Page 82 of Do Opposites Attract?

‘Are we celebrating?’

He gave what he hoped was a casual shrug of his shoulders. ‘Not really. I thought you might like some.’

‘Oh, I do. It’s just, what with the champagne, the tidy house and the flowers, I wondered if something was up?’

Heck, what was he supposed to do now? The ring he’d bought yesterday burned a hole in his pocket. But he’d planned to wine and dine her first. He wanted to do this properly. ‘Can’t a man tidy his house without arousing suspicion?’ he replied a touch irritably.

She was used to him by now. Instead of taking offence, she smiled. ‘Of course. The flowers, they’re lovely. Did you buy them?’

Now she had him feeling like a twit. What man in his right mind goes out and buys flowers for his home, just for fun? ‘Yes,’ he snapped, before reigning in his temper. This fancy setting was meant to soften her up for the proposal. Not piss her off. ‘I thought, as you were staying the weekend, you might like them,’ he ventured carefully.

Brianna stood and gave them a long, deep sniff. ‘You’re right. I do. You can’t go wrong with flowers and champagne.’

‘Yes, well, I’ll go and see if our first course is ready.’

Mitch turned sharply and went back into the kitchen, aware he’d left Brianna staring after him in confusion. Not half as confused as he was. Was he really about to throw together king prawns sautéed in garlic butter?

Why hadn’t he stuck to his original plan of fish and chips?

‘Umm, these prawns are delicious,’ Brianna told him a while later as she tucked into the starter. ‘I didn’t realise you were such a good cook. You haven’t cooked for me before.’

‘No. I thought it was time I did.’ Inwardly he groaned. What on earth was wrong with him? He couldn’t string two sentences together without feeling stiff and nervous. Heck, he’d faced far more terrifying circumstances than this. He’d had to stare down men with machine guns, for goodness sake. Why was he making such a big deal out of saying four simple words?Will you marry me?They weren’t even hard to say. But then it wasn’t actually saying the words that was the problem. It was hearing her reply he was scared to death of. He’d finally found a woman who had broken down his defences and pushed her way into his heart. He’d never find another like her. He knew she loved him, but how much? Enough to marry him?

‘Brianna . . .’ The ringing phone cut across his words. With a muttered oath he went to answer it. Whoever it was, they were in for a brusque conversation.

He was soon back and clearing the plates away. After popping the steaks under the grill he went to sit back down opposite her. She looked achingly beautiful, her hair tousled from their love-making, her soft pink top draped over her curves. He cleared his throat. ‘Did you have a good day?’ he asked, immediately biting down on his lip, exasperated beyond measure at his inane question. He should be telling her how gorgeous she was. God, he was so crap at this.

Clearly surprised by his question, Brianna smiled. ‘Yes, thank you, I did. Did you?’

He saw the playful smile, the teasing light in her eyes. ‘Oh, hell. Look Brianna—’

The smoke alarm went off in the kitchen. Swearing loudly, Mitch leapt out of his chair and yanked open the grill, only to find his steaks looking decidedly charred. Bloody great. He couldn’t even get that bit right. Annoyed, he snapped off the grill and plonked himself down on the kitchen stool before briefly putting his head in his hands in despair.

It wasn’t long before a comforting arm crossed his shoulders. ‘Don’t worry about it. I’ve burnt enough food in front of you. It’s only fair you retaliate.’

He raised his head and managed a weak smile. ‘It’s not the food, at least not only that. It’s everything. Who’d have thought proposing to a woman would be so damned difficult.’

Brianna stood for a moment, motionless. Then her heart leapt into life, pounding against her ribcage. ‘Is that what you’re doing?’ she asked, her voice a breathless whisper.

‘I’ve been trying to. But between the phone call, the burnt food and my nerves, it’s not quite as I’d planned.’

He looked so pained, her heart swelled still further. Easing herself gently onto his lap, she circled his neck with her arms and gave him a long, deep kiss. ‘Then let me take away some of your nerves. My answer will be yes.’

Surprise, relief, joy. His eyes lit up with all three. ‘Are you sure? Really sure? It’s a big step. I won’t put up with anything less than the rest of our lives.’

She rained kisses over his face. ‘I’m sure. Why, are you trying to put me off?’

‘God no.’ He returned the kisses then pulled his head away, holding her face in his hands. ‘I’m sorry I made such a hash of this. I wanted to do it properly, because you deserve nothing but the best. Somehow I mucked it all up. I can’t seem to find the right words to tell you how much I love you, how much Ineed you in my life. I’ve tried living without you and I can.’ The deep brown eyes that stared into hers were as dark as she’d ever seen them. ‘But with you in it, my life is different. I’m different. You bring me happiness, laughter, joy. Jesus, you complete me, Brianna. I can’t offer you much in return, but everything I have, everything I am, is yours.’

Tears streamed down her face. ‘You’ve just found the right words.’

‘Thank God.’ He stared at her tears. ‘Those are happy tears, right?’

She smiled and rubbed her thumb across the planes of his face, lovingly tracing the high cheekbones, the grooves at the side of his mouth. ‘Of course they are. Oh Mitch, you always have been and always will be all I’ve ever wanted.’

She leant back in for a cuddle, but he was rummaging around in his back pocket. ‘Before I forget.’ He pulled out a box and awkwardly thrust it at her. ‘I didn’t know whether you’d want to choose your own, or whether you wanted the romantic gesture. I won’t be offended if you don’t like it, but I figured as I’d never bought jewellery for a woman before, now would be a good time to start. I made the lady in the shop promise we could take it back and change it for something else.’

Brianna knew that whatever was inside the box, she would love it. The gesture, knowing he’d gone into a shop to choose something for her, was so much more important than the actual ring itself. But she was genuinely delighted by the simple, emerald cut diamond set in platinum. ‘You can throw away the receipt. It’s beautiful.’

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