Page 36 of Do Opposites Attract?

They sat down and went about discussing the business of transferring any outstanding casualties to the outlying hospitals. Medic SOS had been on site for nearly three weeks. It was time to begin the process of packing up and going home.

Chapter Seventeen

Though she was ashamed to admit it, this morning Brianna had taken extra care over getting dressed. The skirt she wore had been deliberately chosen to show off her legs, ending as it did several inches above her knees. She’d topped it with a deep green blouse, knowing it clung to her curves and accentuated the colour of her eyes. Finally she slipped on kitten-heeled sandals. They helped to dress down the outfit, but still added that touch of sexiness she was looking for. The mirror told her that her hair was smooth and casually styled, that her make-up was subtle but emphasised the shape of her eyes and the high cut of her cheekbones.

Today Mitch was back from South America. The word in the office was he’d be coming in, as he always did, to sort out the paperwork before heading home. It had been a week since she’d last seen him, but the time apart hadn’t dimmed her desire one iota. If anything it had heightened it. So today she wanted to look irresistible. He’d seen Brianna on camp. Now she wanted him to see Brianna in her own environment; glamorous clothes, sophisticated make-up, sleek blow-dried hair. She wanted to knock him dead.

It was well into the afternoon by the time she managed to catch up with him. Having been holed up with Margaret for over an hour, he was making his way towards the open plan office as she was coming out of the ladies.

‘Brianna.’

‘Mitch.’ Pretending casualness, she nodded in his direction, taking the opportunity to appraise him carefully. The last week hadn’t dulled his sex appeal, but it had added to his dishevelled and frankly shattered appearance. The deep brown eyes were bloodshot, the lines on his face deeper and harsher than before. ‘When was the last time you had a decent night’s sleep?’ sheasked sympathetically, feeling a deep and alarming rush of tenderness towards him.

He half smiled. ‘I can’t remember.’

‘You’re on your way home, to bed, I hope.’ Inside she cringed. She sounded like his damn mother.

His lips tightened, but he nodded his head, ‘Yes, ma’am.’

‘Well, I hope you’re not planning on driving. Not in your condition.’ Oh heck, now she’d gone from mother to matriarch. ‘Sorry, that didn’t come out like I’d planned.’

If anything his jaw clenched further. ‘I’ll be the judge of whether I’m capable of driving or not.’

‘Well, when you’re making that judgement, just remember that if you fall asleep at the wheel, it won’t only be your life that’s put in danger.’ Oh, why was she firing off at him like a pompous twit when all she really wanted to do was fling her arms around him and tell him she’d missed him?

‘I’m quite aware it wasn’t my welfare you were concerned about,’ he replied in a clipped voice. ‘But the point is mute. My car’s at home. I’m going back by train.’

‘Oh.’ Brianna sighed. This wasn’t at all how she’d hoped their reunion would go. Far from being blown away by her looks, her stupid remarks, which she could only blame on nerves, had made him cross and irritated. ‘Can I give you a lift to the station?’

It was on the tip of Mitch’s tongue to say no, he was perfectly capable of getting to the damned station by himself, but he stopped himself. He was justified in being pissed with Brianna for treating him like her son — as if there were any similarities, any at all, between her and his mother — but to refuse a lift would be churlish. He was her work colleague now. He needed to get his act together and start behaving like one. Not stand here wishing she’d run up to him and thrown her arms around his neck. ‘A lift would be good. Thank you.’

God but she was a sight for sore eyes, he thought as he followed her out. And his exhausted eyes were definitely that. He’d forgotten how bloody stunning she was. He could see the curves of her pert bottom ahead of him and his hands itched to touch. Heck, he was so damn punch-drunk with tiredness, he might just do it. Might just forget all the reasons why he shouldn’t. Swiftly he shoved his hands into his pockets.

As they entered the small car park round the back, it didn’t take much intuition to work out which was Brianna’s car.

‘Don’t tell me, yours is the Jag.’ It was the only one expensive, stylish and new enough to have possibly been hers. And it wasn’t just any Jaguar. No, Brianna had to have the top of the range sporty XKR model, all power and understated luxury.

She pressed her key fob, and the Jag’s indicators blinked in reply. ‘Any complaints?’

He shrugged. ‘I guess it beats a cab.’

‘You silver-tongued devil.’ Shaking her head, as if she couldn’t believe his boorishness, she nodded to the passenger door. ‘Don’t expect me to open it for you.’

He grunted and let himself in. Nestling into the warm, leather interior, he was too tired to worry about his grouchy behaviour. Or to fret about comparisons between her sleek sports car and his own basic four-wheel drive.

Within moments, his eyes grew heavy and he was asleep.

* * *

Knowing Mitch wasn’t one for conversation, Brianna didn’t realise he’d fallen asleep until she arrived at the station. He looked so peaceful she hesitated to wake him up. What was the alternative? Should she take him home? She glanced in his direction once more. He was breathing slowly and deeply, the harsh lines on his face blissfully relaxed. Waking him up wasn’tan option. It was too cruel. She reached into her handbag for her mobile phone.

‘Sally? It’s Brianna. I was taking Mitch to the station, but he’s fallen asleep in the car. I thought I might as well take him home instead. Can you give me his address, please?’

She noted it down with interest. So, he lived by the sea did he? The man was full of surprises. She would have had him down for a city apartment. She put the address into her navigation system and saw it would take about an hour and half to drive him home. Well, that wasn’t such a big deal. It wasn’t as if she had any plans for the evening. At least none more important than taking Mitch home.

‘Either a lot has changed in the last three weeks, or this isn’t the way to the station.’

Brianna jumped at his voice and quickly turned the radio down. ‘You fell asleep. I thought I might as well take you home.’ She knew she sounded defensive, but she was worried he’d be cross with her.

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