Page 19 of Do Opposites Attract?

She shook her head, and he sighed and went to feel her forehead. It felt normal. If soft, silk-like skin could be called normal. ‘I think you’ll be fine. Dan went back to the school and the water they used was originally from a bottle, though it wasn’t fresh. I think whatever upset you has probably been flushed out by now.’

‘All over your shirt.’

She sounded so flat, as if she’d had the stuffing knocked out of her, that he almost smiled. He should enjoy this subdued version of Brianna while he could. She was a lot easier to handle. ‘I’ll take the drip out and you can go and rest a while in your own bed.’

He quickly removed the line and helped her to her feet. She looked a little shaky. Like a newborn foal, all large eyes and cute. Yeah, definitely cute. Hastily he dropped his hand to his side. ‘Are you okay to make your own way back?’

She eased her feet into her boots, holding onto his bed to steady herself. ‘Yes, thanks. I’ve caused you enough trouble.’

Okay, now this almost chastened version was beginning to frustrate him. ‘It’s no trouble. Looking after sick people is what I do.’

He received a small smile for that. ‘I know. And you’re pretty good at it.’ Her smile grew wider. ‘Though your bedside manner could do with softening up a bit.’

With that she was gone. He stared after her as the doorway flapped back down. He should have walked with her, made sure she was okay. It was just he wasn’t sure, if he tucked her back into her own bed, whether he’d be strong enough to leave.

She unsettled him, he admitted it as he sat back at his desk, and he didn’t like the feeling. Not one little bit. She was flirting with him, damn her, but it wasn’t clear why. Even less clear was what on earth he was going to do about it.

Letting out a deep sigh, he flung open a file.

Chapter Nine

Back in her tent, Brianna dozed for a bit but soon realised she wasn’t going to get any more sleep. That was when she pulled out her notepad and began to scribble a list of thoughts, questions, musings around her ideas for the charity. She worked until her stomach started to rumble, a sure sign she was feeling better. Automatically she threw back the sheets, ready to get up, but then she halted. If she moved from here, she might bump into Mitch. Could she face him, having humiliated herself in front of him yet again? Nearly blacking out at the sight of the boy skewered by a pole had been bad enough, though perhaps understandable. But chucking up over him, after he’d expressly warned her to drink only her own water?

Groaning, she curled back into bed. Wow, she really knew how to impress a guy. The stupid thing was, shedidknow how to dazzle a man. Just not this one. With Mitch she seemed to press all the buttons he hated being touched. She let out a long, deep breath then slipped her feet back onto the floor. She had to face him sooner or later. Might as well get it over and done with.

After finding a few slices of bread to line her stomach, she wandered into the ward where she found Mitch checking on the boy whose life he’d saved yesterday. Quietly she moved to his side. ‘He looks a lot better than the last time I last saw him,’ she whispered. The boy was sound asleep, a good colour in his cheeks, a peaceful expression on his face. More importantly, there was no pole sticking out of his chest.

‘I could say the same about you.’ He held her eyes for a pulse-humming moment before looking down at his patient. ‘He’s well on the road to recovery. I had to remove a rib and he’ll always have a scar, but other than that I expect him to be back to normal in a few weeks.’ Mitch nodded at the toy bunny. ‘Was that your doing?’

Brianna felt a hot flush creep up her neck. ‘Umm, yes, I found it where he was trapped. Figured it might have been what he went home for.’

Mitch nodded. ‘That was pretty astute of you. The rest of us were so focused on the trauma, we didn’t take in the detail. Details can be important.’

Now her cheeks were flushing furiously. As they moved away from the boy’s bed and towards the waiting area she was pathetically grateful that Mitch was one step ahead of her. ‘Have I turned you into a fan of cuddly toys then?’ she asked, once her cheeks had cooled.

He flashed a rare grin. ‘Fat chance.’

Wow. When it actually surfaced, his smile was to die for. Almost of its own volition her body swayed towards him and her hand moved to touch his arm. ‘Mitch.’

He jerked away, as if she was too hot to touch. ‘What?’

She didn’t know what she’d been about to say, but whatever it was, it died on her lips at his reaction. Men usually wanted to pull her towards them, not push her away. Feeling incredibly foolish, she took a step back and cleared her throat. ‘I wondered if I could catch up with you later. I want to find out your wish list of provisions for Medic SOS, if money was no object.’ That was better. Cool and professional. ‘If the charity want to ask people for more money, it’s good to have a real handle on what you plan to do with it.’

‘Fine. I’m on call tonight, but I’ll be in my tent if I’m not needed on the ward.’

It was a date then. Of sorts.

* * *

Brianna showered in the cold river water, something she was becoming surprisingly used to, and changed into clean jeans and a fresh shirt. As she towel dried her hair, she wished onceagain for her hairdryer. Not necessarily to dry her hair — the temperature was so hot that wasn’t a problem — but to tame the stupid curls that seemed to spring out of nowhere. Checking her face in the little compact mirror she’d found in her handbag, she added some blusher and a hint of lipstick. Yes, it was vanity, but she wanted to look as good as she could. In a few moments she was going to Mitch’s tent. Sure ostensibly it was to discuss the charity, but that wasn’t all she had planned. Frankly she’d done with tiptoeing around and attempting light flirtation. It had got her nowhere. Tonight she was going to seduce the man. At the very least, she was going to try.

Her stomach churned, and this time it wasn’t because it was empty. She knew what she was about to do wasn’t sensible. Heck, even the thought of it made her cringe. But the days were flying by and she needed to find out if he wanted her as much as she wanted him. If he didn’t, fine. She’d plaster a cool look on her face, grit her teeth and get through the rest of the week. Then she’d climb on board a plane and never have to see him again.

If he did want her . . . a flush of longing swept through her body and she had to sit on the bed for a few moments to steady herself.

When she’d gathered her wits sufficiently, she slipped out of her tent and went to stand outside his, letting out a small cough. ‘Can I come in?’

‘Yes.’

---