Page 68 of Do Opposites Attract?

‘Okay then. Let’s get him there as fast as we can.’

The unconscious Mitch was lifted carefully onto the plane. When he was secured, Tessa turned to her. ‘Take care of him, please.’

Though they’d clashed in South America, both competing for the same man, now that man was a common bond between them. Brianna knew Tessa loved Mitch, just as she did. It was etched across the nurse’s tired face and evident in her worried eyes. ‘I will, Tessa, I will.’ Briefly they hugged each other, each acknowledging the other’s pain.

‘He shouldn’t even have been in the building,’ Tessa whispered as they moved apart. ‘But he’s so damn stubborn. A man was crying out in pain and the rescue team couldn’t move him because his feet were trapped. They told Mitch the building was too dangerous to operate in, that it could collapse any moment. But Mitch went in anyway. Bloody stubborn fool.’

Brianna looked over at Mitch. ‘Let’s hope he doesn’t pay for that stubbornness with his life.’

‘When he pulls through this, I’m going to give him such a bollocking,’ Tessa muttered.

For the first time in twenty-four hours, Brianna smiled. ‘You’ll have to stand in line.’

They exchanged a look of complete understanding. ‘You’ll keep me updated, won’t you?’ Tessa asked. ‘I know the phone signal is sketchy here, but we’ve got the satellite phones and the office have the numbers.’

Brianna squeezed her hand. ‘You have my promise. I’ll let you know the moment anything changes.’

Tessa reached into her pocket. ‘Oh and I found this next to his bed.’ She handed over a small toy giraffe. ‘It seemed an unlikely find. Was it your doing?’

Brianna’s heart flip-flopped in her chest. Big gruff Mitch had kept the giraffe? ‘Err, yes. I gave it to him.’

‘Then it should go with him now. It’s obviously important to him.’ Brianna stared down at the toy, chosen because its big brown eyes had reminded her of Mitch’s. She was too overcome to speak. ‘I didn’t think I’d ever say this,’ Tessa continued, ‘but I’m glad he’s got you, Brianna. Mitch and I are obviously not meant to be but I’m glad he’s got somebody looking after him, fighting for him.’ With tears in her eyes, she gave a final wave and walked back to the truck.

Brianna climbed into the plane beside Mitch and tucked the giraffe next to his face. When the doors closed, she took hold ofhis hand and held it close to her heart. ‘We’ll soon have you back in England, my darling. They’ll put you back together again, I promise.’

As the plane thundered down the runway, Brianna kissed his stubble-roughened cheek and prayed.

* * *

Once Mitch was in the hands of the hospital, Brianna found herself sitting alone and feeling helpless. They were doing tests and would operate as soon as they had the results. She was reassured several times, in the placatory voice healthcare professionals use with people they really want to throttle, that Mitch was in good hands and that she needed to go and rest. But how could she possibly go home, when he was still here, fighting for his life?

‘My darling daughter.’ Brianna turned to find her parents and Melanie striding up the hospital corridor. ‘You look absolutely shattered.’ They all huddled around her, hugging and kissing her. ‘How is he?’

Brianna focused on trying not to cry. ‘He’s still unconscious. They’ve taken him off for tests and then they’ll operate.’

Her mother took her by the shoulders. ‘Right then, there’s nothing more you can do for him for the moment. It’s time you started looking after yourself for a while. Your father’s going to take you home, where you’re going to have a shower and rest. Melanie and I will stay here. We’ll let you know as soon as there is anything to report.’

‘But I can’t leave him . . .’

Her protestations were drowned out. ‘Nonsense. When he regains consciousness, the last thing he’ll want to see is you looking like something the cat’s dragged in.’

Melanie tried, and failed, to hide a smile. ‘You do look a bit of a state, Miss Worthington.’ She stared, pointedly, atBrianna’s scruffy khaki trousers and creased T-shirt. ‘Not exactly an ambassador for the Worthington name.’

Brianna held her hands up in surrender. ‘I give in. I’ll go. But if there is any news . . .’

‘We’ll let you know,’ Melanie and her mother chorused.

Reassured, Brianna allowed her father to take her home. Once there, before she did anything else, she made the phone call she’d been dreading.

‘Catherine? I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news about Mitch.’

She heard the sharp intake of breath at the other end. ‘Oh no, don’t tell me he’s—’

‘No, he’s alive,’ she reassured quickly. ‘In a serious condition, but still alive. He’s back in England and they’re operating on him shortly. He’s in good hands, Catherine.’

When she’d given Catherine all the details, Brianna went to get a much needed shower. As she let the hot spray pummel her exhausted body, she hoped Mitch was somehow aware that there were at least three ladies who were praying desperately for him to pull through.

* * *

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