Page 81 of Do Opposites Attract?

Her father stood and held out his hand. ‘You might not want our permission, Mitch, but you’ve got our blessing.’

Choked, Mitch shook his hand and then found himself hugged by her mother.

He walked away with his head held high. He’d told them the worst parts about himself and yet they’d accepted him. That was one giant hurdle over. Only one more to go.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

As Brianna packed her case, ready to spend the weekend with Mitch, she wondered if she should broach the subject of them living together. Surely, now they’d both confirmed their love for each other, it was the next logical step? Of course it might be for most men, but she wasn’t dealing with most men. She was dealing with Mitch McBride. Passionate yes, but also stubbornly independent. Though he’d opened up to her finally, she knew she couldn’t rush him. Mustn’t rush him in fact, or he might back off, as he had done before. No, he would do what he wanted, when he wanted to. For now, she had to be content with the fact that he loved her, and had been as keen to see her this weekend as she had been to see him.

Zipping up her bag, she went to find her parents to let them know she wouldn’t be around. She hadn’t really spoken to them since they’d met with Mitch. Both evenings she’d come home from work ready to grill them, only to find they were out. Frustrated, she’d let the matter drop, hoping it had just been a coincidence and they weren’t deliberately avoiding her. She’d meant what she’d said to Mitch. She loved him, and would continue to love him, no matter what her parents thought. Deep inside, though, she knew it would be so much better to be seeing him with her parents’ approval, instead of against their wishes.

‘Mum! There you are.’ Finally, she found her mother home. ‘I’ve been looking for you for the last few evenings. Where have you been? I thought it was the daughter who should be out on the town, not the parents.’

‘Your father and I aren’t old yet, you know. We still have a social life, and friends who want to see us.’ She gave her daughter a quick squeeze. ‘But if we’d known you wanted to see us, we’d have stayed in. What did you need us for?’

Brianna laughed. ‘As if you didn’t know. I thought you might be avoiding me, because you were too worried about what to say to me about Mitch.’

Her mother looked genuinely shocked. ‘Good heavens, where did you get that from? I hope you don’t really think we’re such ogres.’

Brianna sighed and considered her words. ‘No, but I also know you weren’t all that keen on me seeing him in the first place. And that was before you knew about his childhood.’

Her mother sat on the bar stool in the kitchen and motioned for Brianna to do the same. ‘Darling, your father and I only want you to be happy. Yes, I was worried that Mitch wasn’t right for you, but only because I know from personal experience how much easier it is to be with someone who comes from a similar place. There wasn’t only your father, you know, but when I met him, I knew straight away he was the one.’

Brianna smiled. ‘When I first met Mitch he was rude, but the sexiest man I’d ever seen. He got under my skin and filled my mind so I couldn’t think about anything else but him. He’s the one, Mum.’

Her mother patted her gently on the arm. ‘I know. I’m not blind, Brianna. I can see how much you love him, and what you see in him.’ She chuckled. ‘But aside from his looks, to have lived through what he has and come through the other side shows a strength of character we can only respect and admire. He’s a good man, my darling, and we’re delighted you’ve found him.’

Brianna threw her arms around her mother’s neck. ‘You don’t know how happy that makes me. He’s the man I want to marry, have children with.’ She sighed. ‘I just hope he feels the same. I guess I’m going to have to be patient while he figures out he wants to spend the rest of his life with me.’

‘I guess you are.’ With a smile and a twinkle in her eyes, she ran a loving hand down her daughter’s cheek before getting up off the stool.

Brianna sat, puzzled. ‘Why are you grinning?’

‘My daughter’s in love. Why wouldn’t I grin?’

Far from satisfied with her mother’s answer, Brianna raised herself off the chair and went to pick up her overnight bag. ‘Okay. I won’t be home this weekend. I’ll be with Mitch.’

‘Well, have fun.’

When she waved her goodbye, her mother still had a smile on her face.

* * *

As she pushed open the door to Mitch’s house, she was struck by how different it looked. It was positively gleaming, as if he’d spent the whole day tidying up for her. And were they really fresh flowers in the vase? She shook her head. No, she must be dreaming.

‘Mitch?’ she called out, following the scent of garlic to the kitchen. There he was, standing over the stove, turning something over in a pan. It was like the scene out of an old domestic handbook. Only Mitch was playing the role of the anxious to please wife, and she was the husband coming home after a hard day.

He turned and there was no doubting his pleasure at seeing her. It was clear in the deep brown of his eyes, in the easy smile that spread across his rugged features. He turned down the gas, and gently put his hands on her shoulders, drawing her tight against him. ‘Umm, you feel good,’ he murmured against her hair. ‘And you smell good too.’

Delighted, she wriggled closer. ‘You know what they say. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.’

‘I don’t know about that, but it certainly makes a man frisky.’ He cupped her face and gave a deep, searing kiss. ‘I hope you’re not hungry because it’s going to have to wait.’

He lifted her into his arms and carried her up the stairs.

* * *

Later, after Brianna had changed into some casual silky little number that made Mitch’s eyes water, they headed back downstairs. Mitch hunted out the champagne he’d put in the fridge and wrestled it open, handing her a glass.

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