Page 47 of Do Opposites Attract?

‘What’s up?’ she asked, drying her hair with the towel.

‘There’s been a monsoon in the Philippines. We’ve been called in. I’ve got to go.’ He started to put on his jeans.

‘Oh,’ was all she could manage. Crestfallen that he’d be going away she said the first thing that came into her head. ‘Do you have to go today?’

He stared at her pointedly. ‘What do you think?’

‘Well you’re not the only doctor who works for the charity. Maybe you could catch up with them later. After the weekend.’

It was the wrong thing to say. She knew as soon as she saw him yank on his shirt with barely controlled fury. ‘People are dying, for God’s sake. I think it’s a little bit more important than going to a party, don’t you?’

Ouch. He was so good at making her sound like a selfish bitch. ‘Thank you, Mitch. I don’t need to be reminded of that. But would it kill you to show a hint of regret? I was looking forward to spending the weekend with you.’

‘This is who I am, Brianna,’ he replied brusquely. ‘This is what I do. If you don’t like it, tough. I won’t change.’

Her temper, always quick to flare, boiled over. ‘How dare you twist my words. I’m not asking you to change. Just show a bit of disappointment that you can’t be with me this weekend.’

‘Honestly?’ He looked directly into her eyes. ‘I’m not sure I am disappointed. If I’d gone, it would have been for your sake, not my own. Maybe it’s better this way. You’ll have more fun without me.’

‘I won’t.’ She slumped onto the bed, aware she was pouting, being melodramatic, but unable to stop herself. ‘How can I? I love being with you. Besides, you won’t just miss the weekend. You’ll be gone for weeks.’ A sob caught in her throat.

‘I know.’ Finally he stopped dressing and sat next to her on the bed. ‘Brianna,’ he began more gently. ‘When I said I didn’t think I could do relationships, I wasn’t joking. God knows, as a person I’m difficult enough to get on with.’ His lips crooked into a small smile. ‘But it’s not just me, it’s also my job. Perhaps this is a good opportunity to say goodbye. It was fun while it lasted.’

An agonised sound exploded from her throat but he ignored it, tucking a hand under her chin so her eyes were forced to meet his. ‘I don’t want to hurt you,’ he continued in a tone she imagined he’d use with a confused patient, ‘but if we carry on like this, I will. I live for my job. Mentally I’m already packing my bags. I don’t have the time or energy for any of the emotional baggage having a woman in my life will inevitably cause. I’m sorry.’

Brianna ignored her breaking heart and buried all of her pride. ‘No, Mitch. You’re not ending this. I won’t let you.’

His dark eyes looked almost kind. ‘Think on it while I’m gone. Go to your party. Mix with your friends. In a few weeks you’ll feel differently.’

He kissed her on the lips; a quick, rough kiss. Then he left.

* * *

When the weekend arrived and Brianna met up with Melanie at the country mansion in the Cotswolds, she’d managed to shift her crushing disappointment into a more healthy anger. How dare Mitch talk about ending their relationship? Men didn’t finish with her. She was the one who did the finishing, when she grew bored. And she wasn’t bored yet.

Unwillingly her mind flashed back over her past relationships. The men she’d turned down. She liked to think she’d let them down gently, but had their hearts bruised as badly as hers was doing right now? God, she hoped not, because this really hurt.

Sadly she trailed her fingers over the slinky red party dress she was about to change into. She’d bought it with Mitch in mind, looking forward to seeing the expression on his face when she sidled up to him in it. She’d had visions of him ripping it off her and dragging her to bed. No chance of that happening now.

‘Brie, are you all right? You look a bit down.’ Melanie, getting changed in the same room as her, had just struggled into a tight midnight-blue number.

‘Hey, never mind me, you look fabulous. How did you manage to wriggle into it? With a shoehorn?’

Melanie huffed. ‘Please don’t make me laugh. I’ll bust the seams. And don’t change the subject. What’s up?’

‘Nothing really. I’m just a bit upset Mitch can’t be here.’ She left it at that, not prepared to admit to herself, never mind her best friend, that what she’d shared with him was over.

‘I guess that’s the trouble with men who work for a living.’ Melanie grinned impishly. ‘You know, it might not be a bad thing, Mitch not being here.’

‘Oh?’

‘I happen to know that Frederick, the son of the Earl of Lincolnshire, has been invited tonight. Trust me, Brianna, he’s just your type. Tall, dark, handsome and richer than you are.’

Determinedly Brianna thrust aside the image of a tall, fair, rugged doctor. It was time she went back to her own world. And her more usual type. Glancing down at her dress, she slipped her friend a wry smile. ‘Well, it seems the dress might not be wasted, after all.’

An hour, and a few glasses of champagne later, Brianna started to feel a bit happier. Her old friend Henry had been attentive, complimenting her on her dress, begging for the first dance. Last time they’d met, she’d escaped him at the ball. This time she allowed him to lead her onto the floor. It did a woman good to be fawned over once in a while, she reminded herself. Mitch had hardly bothered to pay her any attention in that respect.

As a passing waiter refilled her glass for the third time, Melanie came into view, a startlingly handsome man in tow. ‘Brianna, let me introduce you to Frederick.’

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