * *

Mitch watched as Brianna staggered out of the truck and swore. ‘You fool.’

She grimaced. ‘Thanks for your concern, but you don’t have to worry about me. I’ll be fine.’ He took hold of her hand to steady her as she tried to walk towards the medical tent, but she snatched it away. ‘No, I’m okay.’ Then she projectile vomited all over his shirt. ‘Oh my God.’

Before she had a chance to say anything else, her legs gave way. Mitch caught her in his arms and carried her inside. Crikey, she was a lightweight.

She wriggled. ‘No, I don’t want to go here.’ Her pale, anguished face pleaded with him. ‘Please. Take me to my tent. I just need to rest.’

He knew she was mortified at being sick in front of them and guessed being shoved onto a hospital bed would only compound her embarrassment. He turned to Dan. ‘I’ll carry her to my tent. I’ve got paperwork to do anyway, so I’ll keep an eye on her at the same time. Make sure Stuart is about. Oh and grab me a drip and stand. Thanks.’

She was obviously feeling lousy because she allowed him to put her on his bed and fix up the drip with no protest. Following a few more, blessedly dry, heaves she fell fast asleep. In between literally and figuratively mopping her brow, he took the opportunity to change out of his vomit-patterned shirt, take a quick shower and tackle more of his blasted paperwork.

A couple of hours later he heard a groan from his bed and turned to find her trying to sit up. Her hair was a mess and her face washed out, yet her very vulnerability tugged at him. ‘Welcome back,’ he told her gruffly.

She held out the arm with the drip in it. ‘What’s this doing here? I’m not ill.’

‘It’s replacing the fluids you splattered over my shirt.’

Instantly she clasped her other hand to her mouth in horror. ‘Shit, now I remember. I’m so sorry.’ She hung her head. ‘I can’t believe I puked up all over you. God, and it would have to be you, wouldn’t it?’

‘What do you mean by that?’

‘I mean, you’re . . . well . . . you’re you.’ She bit her lip. ‘You already think I’m a total moron. Now I’ve thrown up all over you, you’ll hate me even more.’

What the blazes was she going on about? ‘Number one, I don’t hate you, don’t be so ridiculous. Number two, do I look like the type of man who’s bothered by a bit of sick?’

It stopped her in her tracks. At least long enough to study him. He tried not to squirm. ‘No, I guess not. But I expect you are bothered by the fact that I forgot to do as you told me.’ She shook her head. ‘No, that’s not true. I didn’t forget. It’s just the girl who offered me the drink looked so adorable, and I didn’t want to disappoint her.’ He was about to say something, but she wasn’t finished. ‘Instead I disappointed you.’

‘Jesus, Brianna, I’m not disappointed in you.’

‘Then why are you so cross with me?’

‘Cross?’

‘Yes. When I got out of the jeep, you called me a fool. And just now, when I woke up, you looked almost angry.’

He was angry, but not with her. With himself, for being so bloody attracted to her. Hell, when Dan had offered to go with her today, he’d been hard pressed not to punch the guy. ‘I’m not cross,’ he told her shortly. ‘I was worried. Do you have any idea how many diseases you can pick up from contaminated water?’

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