Do Opposites Attract? (Kathryn Freeman’s Irresistible Romcom Collection #5)

Chapter Twenty-Five

Brianna threw the phone down in annoyance. Having paid ￡100,000 into the Medic SOS bank account, it looked like Henry was after his pound of flesh. He wanted his dinner date and he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. Brianna hissed. Perhaps she should be grateful at least one man wanted to have dinner with her tonight, even if it was Henry. Mitch hadn’t exactly been inundating her with calls since last weekend, begging to see her. She was starting to get more than a little fed up with the way he blew hot and cold.

Despite Margaret’s insistence that Brianna work the proper office hours, she left work early, reasoning that tonight could be classed as work. The man had paid a small fortune for the date, the least she owed him was to look her best. And that meant allowing plenty of time to get ready.

Having showered, she slipped into a short, flirty silk dress and was trying to reach round to do up the zipper when her phone rang.

She gave the zip one last tug, but her arms weren’t long enough and the insistent ringing of the phone was driving her crazy. Muttering under her breath she left the unzipped halves dangling and went to answer it. ‘Hello?’

‘You sound out of breath. What are you up to?’

She expelled a soft curse. Mitch. ‘I’m trying to do up the zipper on my dress. Where are you when I need you?’

‘I’m better at undoing zips,’ he replied dryly. ‘Why are you putting on a dress now anyway? Have you got a hot date?’

‘As a matter of fact, I have.’

There was a moment of deafening silence. ‘Who with?’ he asked finally, his voice sounding strangled.

She laughed. ‘Come on, Mitch, I’m only teasing. I’m seeing Henry for this flipping date he paid for at the auction.’

‘I see.’

Again there was silence. Brianna shook her head, half annoyed, half pleased. Was Mitch really jealous? Of Henry ? ‘Well, if it helps, I’d rather I was seeing you. I would have been, if you’d phoned.’

‘I’m phoning now, aren’t I?’ Then there was a deep sigh. ‘Look, I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch. I’ve been a bit busy. Where is he taking you?’

‘The Ivy.’ Even as she said the words, she cringed, imagining the look on his face at the name of the pretentious restaurant.

‘Well, enjoy your evening, Brianna,’ he replied quietly, putting down the phone before she had a chance to reply.

With a sigh she gathered up the halves of her dress and went in search of her mother.

‘Would you mind doing me up?’ she asked when she found her in her study.

‘Wow, you look lovely, dear.’ Her mother quickly zipped her up before easing her round to face her. ‘So.’ She coughed delicately. ‘Is this all in honour of Mitch?’

Brianna rolled her eyes. ‘No. It’s for Henry.’ Her mother’s lips curved into a brief, triumphant smile. ‘And before you get any ideas, this is the date he paid for.’

‘Oh, I see.’ The smile disappeared, but Brianna knew her hope remained. ‘Well, have a good evening, darling.’

Brianna mumbled her thanks, disappearing before she received another lecture on how wonderfully suitable Henry was. In contrast to the wildly unsuitable Mitch. There had been a time when she might have looked forward to being taken to dinner by Henry. But that was before she realised he liked her as more than a friend. And before she’d met the rugged doctor who’d stolen her heart.

* * *

Mitch was restless. Ever since he’d spoken to Brianna he couldn’t settle. He’d tried to watch the television, but none of the programmes took his interest. He’d thought of taking out his surfboard, but there wasn’t much light left and for once the thought of pitting himself against the wind and the waves didn’t thrill him. He’d deliberately waited until midweek to phone Brianna, wanting to put some space between them since the saga of the ball. But the moment she’d told him she was going out with Henry, the defensive shield he’d started to erect had shattered. Now he found himself pacing the room, unable to get the image of Brianna laughing with Henry over a glass of champagne out of his head. This scenario should have been perfect. What easier way to put the brakes on their doomed relationship than to push her into the arms of another man?

The thought caused a sharp pain his heart. No. Damn it, she deserved someone far better than bloody Henry. Angrily he punched his hand against the door frame. This was crazy. He couldn’t stand it. He couldn’t simply sit the evening out in his own home wondering what she was doing. Snatching at his car keys, he slammed out of the house.

* * *

Two hours later, he was sitting in his car opposite her place feeling like a stalker, which effectively he was. Thank God common sense had prevailed enough for him to abandon his first idea, which had been to storm into the Ivy and sit down at their table. Yeah, he could just imagine how well that would have gone down. Henry might have been pissed, but Brianna would have been absolutely livid. So instead he’d parked up outside her house and sat and waited, not even daring to think about what he was going to do if she didn’t turn up.

Another hour passed. Mitch looked at his watch. It was half past eleven. Where the hell were they? His hands gripped the steering wheel and with a muttered curse he sunk his head onto them. What on earth was he doing here? He was a total fool. He’d spent the best part of three days telling himself he had to cool things with Brianna and now he was sitting outside her place, waiting for her to come home like the jealous boyfriend he’d convinced himself he couldn’t be.

Just as he was about to turn the key and drive home, a sleek black Mercedes purred into view. Mitch watched as the car glided to a stop right outside her house. Screwing up his eyes he could see Henry at the wheel and Brianna sitting next to him, her hair pinned elegantly on the top of her head. She looked every inch the lady she was.

Aware he was still clenching the wheel, Mitch made himself relax and sit back in the seat. He’d just wait until she got out, until Henry drove round the corner, and then he’d drive off home. He didn’t need to ever admit to this shoddy little venture.

Inside the Mercedes Henry’s face bent towards Brianna’s.

Without thinking, Mitch yanked his door open and barged over to them, thumping on the passenger window.

A shocked Brianna opened the door. ‘Mitch! What on earth are you doing here?’

‘I came to check you were okay.’ He barely squeezed the words out, his jaw was so tight.

‘Why wouldn’t she be okay?’ Henry leaned across from the driver’s seat, his cheeks flushed with anger.

Mitch didn’t reply. He just stood and stared at them both, hands in fists at his side, muscles tense.

‘You knew I’d be okay with Henry. He’s an old friend.’ Brianna shook her head, as if she still couldn’t believe he was there.

Mitch sucked in a sharp breath, aware of an irrational stab of jealousy at her words and what they implied. The years she and Henry had already shared, even if it was only platonic. ‘I wanted to make sure he didn’t push for more than he’d paid for.’

Brianna flushed at his coarseness. ‘That was uncalled for.’

It was. He was being rude and overbearing. With a jerk of his head Mitch looked away, staring into the distance. He was fast losing his mind. Brianna was making him lose his mind. Why else had he driven all the way here, effectively to spy on her?

Simmering with anger at himself, he left them to it and walked back across the road to his car. He’d done exactly what he hadn’t wanted to do at the ball. He’d shown Brianna up in front of one of her friends. At this very moment Henry was no doubt looking down his long, aristocratic nose at him and Mitch couldn’t even blame him. He’d not only given him all the ammunition he needed, he’d practically loaded the damn gun and pulled off the safety catch. He’d shown no better manners than the louts he’d grown up with.

As he hunched over the wheel of his car, brooding into the night, Brianna slipped into the passenger seat.

‘What on earth are you playing at?’ she demanded, her green eyes blazing. ‘How dare you embarrass me like this, checking up on me as if I’m some sort of harlot? One you can’t trust out of your sight.’

There was nothing he could say in his defence.

‘And what if I’d wanted to invite him back?’ she continued, her voice softer now, but more deadly. ‘What would you have done then?’

He turned to glare at her. ‘Don’t play games with me, Brianna.’

‘Same goes, Mitch.’ She moved to slide back out of the car. ‘It’s been three days since the ball and you haven’t bothered to call. I never know where I stand with you from one day to the next. Either you want me in your life or you don’t. Which is it?’

This was his opportunity. The chance to do what any sane man would do in his position, once he’d grasped the woman he was falling for was too far out of his reach. He just had to say the word.

‘You know damn well which it is,’ he ground out, knowing he didn’t have the strength to do what he needed to do. If he couldn’t bear the thought of her on a platonic date with Henry, how was he expected to finish with her now, leaving the field open for all the other men he’d seen sniffing around, watching her with frankly lustful eyes.

‘Do I?’ she replied softly. ‘Maybe I need to hear you say it.’

‘I want you, Brianna. God knows, I want you.’ Just like he’d wanted to be part of a normal, happy loving family. He could want all he liked, but some things he just couldn’t have.

‘Then why are you still sitting in the car?’

She shut the passenger door and crossed the road, her beautiful body rippling under the silk of her dress. As he watched her, his heart was in danger of exploding in his chest. On the outside she was beauty and class personified. On the inside she was funny, warm-hearted and stronger than he’d realised. Once all he’d seen was a spoilt rich girl. Now he knew she was so much more. It was no wonder he couldn’t do without her.

With a shake of his head, he climbed out of the car and went to follow her.

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.