Page 80 of Do Opposites Attract?

She lurched up, unaware her breasts were gloriously uncovered. ‘Why?’

‘Princess, you need to cover up a moment or I won’t be able to concentrate.’ She pouted at the nickname she hated, but lifted up the sheet. ‘I want to tell them my history. I want it out in the open. I’d rather they heard it from me, than from somebodyelse.’ He gave her a wry smile. ‘Your friends seem to have a habit of finding out about my past.’

Sighing, Brianna lay back on the pillow. ‘That’s fine. I understand your feelings. But you have to understand mine. It doesn’t matter to me what they say. I love you, and there is no way I’m going to let you push me away again.’

He gazed at her face. Who would have thought somebody so beautiful, so soft and genteel, could have such a stubborn streak. ‘I’ll count on it,’ he replied huskily.

* * *

He wasn’t feeling quite so convinced about his idea when he was summoned into the sitting room by the Worthington housekeeper later that morning.

‘Mitch, this is a pleasant surprise,’ her mother greeted him. ‘Come on in, and we’ll get you a drink. Coffee?’

He tried to remind himself he was a man, not a shy teenager. ‘Yes, thank you.’

‘Mitch.’ Brianna’s father shook his hand. It was a strong, firm handshake, one Mitch did his best to return. Mr Worthington gestured for him to sit down.

‘How are you?’ Brianna’s mother gave him a long, appraising assessment. ‘You look fully recovered.’

He tried not to squirm under her scrutiny. Tried not to think about the fact that she was expensively dressed, in flowing trousers and a silk blouse. He had on black jeans. ‘I’m good, thank you. Still a bit weak where the bones are knitting together, but getting there. I should be back at work soon.’

‘Good. You were very brave.’

He shook his head. ‘No. Just doing my job.’ He hesitated a moment. ‘Brianna did a marvellous thing, arranging for the air ambulance. I expect you both had a lot to do with it, too.’ Hehoped his sincerity was clear in the tone of his voice. ‘Words are inadequate, but they are all I have. Thank you.’

Her father shrugged off the thanks. ‘Any friend of Brianna’s, is a friend of ours. Now, I take it you’ve not just come round to tell us that.’

‘No.’ He fidgeted, very conscious the elegant chair he was sitting in was probably worth more than the entire contents of his own home. He didn’t know how to start and was relieved when the housekeeper brought in the coffee, serving as a momentary distraction. As he thanked her for the cup, he wished he wasn’t in yesterday’s clothes. He wished he’d taken the trouble to shave. He wished a lot of things.

He decided to dive straight in. ‘I’m here to talk about Brianna.’

‘Ah.’ Her mother smiled slightly, and sat back against her chair.

‘I love her,’ he said simply. ‘I want to spend the rest of my life with her.’ He watched the reaction on their faces. It wasn’t horror, thankfully, but it wasn’t joy either. He sighed, and wished again. That he was anywhere else but here.

‘As I hope to become part of her life,’ he continued, desperate to get this over and done with, ‘I want to tell you something about me, about where I came from. I don’t want any surprises coming out of the woodwork later on.’ He went to stand. He felt more in control that way. ‘I grew up in the inner city. My mother was a hooker, my father one of her customers . . .’ The words came out in a rush as he gave them a short and to the point version of his sleazy childhood.

Only when he’d finished the full story did he dare to look back at them. He wished he hadn’t. Telling them all this now had been stupid. He should have let them get to know him a bit more before throwing all the gory details at them. But hell, this was who he was. He wasn’t proud of it, but he’d spent too much of hislife hiding from it, being ashamed of it. Brianna had heard it all, and still loved him. That was the most important part.

‘You’ve spoken a lot about your background, Mitch, but not about yourself.’ Her father spoke, his expression not giving anything away.

Hell, what could he say? ‘I’ve been called bad-tempered, surly and rude.’ He forced a smile. ‘Mostly by Brianna. I also like to think I’m determined and fiercely passionate about the things I care about. That includes your daughter.’ He swallowed and took a deep breath. Here it was, his heart on his sleeve. ‘I can’t offer your daughter much in the way of material things, but I can tell you I love her with a strength I hadn’t thought possible.’

‘Isn’t that the most important thing, love?’ Had her mother’s eyes softened, or was that wishful thinking?

‘In my opinion, yes. But then I would say that. I have little else to give,’ he replied honestly.

‘Are you asking for our permission to marry her?’ Mr Worthington’s eyes were green, like those of his daughter. They were also just as sharp and hard to avoid.

Mitch shook his head. ‘No. I can’t risk you not giving it. I just wanted to let you know the full picture, before you heard it from anybody else. I will ask Brianna to marry me, though. I want her in my life, permanently. I know how much you love her, and she loves you. I never want to get in the way of that love, never want her to have to take sides. If she’ll have me, I wanted to reassure you that I’ll sign any document you want me to. If she ever wants out, I will only walk away with what I came in with.’

Finding the tension unbearable, Mitch ran a hand through his hair and tried to slow his words. ‘I realise I have everything to gain from this and she has nothing, but I’ve tried to do the right thing, tried to walk away and I can’t. Life without her is only half a life.’ Aware his voice was breaking, Mitch stopped hismonologue there. He’d said what he set out to say. He couldn’t do any more than that.

Her mother cleared her throat. ‘Mitch,’ she said softly, glancing at her husband for support. ‘All we’ve ever wanted for our daughter is for her to find a purpose in life and find happiness. Since she met you, she has found both.’

Her husband reached out and held his wife’s hand. ‘My wife is right. If Brianna is happy, then we’re happy. As to the rest, it doesn’t matter where a man comes from. It’s what he does with his life that counts. You’re a fine example of that. All we ask is that you promise to take care of her and to love her.’

Mitch smiled at last, relief washing over him. They weren’t going to make life difficult for him. ‘That, I can promise.’

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