Do Opposites Attract? (24 page)

Brianna looked at her reflection in the mirror and knew she looked like a bride should look. It wasn’t the artfully dressed hair, or the stunning slim-fitting white bridal gown that made the perfect picture. No, it was the sheer happiness radiating from her eyes that really said it all.

Her father came up behind her, circling his arm around her waist. ‘I know I should be feeling sad at this moment, giving up my daughter to another man, but to be honest, that isn’t how I feel.’ He took a step back and studied his daughter. ‘You look so radiant, so full of life. Just like your mother did on her wedding day. I know you’ve found that special someone. The love of your life. So I don’t mind handing you over to Mitch, because I know that’s what you want. Besides, it actually feels as though I’m gaining a son, not saying goodbye to my beloved daughter.’

Brianna leaned in close, as she had done so many times over the years. ‘Good, because you will never get rid of me.’ She gave her reflection one last look. ‘I hate to sound conceited, but I think I look pretty damned good.’

Her father chuckled. ‘So do I.’ He gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek. ‘Come on then, let’s not make Mitch wait any longer. I imagine he’s having a hard enough time in that church.’

When it had come down to choosing guests for the wedding, it had become only too painfully obvious how few people Mitch had in his life. His family had consisted only of Catherine, though her utter delight at the news had surely been worth more than an army full of distant relatives. His list of friends had also been a short one. The Medic SOS team – those who weren’t abroad – and two mates from his army days, one of whom he had chosen as his best man. It had been a stark reminder to Brianna of how much Mitch had once isolated himself and how much he’d moved on since. He’d even agreed to a large wedding, which meant right now he was sitting in a chilly church, surrounded by a congregation most of whom he’d never met in his life. Suddenly she was anxious to see him.

She had imagined gliding serenely down the aisle, bestowing an elegant smile on the guests as she did so. Instead she almost ran down.

Her father tugged her back. ‘Slow down,’ he whispered. ‘It’s not the hundred metres sprint.’

But she couldn’t. All she wanted to do was get to Mitch. To make sure he was there, that he hadn’t got cold feet and fled at the sight of the crowded church.

When he came into view, she finally slowed. He looked amazing. Though he’d baulked at the suggestion of wearing a morning suit, he had agreed to a tuxedo and white bow tie. With his face glowing with health and his hair cut short, just as she liked it now, he was to die for.

But even better than his rugged good looks was the love that radiated out of his deep brown eyes when he turned and saw her. She took his outstretched hand and beamed as he squeezed it gently.

All too soon the service was over, the photographs taken, the meal served and the speeches made. Her father had been charming, the best man witty. Mitch had been achingly sincere. He had begun by thanking her parents for accepting him into their family. He had ended with his deep gratitude to her for giving his life meaning and for teaching him how to love. When he promised to love and cherish her for the rest of his life, she had wept for the first time that day.

Having now repaired her make-up, Brianna was ready to catch up with her family. She spied her mother talking with Abigail, Henry’s mother, and strode over to them. Thank goodness her parents had agreed Henry wouldn’t be invited.

‘Darling, I don’t want to worry you,’ she overheard Abigail saying, feeling a weird sense of déjà vu. ‘But Henry tells me Mitch comes from a rather unsavoury background, if you know what I mean. I hear his mother was a working girl …’

Brianna froze. Damn Henry and his ridiculous desire to ruin what she and Mitch had. She was about to wade in and say her piece, when her mother interrupted Abigail with a curt wave of her hand.

‘Abigail, I know all about that poor boy’s childhood and what he had to endure. How he found the strength to get through it and become the man he has, I will never know. I’m proud to have him as part of my family, as my son. If you value my friendship, you’ll remember that.’

To Brianna’s surprise, her mother rose from the table and headed off towards the bar, leaving Abigail alone and red-faced. Trying to hide her grin, Brianna shot off after her. ‘Did you and Abigail just fall out?’

‘When that woman bad-mouths my family, she is no friend of mine.’

Brianna grinned, hugging her. ‘Oh, Mum, you’re priceless.’

The day blended into the evening, when more guests arrived and the party really started to liven up.

‘Here, bride, have another glass of champagne.’ Melanie thrust yet another glass into her hands. ‘If you can’t get drunk on your wedding day, when can you?’ Brianna accepted the glass gratefully and took a sip. ‘So where is that heart-throb husband of yours?’

For a moment Brianna was puzzled. Then she broke into a huge goofy smile. ‘Oh, Melanie, it feels so strange, thinking of Mitch as my husband.’ She scanned the dance floor. ‘Look, there he is. Dancing with my great aunt, would you believe. He even looks like he’s enjoying himself.’

‘Umm, and I do believe she’s flirting with him a little. Look at her, gazing up at him in adoration. You’re going to have to go and claim him soon.’

Brianna laughed and settled back to rest against the table. She was delighted at how well Mitch had settled into her family during the six months since he’d proposed. Especially how he’d got on with her parents. Because they all loved her, they’d been determined to make their relationship work. Somewhere along the line though, their mutual like and respect for each other had meant they’d stopped having to try.

‘Well, as you’ve bagged the hottest male here tonight, I’ve had to look for the next best, as usual.’ Melanie’s eyes weren’t on her. They were fixed on the dashing man walking towards them, elegant in his handmade evening suit. ‘And, do you know what? I think I’ve found him.’

‘You and Frederick?’ Brianna exclaimed.

‘Umm, yes, it would appear so.’

‘That’s fantastic.’ She gave her friend a tight hug. ‘Will I be attending another wedding soon?’

Melanie snorted. ‘Slow down, we’re not quite at that stage yet. But you never know.’

‘Never know what?’ Frederick asked, kissing Brianna’s hand. ‘May I say, you are quite the most beautiful bride I have ever seen.’

Happily accepting the compliment Brianna risked a sly glance towards her friend. ‘Let’s see if you’re still thinking that in another year.’

Melanie whisked him off to the dance floor before he could ask any more questions. Brianna smiled as she watched them. They made a striking couple. She had a good feeling about them.

Mitch tried to extricate himself from the arms of Brianna’s great aunt. How many flipping relatives did she have? When he’d agreed to a big wedding, he’d had no idea what that meant. There were hundreds of these people. All very pleasant, but he’d had enough of polite conversation to last him a lifetime. ‘Sorry,’ he told the feisty-looking old bird, who hadn’t been backwards in coming forward. ‘I need to find Brianna.’

Hastily he slipped away, scanning the room in an almost unseemly desperation.

‘If you’re looking for your wife, she’s over by the bar.’ He turned to find Catherine smiling at him.

‘I was, but I can hold off dancing with her when the second most beautiful woman in the room is smiling at me.’

Catherine chuckled. ‘My goodness, who is this smoothly handsome stranger, and what has he done with my Mitch?’

‘Hey, don’t knock a man when he’s trying.’ He reached for her hand and kissed it dramatically. ‘How about that? And please tell me you don’t want to dance, because I bloody hate all that shuffling.’

‘Now that’s more like it. And no, I don’t need a dance. Just your attention. I wanted to let you know that I finally managed to change my will. Something I thought I’d done years ago, but it seems my brother managed to put a stop to it. I don’t know if it will help ease that chip you probably still have precariously balanced on your shoulder, but when I finally pop my clogs, my estate will go to you.’ Her eyes twinkled. ‘And I might not be Worthington rich, but I am pretty loaded.’

Flabbergasted, Mitch gaped at her. ‘Hell, Catherine. I don’t know what to say.’

‘You don’t need to say anything. I’m doing what any mother would do. Leaving my inheritance to my son.’ She reached up to kiss his cheek and had disappeared before he had a chance to close his mouth.

Now he really needed to find Brianna.

Once more his eyes swept the room. Thank you God, there she was. His wife. His heart lurched and he let out a smug smile. Bloody unbelievable.

‘At last, I find my beautiful wife alone.’ He moved up behind her, placing a kiss on the back of her neck.

She turned and smiled at him. ‘Hey there, husband. I’ve just been talking to Melanie. It seems she and Frederick are an item.’ She nodded over to where Melanie and Frederick were getting as close as two people could get on the dance floor.

Mitch stilled. Suddenly all his insecurities came flooding back. ‘That could have been you,’ he said quietly, then kicked himself. He was on his wedding day, for crying out loud. How could he still doubt her love for him, when she’d just declared it in front of legions of her friends and family?

Brianna blinked, then shook her head at him. ‘You silly man, it could never have been me. Don’t you realise that by now? From the first day I met you, I was yours and yours alone. As I’ve told you many times already, you always were, and always will be, all I’ve ever wanted.’ His body relaxed against her. ‘Of course, if I’d wanted a man with money, a title, charm and sophistication, then Frederick would have been perfect.’

Growling, Mitch took hold of her hand and dragged her across the room and out into the hallway. ‘I’ll show you my version of charm and sophistication.’

Finding a quiet doorway, he pulled Brianna against the door and proceeded to devour her mouth with a hunger that left them both breathless. ‘Does that work for you?’ he asked when he finally pulled away.

‘Oh yes,’ she sighed, sagging against him. ‘You work for me, Mitch. Every single part of you.’

‘Good, because you work for me, too. Now, we need to say our goodbyes to everyone and get the hell out of here. I want to start our honeymoon.’

Kathryn was born in Wallingford, England but has spent most of her life living in a village near Windsor. After studying pharmacy in Brighton she began her working life as a retail pharmacist. She quickly realised
that trying to decipher doctors’ handwriting wasn’t for her and left to join the pharmaceutical industry where she spent twenty happy years working in medical communications. In 2011, backed by her family, she left the world of pharmaceutical science to begin life as a self-employed writer, juggling the two disciplines of medical writing and romance. Some days a racing heart is a medical condition, others it’s the reaction to a hunky hero …

With two teenage boys and a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to bother buying a card again this year (yes, he does) the romance in her life is all in her head. Then again, her husband’s unstinting support of her career change goes to prove that love isn’t always about hearts and flowers – and heroes can come in many disguises.

Do Opposites Attract?
is Kathryn’s second novel with Choc Lit, but her first book to appear in paperback. Her debut novel is
Too Charming
, which was published by Choc Lit Lite and is available online.

For more information on Kathryn visit:

http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk

www.twitter.com/KathrynFreeman1

www.facebook.com/kathrynfreeman

From Kathryn Freeman

Too Charming

Does a girl ever really learn from her mistakes?

Detective Sergeant Megan Taylor thinks so. She once lost her heart to a man who was too charming and she isn’t about to make the same mistake again – especially not with sexy defence lawyer, Scott Armstrong. Aside from being far too sure of himself for his own good, Scott’s major flaw is that he defends the very people that she works so hard to imprison.

But when Scott wants something he goes for it. And he wants Megan. One day she’ll see him not as a lawyer, but as a man … and that’s when she’ll fall for him.

Yet just as Scott seems to be making inroads, a case presents itself that’s far too close to home, throwing his life into chaos.

As Megan helps him pick up the pieces, can he persuade her that he isn’t the careless charmer she thinks he is? Isn’t a man innocent until proven guilty?

Visit
www.choc-lit.com
for more details including the first two chapters and reviews.

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