Page 23 of Do Opposites Attract?

Instantly his muscles tensed again. This was not a topic he wanted to discuss tonight. Or any night. ‘Let’s just say my mother wasn’t one for making too much fuss.’ He pushed his body off the tree and moved to stand in front of her. ‘You did well today,’ he told her, quickly changing the subject.

‘You mean I kept out of your way?’

He saw the teasing light in her eyes and smiled. ‘I guess I was a bit curt.’

‘A bit, but then again, nothing I haven’t seen before.’

An involuntary smile spread across his face and he watched as it was mirrored across her own. His body stirred. God, he was losing himself in those dancing green eyes. They were dazzling him, sucking him in. Instinctively he placed his hands on her shoulders. But as he bent his head towards hers, he suddenly stopped.You’re playing with fire, McBride.

Swiftly he pulled back, thrusting his hands deeply into his pockets. ‘Goodnight, Brianna.’

Watching Mitch’s retreating back, Brianna played out the scene again in her mind. She knew the predatory look that entered a man’s eyes when they were about to pounce. She’d seen it in Mitch’s eyes, just before he’d broken away. Why was he so determined not to get close to her?

Feeling restless, her head full of questions, Brianna wandered back to her tent. If ever there was a time she needed a chat with her best friend, this was it. Pulling the clunky satellite phone from her bag, she dialled Melanie’s number.

‘Brie? Wow, hey there.’

Instantly a smile tugged at her lips. ‘Hey yourself. What are you doing? It must be, what, afternoon with you?’

‘Pardon? Blimey, you sound like you’re in a toilet. Speak up girl.’

‘I said what are you up to?’ The signal was pretty scratchy but the tenuous contact with home was worth the frustration of trying to hear.

‘I’m shopping. What do you expect me to be doing? More to the point, what areyoudoing?’

Brianna gave her friend a quick rundown of the last two days, and though she tried to keep her voice neutral when she spoke of Mitch, Melanie’s gossip radar was far too sensitive. Even thousands of miles away. And with a poor signal.

‘So this Mitch you keep mentioning. Do I take it he’s a bit of a hunk?’

‘My God, how can you tell that?’

‘Because your voice goes all husky when you mention his name. So, dish the dirt. Have you kissed?’

‘Sort of.’

‘What did you say?Sort of?’

‘Yes, okay, we’ve definitely kissed. It was . . . amazing, magical.’

‘And?’

‘And he doesn’t want it to go any further. He doesn’t want anything to distract him from his job, apparently.’

‘Do you believe him?’

Wasn’t that the million dollar question. ‘No, I don’t think I do. He seems pretty good at closing off all his emotions and focusing on the issue at hand. I think it’s to do with my money.’ Men fell into two main camps when it came to her wealth. The confident charmers were attracted to it. The shier, hesitant men were overawed by it. Mitch didn’t fit into either camp, but the very fact he’d mentioned it several times, proved it was an issue.

‘Well, the days are ticking by, sweetie. What are you going to do? Leave it, or go after him?’

Brianna took a nanosecond to make up her mind. ‘Go after him,’ she replied decisively. ‘I guess it will come down to who’s the more determined to get their way.’

Melanie let out a long, lusty laugh. ‘Well, watch out Mitch McBride, whoever you are. You don’t know what’s about to hit you.’

Chapter Eleven

Following a good night’s sleep, Brianna woke the next morning fresh and alert. Something she hadn’t thought possible when she’d gone out for a smoke the previous night, all keyed up by the grimness of the day. The unexpected banter with Mitch had obviously succeeded in unwinding her, as she’d drifted off to sleep with absolutely no trouble.

Peeking her head cautiously out of the tent, she was pleased to find the sun was shining for once. With a bit of luck the weather was breaking, which would allow the area to start the difficult job of getting back on its feet again. It was just the morning to try out a swim in the lake.

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