Page 32 of Do Opposites Attract?

Chapter Fifteen

When her alarm went off at 5.00a.m., Brianna was forced awake from a deep and dreamless sleep. With her mind still foggy, she sat up in the camp bed and looked around the place she’d called home for the last week. Her discarded shorts and vest top were the only clue as to how she’d spent most of the night. She could remember, vividly and with the utmost pleasure, rolling around on the floor with Mitch. But she couldn’t remember when Mitch had left her, or how she’d got into bed. Sadly, memories were all she’d have from now on. It was time to go home.

She dressed quickly and walked out to wait for Dan.

‘Are you off then?’ At the sound of the cool female voice, Brianna turned to find Tessa behind her.

‘Yes.’ She smiled warmly at the head nurse. They hadn’t spoken to each other since that episode in the bar, Brianna figuring it best to stay out of Tessa’s way. Though she’d never experienced unrequited love, she’d seen how hurt Tessa was and had felt for her. ‘I hope there are no hard feelings,’ Brianna began, but Tessa’s stony glare stopped her in her tracks.

‘It won’t last.’

Brianna gave a casual shrug. ‘Who says I want it to last?’

‘You’re not right for him.’

‘And you are?’ The sympathy she’d been feeling was fast receding.

‘You think just because you’ve got money, you can get anything, or anyone, you want.’ The words were laced with bitterness. ‘Well, don’t think Mitch will be that easily bought. He’ll always be his own man, not some sort of lapdog to a pampered princess.’

God how she hated that term, but she was too busy laughing at the picture of Mitch as her lapdog to take offence. ‘I know that. And as his own man he can choose who he wants to sleepwith. He chose me.’ Oh, what was she doing, getting involved in a demeaning war of words over a man? It was ridiculous. ‘Look, let’s not argue over this. As you say, it’s not as if Mitch and I will ever be an item. To be honest, I don’t even know if we’ll even see each other again.’ Hearing Dan coming towards them in the truck, she stared directly into Tessa’s eyes. ‘It was good to meet you, Tessa. You do a great job here, you really do.’

Gratefully Brianna climbed into the passenger seat. All of a sudden she was desperate to get home. Away from injured children, traumatised villages, and a tall, fair-haired man with intense dark brown eyes and a rough, tough attitude.

* * *

Many weary, bone-shaking hours later, Brianna reclined in the first class cabin of a 747 that would whisk her back to London. As the bubbles of champagne fizzed delicately over her tongue, she reflected on her trip. Already she felt a different person from the one who’d flown out, only seven days ago. Now she had a focus, a purpose. She knew what she wanted to do and even had a plan of how to get there. All that remained was to convince Margaret her ideas were sound and that she was capable of carrying them out.

Leaning back against the soft pillow, she took another sip of the liquid nectar and decided to be honest with herself. The change in her wasn’t all to do with her desire to work for the charity. Some of the increased spring, the giddiness, euphoria almost, was to do with a very different desire. She’d finally found a man who really interested her. Not just sexually, though he did that in spades, but emotionally. Mitch McBride had captivated her. She wanted to spend more time with him, to get beneath the tough outer layer he showed to the world. Even as she was flying away from him, she knew she’d have to see him again.

She’d just have to.

* * *

While Brianna was sleeping in the luxury of the first class cabin, Mitch was in the middle of his ward round with Tessa. Was it his imagination or was she being frosty with him? He respected Tessa hugely, but couldn’t say he understood her. Most of the time she was friendly, but there were times he had the distinct impression she was angry with him. Like now.

‘Is everything all right, Tessa?’ he asked when they’d finished checking on all the patients.

‘Yes, why wouldn’t it be?’ She busied herself with filing away the patient’s notes. ‘I saw Brianna go off this morning.’ Suddenly she looked up and scrutinised his face, obviously waiting to observe his reaction.

Mitch knew they were all aware he and Brianna had slept together. Toby had taken much delight in watching his boss squirm when he’d let slip that little nugget. But it was his business, his alone. He wasn’t about to discuss it with anyone.

He turned to leave, but Tessa hadn’t finished. ‘I’m surprised at you, Mitch, sleeping with her.’

Still with his back to her, he struggled to rein in his temper. His private life was just that. But he’d been reckless enough to conduct a physical relationship whilst on camp, something he’d vowed never to do, and now he was paying the price. Biting his tongue, he replied in what he considered to be a pretty measured tone. ‘Not that it is any concern of yours, but why do you say that?’

‘I didn’t think spoilt little rich girls were your type.’

Instinctively he opened his mouth to defend Brianna. She was rich, yes, spoilt no. But then he closed it again. Did he really know what she was like? At the camp she’d been out of her usual environment. Back on her own turf, with all the trappings of her wealth around her, she was probably a very different person.

‘They’re not my type,’ he replied shortly. On that they could agree. However much he might have been attracted to Brianna, she most definitely wasn’t the right type for someone like him.

Thankfully his bleep went off before Tessa could get in any further digs. He’d stick to concentrating on his work from now on. It was the one blasted thing he was good at.

* * *

It had taken the best part of a day and a night, but Brianna was finally home. Home was the house she still shared with her parents. Not that they were on top of each other. With four floors, umpteen bedrooms and acres of square footage, it wasn’t what most people were lucky enough to call a home. Brianna had an apartment on the first floor of the impressive London mansion house. Her place had its own entrance and stretched all the way from the front of the house to the rear. Four bedrooms and bathrooms, three reception areas, a study and her own kitchen. She had all she needed for her own independence, with the comfort of knowing her parents were just down the hallway. Sometimes she could go days without seeing them, though usually at some point she’d open the interconnecting door and wander down the corridor for a chat. She was incredibly lucky, and not just in material terms. More important than any amount of wealth, she was loved and cherished. The apple of her parents’ eye. Sometimes it was hard being the only child, the sole focus of all that devotion. But mainly it was heart-warming, comforting. Whatever happened in her life, her parents were always there to pick up the pieces. To console her and then encourage her into the next venture.

Brianna found her mother in the family kitchen, discussing recipes with the cook. She stood and watched for a moment, appreciating her mother’s grace, the way she spoke to the cook in a way that made her an equal, not a member of staff. When shefinally caught sight of her daughter, a huge smile swept across her face. Brianna dropped her bag and rushed to hug her. Nowthiswas what she called home. Not the bricks and mortar, but her mother’s arms.

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