Page 45 of Do Opposites Attract?

‘Why not? What are you scared of?’ she asked softly, walking up to him and putting her arms around his rigidly set shoulders.

Impatiently he shrugged her off. ‘I’m not scared of anything. I learnt long ago not to rely on anybody else. It’s a philosophy that’s stood me in good stead and I’m not about to start changing it now.’

Hurt that he wouldn’t let her close, Brianna had half a mind to tell him to bugger off. But then she caught a glimpse of pain in his eyes and her heart melted. There was a reason for his aloof nature, his determination not to let anybody into his life. ‘Who hurt you, Mitch?’

He gave her a long, cool stare. ‘Why do you assume somebody has?’

‘Because the man I’ve seen hold a child’s hand as he died, the man who gives up most of his life to care for others, the man I’ve just spent the weekend with, he’s different to the man who’s standing in front of me now. When you’re not consciously thinking about blocking people out, you’re a wonderful, warm person. So something happened in your past that’s made you wary of letting anybody get close to you.’

His eyes were flat, unmoved by her speech. ‘Or maybe I’m just a selfish person who prefers his own company and has no desire to ever share his life with anybody else.’

Exasperated, angry with him for being so cold and herself for caring too much, she bent to pick up her overnight bag. ‘Message received, loud and clear. I’ll let myself out.’

* * *

Mitch watched as Brianna opened the door and slammed it firmly behind her. The sound of finality echoed around him. What was wrong with him that he was pushing this beautiful, vivacious woman out of his house? She’d wanted to go to the cinema with him. Was that such a major crime? Hadn’t he just had one of the most relaxing, most enjoyable weekends he could remember? And hadn’t that been mostly down to her? Before he could think about what he was doing, Mitch thrust open the door and ran down to where Brianna was starting the engine.

‘Brianna, wait.’ As he reached her, the Jaguar purred into life. Cocooned inside, she couldn’t hear him, so he tapped on the driver’s window.

Her head twisted towards him and he received an icy stare.

Undaunted, he tapped again.

Glowering at him, she finally lowered the window. ‘Did I forget something? I’d hate you to be left with a reminder of the weekend you were forced to share your precious company with another person.’

He winced. ‘I guess I deserved that. Look, I’m sorry. I enjoyed this weekend. More than I thought,’ he added wryly. ‘I’m not used to spending time with a woman and still wanting to see her again. You’re a first.’

Brianna rested her hands on the wheel and stared straight ahead.

He ducked down so he could look her in the eye — if she ever bothered to face him. ‘I’m not sure I’m capable of a relationship,’ he told her gruffly. ‘But I can’t stand the thought of not seeing you again.’

Time seemed to stand still as he waited for her reply. He was aware of the tension in his shoulders, the way his hands fisted at his side. Of how much her answer mattered to him.

Magically, she tilted her face towards him and curved her lips into a smile. To his astonishment, she then reached up and placed a hand on either side of his face and gave him a long, drugging kiss, which had the tension washing straight out of him.

‘Okay, Mitch, we’ll take it slow. Wednesday night. Meet me after work. We’ll go to the cinema and share a bag of popcorn. Not too scary for you?’

He grinned a touch sheepishly. ‘I guess it’s a date.’

‘I guess it is.’

Chapter Twenty-One

As he sat on the back row of the cinema with Brianna, Mitch felt like a teenager again. Then again, he’d rarely gone to the cinema as a boy. And never made out with a girl as classy as Brianna.

‘Why don’t you follow me in your car,’ she suggested as they walked out into the night.

‘Follow you where?’

She looked at him as if he was stupid. ‘Back to mine.’

Slowly he shook his head. ‘I don’t think so.’

‘But why ever not? I thought from the way you were kissing me in the cinema . . .’ She flushed slightly. ‘Well, I guess I just assumed one thing would lead to another.’

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. ‘You share your place with your parents, Brianna.’

She stopped walking. ‘So? I live in a floor of my parents’ house, one that has its own entrance so you won’t come across them. Anyway, even if you did, why would it matter?’

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