Page 46 of Do Opposites Attract?

He felt the heavy weight of that damn chip on his shoulder again. ‘I’m hardly their idea of good boyfriend material,’ he muttered tightly, angry he cared what they’d think of him. He was a decent man, earning a decent living. He should be damn proud of himself. Usually he was. So why, when he was with Brianna, did his past keep creeping back?

‘Is that what you are, then? My boyfriend?’

And now she was teasing him. ‘I don’t know what the hell I am.’

‘You’re my lover, Mitch.’ She kissed him lightly on the lips. ‘So, are you following me home, or not?’

The moonlight made her green eyes shine. Her smile was provocative, promising a night of passion. He was a man. There was no choice. ‘I’ll follow you.’

He tried not to gawk too much when he parked his car. Tried not to let the magnificence of the town house, set in an exclusive residential area of London, bother him. It was only bricks and mortar, after all. But even as he undressed her in the bedroom, he couldn’t help but notice the sheer opulence. Where his house boasted comfort, hers was bespoke designer.

It shouldn’t matter that her apartment alone was worth many times more than his house by the sea. But it did.

Then Brianna’s hand reached for his belt, undoing it with deft, perfectly manicured fingers and he couldn’t think any more.

* * *

‘Mitch?’

‘Umm?’ He raised a sleepy eyelid, realising that once again he’d stayed the night at Brianna’s. Since their date at the cinema a few weeks ago, it had started to become a habit.

‘There’s a couple of things I need to talk to you about before I shoot off to the office. One involves work, and the other pleasure. Which do you want to start with?’

‘Pleasure is always a good place to end.’

She smiled. ‘We’ll start with work then. We’re holding a fund-raising ball next month and I’d like you to speak at it.’

He opened both eyes. ‘You want me to do what?’

‘You don’t really need me to repeat it, do you?’ He must still have looked stunned because she gave him acrikey I thought you were brighter than thisroll of her eyes before explaining more fully. ‘The people who come to these charity balls have only two thoughts in their mind; having a great time and getting drunk. I know, because I’ve been one of them. And that’s fine, in a way, because as long as they buy the tickets and enjoy themselves, we’ve made money for Medic SOS. But I think we’re missing a trick. We could be showing them exactly whatthe money they’ve donated goes towards. Make them see how important, how vital the charity is. I can’t think of anybody who’d be better at getting that message across than you.’

Mitch sat up further in the bed and crossed his arms over his bare chest. ‘I’m not a public speaker, Brianna, I’m a doctor.’

‘Yes, and one who believes passionately in what he does. I watched you when you were explaining your role to me. This will be just the same, only a few more people will be listening.’ She smiled and kissed his furrowed brow.

‘I might not even be in the country when the event takes place.’

‘I know, but if you are, will you do it. Please?’

‘Why do I feel like I’ve been manoeuvred into this by a master in the art of persuasion?’ He eyed her suspiciously, his voice resigned. He didn’t like the idea much, but if she thought it could help the charity he didn’t see how he could reasonably refuse.

She gave him a smug grin. ‘Because you have.’

‘I think we should focus on pleasure, now.’ He started to move his fingers lightly over her breasts, smiling when she lay back against him and moaned softly.

‘I’ve been invited to a party this weekend,’ she murmured, her eyes glazing over. ‘It’s at a friend’s house in the country. We’ve all been asked to stay over. Would you come with me?’

His fingers stilled. ‘I thought we were taking this slow, Brianna.’

‘We are, but this will be fun.’ She turned and rained feathery kisses on his chest, obviously designed to soften him up, to placate him. ‘They’re a good crowd, you’ll like them. Please?’

Mitch lay back against the headboard, his body for once not distracted by Brianna’s touch. This was not his idea of one step at a time. He had deep reservations about meeting her friends. Fathoms deep. It was hard enough being with Brianna,but to mix with a crowd of wealthy Hooray Henries? For a man who didn’t do small talk, and was very much aware of the shortcomings in his own background, fun definitely wasn’t the word he would use to describe it. ‘We’ll see.’

* * *

He’d gone all quiet on her again. Taking one look at the stiff set of Mitch’s jaw, Brianna figured now was the time to take a shower. Maybe when she’d finished, he’d have loosened up again.

However, when she came back out he was putting away his phone and looking very serious.

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