Chapter Eight
The following morning the team huddled together in Mitch’s tent to go over the plans for the day.
‘The final item to discuss is the temporary school,’ Mitch was saying, his eyes skimming through his notes. ‘They’re looking for English speaking volunteers to do a stint with the children.’ He glanced fleetingly at Brianna. ‘I thought it was something you could help with.’
‘Because I’m useless here?’
His expression changed from bland to irritated. ‘No. Because nobody here talks the Queen’s English better than you do.’
It was another dig at her background, but Brianna held back a retort. After last night, she needed to find a way back into his good books. ‘Okay, no problem. I’d love to help. I can give them the rest of the bears I brought.’
He looked like he was going to add a comment about that, but thankfully he didn’t get a chance because Dan spoke. ‘I’ll go with you. Can’t have them all talking like posh people.’
Mitch narrowed his eyes and glared at the logistics man before seeming to pull himself together and nodding. ‘Okay.’
When the meeting was over, Mitch pulled her to one side. ‘Make sure you take some water bottles with you. I presume you read all the bumph about never drinking water that isn’t out of a sealed bottle?’
Really, did she look stupid? ‘Of course.’
Dan appeared at her side. ‘Hey, don’t worry about her, boss. I’ll make sure she’s okay.’
Mitch thinned his lips. ‘I’m sure you will.’
When he was out of earshot, Dan whistled. ‘What’s got into him this morning? He’s even grumpier than usual.’
Brianna had a horrible feeling it was down to her meddling last night. She’d told the guy he was sexy enough to be billboard material and now he hated her. Go figure.
Shrugging off Mitch’s irritation, she went to gather the box of remaining bears from her tent and followed Dan to the jeep. As he drove she thought about the day ahead. Talking with the school children would be fun. As would being in the company of Dan. What a flipping shame that next to Mitch, Dan was like a young boy, still wet behind the ears. It wasn’t just the difference in ages, though there was probably ten years between them. Dan was all on the surface. What you saw was what you got. Mitch was deep, complex. He intrigued her. Where did he get his mental strength from? Why was he so unwilling to let down his guard? Why did he find it so hard to smile?
‘Here we go.’ Dan jumped down from the jeep and went round to open the door for her.
Thanking him, she scrambled down and surveyed the school tent. ‘I’m amazed they’re bothering with schooling at a time like this.’
‘It helps the kids to have some sort of normal routine in their lives.’ He grinned. ‘And gives the parents a bit of a break.’
Quietly they crept into the back of the tent, but in no time at all they were spotted and drawn into the conversation. Brianna had worried whether she’d even be able to talk to the children, but she found between her limited grasp of Spanish and their surprisingly good English, they managed fine. And the teddy bears went down a storm. So there, Mitch.
In between the smiles and laughter there were some touching moments, most particularly when the children haltingly described when the tornado had hit. Brianna wasn’t the only one with tears in her eyes. Thankfully the teacher called a temporary break after that and Brianna escaped outside for some much needed air.
‘You want drink?’
A smiling girl with dark curly hair and big brown eyes offered her up a cup. ‘I, umm.’ She could feel the bottle of water weighing heavily in her trouser pocket, but how could she refuse the girl? It seemed far too rude. ‘Thank you. That’s very kind.’ She took the cup and took a tiny sip. She’d throw the rest away when the girl wasn’t looking.
‘Your pleasure.’ The girl gave her a wide, toothy grin.
Brianna laughed and gently touched her cheek. ‘You say my pleasure.’
‘My pleasure.’ She stayed where she was, still smiling, still watching.
Brianna took another sip. ‘Lovely.’
The girl nodded and skipped away.
It wasn’t long afterwards that Brianna started to experience the most intense, griping stomach cramps. She excused herself from the class and flew outside. A few moments later Dan came to find her. He took one look at her white face and clammy skin and bundled her straight into the jeep.
‘Don’t tell me you drank the water.’
‘Only a sip,’ she protested, then moaned as another cramp made her double up in pain.
‘That’s all it takes,’ he told her, but Brianna wasn’t listening. She was too busy retching out of the window.
* * *
Mitch watched as Brianna staggered out of the truck and swore. ‘You fool.’
She grimaced. ‘Thanks for your concern, but you don’t have to worry about me. I’ll be fine.’ He took hold of her hand to steady her as she tried to walk towards the medical tent, but she snatched it away. ‘No, I’m okay.’ Then she projectile vomited all over his shirt. ‘Oh my God.’
Before she had a chance to say anything else, her legs gave way. Mitch caught her in his arms and carried her inside. Crikey, she was a lightweight.
She wriggled. ‘No, I don’t want to go here.’ Her pale, anguished face pleaded with him. ‘Please. Take me to my tent. I just need to rest.’
He knew she was mortified at being sick in front of them and guessed being shoved onto a hospital bed would only compound her embarrassment. He turned to Dan. ‘I’ll carry her to my tent. I’ve got paperwork to do anyway, so I’ll keep an eye on her at the same time. Make sure Stuart is about. Oh and grab me a drip and stand. Thanks.’
She was obviously feeling lousy because she allowed him to put her on his bed and fix up the drip with no protest. Following a few more, blessedly dry, heaves she fell fast asleep. In between literally and figuratively mopping her brow, he took the opportunity to change out of his vomit-patterned shirt, take a quick shower and tackle more of his blasted paperwork.
A couple of hours later he heard a groan from his bed and turned to find her trying to sit up. Her hair was a mess and her face washed out, yet her very vulnerability tugged at him. ‘Welcome back,’ he told her gruffly.
She held out the arm with the drip in it. ‘What’s this doing here? I’m not ill.’
‘It’s replacing the fluids you splattered over my shirt.’
Instantly she clasped her other hand to her mouth in horror. ‘Shit, now I remember. I’m so sorry.’ She hung her head. ‘I can’t believe I puked up all over you. God, and it would have to be you, wouldn’t it?’
‘What do you mean by that?’
‘I mean, you’re . . . well . . . you’re you.’ She bit her lip. ‘You already think I’m a total moron. Now I’ve thrown up all over you, you’ll hate me even more.’
What the blazes was she going on about? ‘Number one, I don’t hate you, don’t be so ridiculous. Number two, do I look like the type of man who’s bothered by a bit of sick?’
It stopped her in her tracks. At least long enough to study him. He tried not to squirm. ‘No, I guess not. But I expect you are bothered by the fact that I forgot to do as you told me.’ She shook her head. ‘No, that’s not true. I didn’t forget. It’s just the girl who offered me the drink looked so adorable, and I didn’t want to disappoint her.’ He was about to say something, but she wasn’t finished. ‘Instead I disappointed you.’
‘Jesus, Brianna, I’m not disappointed in you.’
‘Then why are you so cross with me?’
‘Cross?’
‘Yes. When I got out of the jeep, you called me a fool. And just now, when I woke up, you looked almost angry.’
He was angry, but not with her. With himself, for being so bloody attracted to her. Hell, when Dan had offered to go with her today, he’d been hard pressed not to punch the guy. ‘I’m not cross,’ he told her shortly. ‘I was worried. Do you have any idea how many diseases you can pick up from contaminated water?’
She shook her head, and he sighed and went to feel her forehead. It felt normal. If soft, silk-like skin could be called normal. ‘I think you’ll be fine. Dan went back to the school and the water they used was originally from a bottle, though it wasn’t fresh. I think whatever upset you has probably been flushed out by now.’
‘All over your shirt.’
She sounded so flat, as if she’d had the stuffing knocked out of her, that he almost smiled. He should enjoy this subdued version of Brianna while he could. She was a lot easier to handle. ‘I’ll take the drip out and you can go and rest a while in your own bed.’
He quickly removed the line and helped her to her feet. She looked a little shaky. Like a newborn foal, all large eyes and cute. Yeah, definitely cute. Hastily he dropped his hand to his side. ‘Are you okay to make your own way back?’
She eased her feet into her boots, holding onto his bed to steady herself. ‘Yes, thanks. I’ve caused you enough trouble.’
Okay, now this almost chastened version was beginning to frustrate him. ‘It’s no trouble. Looking after sick people is what I do.’
He received a small smile for that. ‘I know. And you’re pretty good at it.’ Her smile grew wider. ‘Though your bedside manner could do with softening up a bit.’
With that she was gone. He stared after her as the doorway flapped back down. He should have walked with her, made sure she was okay. It was just he wasn’t sure, if he tucked her back into her own bed, whether he’d be strong enough to leave.
She unsettled him, he admitted it as he sat back at his desk, and he didn’t like the feeling. Not one little bit. She was flirting with him, damn her, but it wasn’t clear why. Even less clear was what on earth he was going to do about it.
Letting out a deep sigh, he flung open a file.