Page 57 of Do Opposites Attract?

As he caught up with her on the doorstep, he put his arm around her shoulders and turned her to face him. ‘I’m sorry I embarrassed you,’ he told her, running his finger over her soft pink lips. ‘I’m not good at jealousy.’

She sighed against his fingers. ‘I’m not interested in other men, Mitch. I thought I’d made it clear by now. You are all I want. All I need.’

Her eyes were luminous and Mitch allowed himself to drown in them. Lowering his head to kiss her, he kidded himself that maybe, just maybe, they were meant to be together. If not forever, then at least for a little while longer.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Mitch had never been one for parties of any description. Give him a pint of beer and a cosy pub any day. But here he was at his second party in successive weekends, and mingling with Brianna’s friends once more. With a wry shake of his head he had to admit he felt no less like a fish out of water than he had at the ball.

His gaze swept across the partygoers congregated by the vast turquoise swimming pool that glittered invitingly in the early summer sunlight. There, in the middle of the throng, laughing happily and glittering just as invitingly, was the reason why he was prepared to put up with feeling so out of place. Brianna, looking so mouth-watering, that feasting his eyes on her was like a kick to his solar plexus.

At that moment she turned her head and caught his eye. After whispering something to the girl she was talking to, she sauntered up to him, her movements easy, fluid, sensual. ‘What are you doing, standing here all alone?’ she asked softly, draping her arms around his shoulders.

He expelled a deep breath of contentment as she nestled against him. Was it any wonder he couldn’t give her up? ‘I’m waiting for a sexy lady to come and chat me up,’ he replied, running his hands lazily down her back. She was wearing very little. Just a brightly coloured kaftan and a miniscule pink bikini.

‘Will I do?’ she smiled up at him.

‘Well, you’re the best offer I’ve had so far,’ he replied, nipping playfully at her ear. ‘But the night is still young.’ He received a sharp dig in the ribs. ‘Ouch. For that you can get me another drink. I guess it’ll have to be the non-alcoholic kind.’

‘It was your choice to drive. We could have stayed over. Sophie did offer.’

‘I know.’ But he hadn’t wanted to stay any longer than was necessary. At the first opportunity he was going to drag her away so he could have her all to himself.

* * *

Brianna took Mitch by the hand and led him towards the temporary bar. When she’d looked up to see him watching her, her heart had jumped in her chest. Her first thought had been how sexy he looked. Hard, tough, not the sort of man that you messed with. That menacing edge, the one that was there when he brooded like she’d caught him doing just now, gave her goosebumps. Not the cold kind, or the scared kind, but theshivers up the spine excitedkind. It also set him apart from other men, especially the crowd here tonight. He was, on the whole, older, being in his mid-thirties rather than mid to late twenties. But his age didn’t come from the years that he’d lived, but the way that he’d lived them. This crowd had been brought up with a silver spoon in their mouth and a generous trust fund in the bank. Most hadn’t done a proper day’s work in their lives. Unlike Mitch, who worked his gorgeous butt off to save and improve the lives of others.

As he ordered another round of drinks for them both, Melanie sidled up behind Brianna. ‘You know, Brie, if I met your man in a dark alley late at night, I wouldn’t know whether to be delighted or terrified.’

Brianna was still chuckling when Mitch came back with the drinks. ‘What are you ladies sniggering about?’ he asked, looking from one to the other.

‘The relative merits of dark alleys,’ Melanie replied, batting her eyes at him. ‘Now then, Mitch. I hope you’ve brought your trunks with you.’ She cast her eyes over his dark T-shirt and casual linen shorts, clearly assessing what lay beneath.

‘If you’re hoping for a pair of Speedo’s, you’re doomed for disappointment.’

Melanie giggled. ‘I don’t think you’re going to be a disappointment.’

Brianna raised her eyebrows. ‘Err, excuse me, I am here you know. The only one who’ll be getting their hands on my boyfriend’s trunks is me.’ It felt strange saying the word boyfriend out loud. It implied a certain steadiness to their relationship that, even after his jealous appearance at her place during the week, she knew didn’t really exist. She wondered if she’d ever reach that stage when she knew he was hers.

‘Fair enough,’ Melanie agreed. ‘But it doesn’t mean to say the rest of us can’t look. Come on, Mitch, time to strip off and get into the pool. I want to see if you’ve got what it takes to be on my team for the water polo.’

Mitch eyed her warily. ‘What exactly does it take to be on your team?’ he asked as he peeled off his shorts.

‘It’s all about form,’ she replied with a wink. ‘Body form.’

‘You’ll have to excuse Melanie,’ Brianna interjected. ‘When it comes to an attractive male she turns into some sort of Mata Hari.’

She glanced up to see a crowd walking towards them. Sophie was there. Sadly, so too was Henry and his friend Simon. They were all stripped down to their swimwear, the girls slender in their bikinis, the boys with perfectly sculptured chests and trendy coloured trunks. Brianna hadn’t spoken to Henry since their charity date and she wasn’t exactly thrilled to see him now. Goodness only knew what Mitch was thinking. She watched the men eye each other up.

‘Are you ladies ready to start?’ Henry directed his question at Melanie and Brianna, deliberately avoiding Mitch.

‘As it happens, I was just asking my star player to strip off,’ Melanie replied coolly, clearly sensing the atmosphere between the men and showing whose side she was on.

Though Mitch’s expression gave nothing away, Brianna could tell he was uncomfortable. She had a desperate urge to drag him back to the car and far away from the party. He was here only because she’d asked him to come. It wasn’t his scene and having Henry prowling round, waiting for him to slip up, wasn’t helping. Mitch tugged off his T-shirt and nodded over to Melanie.

‘Umm, I wasn’t wrong. You do have form.’ Melanie ran an appreciative pair of eyes over Mitch’s plain black trunks and bare torso. ‘Nice tattoo.’

He looked over his shoulder at the black panther. ‘Thanks.’

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