Do Opposites Attract? (13 page)

She left him standing on the veranda and went to find her bedroom. The party was over for her. It seemed nothing in her life would ever be quite the same again.

The first few days in the Philippines had been sheer hell, but then Mitch had expected that. They always were, with any new disaster. The chaos, the numbers of casualties, the basic equipment and supplies they had to work with until they could get their hands on more. His small team were groaning under the workload, made especially difficult as the airport runway had been damaged just after their arrival, delaying the other aid agencies. They had put in monster days and regularly interrupted nights. Now, thankfully, the airport had re-opened and things were easing.
For the first time in over seventy-two hours, Mitch returned to his tent anticipating a solid night’s sleep.

That was when he saw a package on his desk. At first he didn’t think much of it. Sometimes he would receive samples, or specialist medicines that way. But he did a double take when he saw the handwriting. He could remember seeing writing like that on a newspaper crossword at his house, following a lazy Sunday morning. What in blazes was Brianna sending him?

He tore open the parcel and sat down on the bed to explore the contents. The laugh he let rip when the toy giraffe tumbled onto his lap was long and heartfelt. It seemed like an eternity since he’d last had anything to laugh about. With a sense of anticipation, he sat back on the bed and began to read the letter.

Dear Mitch,

I missed you Saturday night at the party. I wore a slinky red dress, one I’d bought especially for you. I’d wanted to blow your mind. It had a plunging neckline, daring low back, and clung to the rest of my body like a silk wetsuit. Is this description turning you on, making you feel uncomfortable? I hope so. It’s my way of paying you back for what you said before you left. I was disappointed you had to go, that’s all. A girl is entitled to be disappointed if the man she’s grown to care for has to leave her for several weeks. You had no right to talk about ending our relationship and then leaving before I had a chance to tell you how I feel.

Anyway, the dress really worked on Frederick. Did I tell you about him? He’s the Earl’s son Melanie is determined to fix me up with. Frederick couldn’t keep his eyes off me. Or his hands, for that matter. Oh, and did I mention he’s tall, dark and handsome? Does this bother you at all? If it doesn’t, if you’re reading this and not feeling a damned thing, then you’re right. We should call this relationship – oh, sorry, you hate that word, don’t you? The great loner Mitch McBride couldn’t possibly get involved in something as serious as a relationship, could he? So let me re-word that part. If you’re not upset at the thought of Frederick running his hands over my silk-covered body, then you’re right, we should call this ‘thing’ between us over. On the other hand, if you are feeling the slightest stab of jealousy over Frederick kissing me on the veranda in the moonlight, then you should read on.

You see, you’ve been honest with me, so it is only fair I’m honest with you in return. I think I’m falling in love with you, Mitch. Yes, I know it wasn’t what we agreed, but I’m not going to apologise for my feelings. It’s happening and we’re both going to have to deal with it.

I hope you’re looking after yourself. I hope you’re finding some time to sleep, some time to relax. I don’t expect a letter back. You’ve already told me you aren’t a hearts and flowers man, so I can’t imagine you’re a letter writer, either. I wrote this as much for me, as for you. At least, while I’m writing it, I feel close to you.

I’m enclosing Sam, my cuddly giraffe. He will keep an eye on you while I can’t. I am going to imagine you putting him into your bed, cuddling him at night, thinking of me. Of course I know in reality you’ll shove him straight into your holdall. But I can dream.

Yours, Brianna xxxx

He experienced the whole gamut of emotions as his eyes pored over her stylish letters. Lust and a stab of raging jealousy came first, quickly followed by anger when he read her words of love. He ended on a smile, looking back at the giraffe and wondering what, exactly,
was
he going to do with it?

Overcome with fatigue, and God only knew what other emotion, he put his head in his hands and tried to clear the fog from his over-tired brain. Then he re-read the letter, more slowly this time. It was the statement that she thought she was falling in love with him that wouldn’t go away. It kept staring him blindingly in the face. What was she thinking? She couldn’t possibly be. Hadn’t she understood he wasn’t the sort of man that loved, or was loved? God, he’d never been loved, though when he was younger he had tried to love. He’d tried to love his mother. That experience had taught him it was a lot less painful if he didn’t let people get close to him, and if he didn’t get close to people. If he didn’t involve his heart. It had helped in the army, when he’d been laughing with colleagues one minute, and battling to save their lives the next. And it had helped with women, where no emotional attachments enabled him to easily continue doing the job he loved.

So what was he going to do about Brianna? How typical of her to declare her feelings and then tell him he was going to have to deal with it. It was part of what he admired about her. She was pushy, bolshie, but refreshingly straightforward.

He’d never received a love letter before and supposed, in her quirky way, this was one. Unheeded, a wash of emotion came over him as he thought of Brianna, thousands of miles away, bothering to put pen to paper and to parcel up her crazy giraffe. As his eyes filled and the emotion threatened to choke him, he shook himself. He was over tired, that was all. He’d get over it.

It had been two weeks since she’d last seen Mitch. Ten days since she’d spewed out her feelings to him in the letter. Long past the point of caring whether people in the office knew about her feelings for him, she’d asked for his flight details the moment she’d heard he was heading back. The emotional trauma of wondering if he would call wasn’t for her. Today she was going to meet him off the plane. If he rejected her … her heart tightened painfully. Well, if he rejected her, at least she’d know where she stood. That had to be better than mooning around, waiting for a phone call that might never come.

With her heart in her mouth she watched the steady line of weary travellers making their way through the arrivals hall. Some scanned the crowd, searching for the face of the loved one meeting them. Others looked straight ahead, knowing they were making their own way home. Mitch was one of those. As his tall broad figure came into view, Brianna almost shouted out with joy. God, she’d forgotten how gorgeous he was. Wearing tattered jeans and a crumpled leather jacket, his face was tanned but tired. Those deep brown eyes, such a stunning contrast to his fair hair, were fixed at some point in the distance. There was a magnetism about him, something that drew the eyes. She wasn’t the only one to feel it. Other women in the crowd, many probably waiting for their husbands or their lovers, turned to watch as Mitch walked past.

For a moment Brianna froze. He looked sexy but distant, remote. Could she really rush up to this man and throw her arms around him? Did she dare? The harshness was there in the set of his jaw, in the lines on his face. She’d forgotten that, just as she’d forgotten what he’d been like when she’d first met him. But that was only one side to him. This was the same man who’d spent a weekend teaching her how to windsurf.

‘Mitch!’ she cried out, suddenly finding her voice. Her legs started to run towards him, their pace matching the fast beat of her heart. ‘Mitch!’

He stopped and turned around, his face blank. She watched as he narrowed his eyes and surveyed the crowd, looking to see where the voice had come from. Pushing past the lady with her buggy and the couple who were enjoying a hot reunion kiss, Brianna forced her way into his line of sight.

Brown eyes found hers and flared with surprise. ‘Brianna? What on earth are you doing here?’

He looked shocked, but she didn’t think he was cross. Anyway, she was past caring. She flung her arms around his neck, at last feeling the solid, muscular body whose touch she’d craved. He smelt of planes and pure one hundred per cent man.

Mitch dropped his bag and pulled her closer to him, bending his neck to bury his nose in her hair. Her heart sang as he continued to hold her. As if he’d missed her. As if he really didn’t want to let her go.

‘Well, this is a nice surprise,’ he said hoarsely, finally pulling back.

‘Is it, really?’ she blurted, then kicked herself. She didn’t do timid.

Mitch smiled, the effect softening his face, making him instantly more approachable. ‘Trust me, a beautiful lady throwing her arms around me when I’ve just come off a transatlantic flight is definitely a nice surprise.’

Relief gushed through her, making her almost euphoric with happiness. ‘Well, in that case, your place or mine?’

This time Mitch laughed, the rich sound warming her heart still further. ‘Well yours is closer, but I’ve run out of fresh clothes.’

Brianna gave him a sly glance, her confidence returned. ‘For what I have in mind, you won’t need any clothes.’ She threaded her arm through his and led him towards the car park. ‘But why don’t I drive to your house while you have a kip in the car. You’re going to need all your energy for later.’

She was willing to wait until he’d showered and sorted himself out, but it seemed Mitch had other plans. While she had no idea where she stood in terms of his emotional feelings, she was left with no doubt about his physical desires. As soon as she’d crossed the threshold into his home he dragged her into his arms and carried her up the stairs. Within minutes she was naked, in his shower, her legs wrapped around his hips, her whole body screaming in delight. He made love like he did most things in life, with an intense passion, a total focus. Even as they dried off, he wasn’t ready to let her go. He pulled her down onto his bed and took her once more, his need for her no less fierce.

‘Wow. I think I can be reasonably sure no other woman has been in your bed recently,’ she remarked lazily as she tried to regain her equilibrium.

Mitch turned to her, propping himself up on one elbow. ‘I’m not in the habit of sleeping with more than one woman at any one time, Brianna. I thought that was how you’d see it, too.’

Brianna’s heart gave a stupid lurch. Surely that meant they were still together? At least for now. ‘Of course it is.’ She tenderly brushed back the damp hair from his forehead. ‘When you went away, I was angry with you. I wanted to fall into the arms of the next handsome man that came my way.’ She felt his body tense alongside her and experienced a flare of triumph. ‘But when Frederick kissed me, I felt nothing. You’ve spoilt me. Even when I was cross with you, I couldn’t kiss another man.’

Mitch took the hand that was tracing the lines on his forehead and put it down between his legs. ‘Good.’

Brianna knew they needed to talk, but for now it would have to wait. Her man had other ideas and she was more than happy to follow them.

By the time Mitch finally let her out of bed, it was dark and they were both hungry.

‘I can make us an omelette while you unpack,’ she declared as she wriggled back into her trousers.

Knowing her aptitude for cooking, he raised an eyebrow.

She huffed. ‘How difficult can it be? Whisking some eggs together, adding a bit of cheese, maybe some tomatoes.’ With her chin up, she sauntered out of the bedroom.

He chuckled and started to sort out his bag. Was this really happening? Had rich, spoilt Brianna really stood in a departure hall waiting to meet him off a plane and then brought him home? He’d been stunned to see her, his mind struggling to sift through the emotions jostling through him. Joy that she was there, terror that he was being dragged into something he wasn’t sure he wanted. Wonder that she’d actually bothered to meet him, fear for what that might mean. Of where she was leading them.

‘This all feels very familiar,’ he remarked when he found her bent over his cooker in the kitchen.

She stopped prodding the contents of the pan. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Hey, I didn’t
mean
anything.’ Seeing her wariness, he put his arms around her, drawing her against his chest. ‘It was just an observation. The last two times I’ve come back from abroad, I’ve had a gorgeous woman in my house, in my kitchen and in my bed. I’m not complaining.’

He felt her relax against him. ‘Sorry, it’s just I know you don’t like being crowded. I don’t want to overstep the mark.’

Mitch stood still, his feelings unsteady. What had he done to deserve this woman? Many times he’d tried to push her away, treated her badly, mainly for his own self-preservation. It scared him to think he was starting to let her in. Back at the camp, he’d repeatedly told himself he didn’t want a relationship. They were messy and he wasn’t cut out for them. Yet here he was, back with Brianna, and feeling a surge of contentment he’d rarely felt before.

‘Brianna, I’m not good with words,’ he told her quietly, knowing it was about time he gave her something back. ‘I’ve always preferred actions. But you need to know I care for you. I like having you around. It’s a new experience for me, having a woman write a letter to me, meet me at the airport.’ He nodded towards the now burning omelette. ‘Try and cook for me. You’ll just have to give me some time to get used to it.’

Brianna ignored the burning eggs and turned to kiss him gently on the lips. ‘Take all the time you need, Mitch. I’m not going anywhere.’ She went back to turn over the omelette. ‘Except perhaps the local takeaway. Bugger, it’s only the second time I’ve cooked for you, and the second time I’ve burnt it.’

‘At least you know I’m not just turned on by your haute cuisine.’ He gave her a kiss on the back of her neck. ‘I’ll get a takeaway.’

Ten minutes later they were once again enjoying a meal in front of the fire. This time, pizza.

‘Mitch, have you really never had a woman write to you, or meet you at the airport before now?’

He looked up, surprised. ‘Yes. I told you, I don’t do relationships.’ He laughed at himself. ‘At least I haven’t, until now.’

Brianna’s lips twitched. A second later, a broad grin split her face. ‘Does that mean you’re my boyfriend now?’