Match Made In Paradise by Barbara Dunlop (black female authors TXT) 📕

you go along.” She set the little stack of dried plates back on the shelf. “I want to be on the team, the Paradise team.”

“Why not think of this as a vacation?”

“Because a vacation is only fun when everyone else is relaxing too.”

He looked like she had him stumped. “That’s a reasonable point.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

They worked in silence for a few minutes.

“What about Galina?” she asked, casting around for ideas.

“What about it?”

“I could do something there.”

He looked her over. “You own a hard hat, steel-toed boots and a high-vis vest?”

She was warming up to the idea. “Is that what I need to work there?”

“Warehouses are dangerous places too.”

“Will you stop with that? Everything in the world can’t be too dangerous for me.” She pressed her lips together, staring up at him, daring him to argue back.

Instead of arguing, he smiled and she felt it right to her toes. He took the dish towel from her hands and eased in. “All right.”

“So, you think it’s a good idea?” For some reason, it warmed her to have his approval.

“I think, Mia, that you’re smart enough to do whatever you set your mind to doing.”

She liked the authenticity in his eyes. It made her feel secure. It made her feel bold and senselessly happy.

His eyes darkened then and he narrowed the gap between them.

Her pulse jumped a beat, settling into a faster rhythm. Wavelets of energy teased her skin, intoxicating energy that lit up her hormones. She wanted to reach out and touch him to get a bigger dose, but she settled for inching in, trying to capture by osmosis whatever it was he was giving off.

“Mia.” Her name was breathy on his lips.

It wasn’t a question, so she didn’t answer.

He brought his head down a few inches. Then he paused. His lips seemed to part, but he was out of focus now, so she couldn’t be sure. His warm hand closed gently around her waist.

She tipped her chin and stretched up, wondering if this was going to end the same as last time, with him pulling away and frustration chilling her for long minutes afterward.

But his lips touched hers, and the circuit was complete. His heat, his taste and his energy engulfed her. She stepped forward, her body brushing his. Then his arms snaked around her, pulling her close, enveloping her in a strong, sexy embrace.

Now this was a kiss, a throw-caution-to-the-wind, tear-off-your-clothes, run-to-the-nearest bed kiss. She’d never felt anything like it.

He braced the small of her back and bent her backward. She wound her arms around his neck, holding him tight, sliding her fingertips across his skin, dipping into his hairline.

He dropped his hand, cupping her rear, pulling her tight against the vee of his thighs.

“Yes,” she whispered.

He stilled, going tense.

She knew what that meant. She could feel the shift in his stance, the change in his energy. She wanted to rage at the unfairness of what he’d done to her. How could he stop like that? How could he tease her with paradise and then back off?

His arms slackened, loosening the embrace.

She firmed her knees beneath her.

He drew back, his lungs expanding his chest, hands still resting on the top of her hips. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“You didn’t do it alone.” She’d been an enthusiastic participant, still was. His kisses left her warm and alive, feeling like she could do anything.

“This is too complicated.” He tilted his head upward for a minute like he was gathering his strength. Then he smoothed her hair back from her temple.

“Everything’s complicated.” She wanted to feel it all again. She looked up at him, inviting him for another kiss.

“We need to leave it alone.” He slipped sideways, breaking their contact.

She felt the loss like a bucket of cold water. Did he mean now? Did he mean forever? Had the kiss not blown him away like it had her?

“Brodie and Raven need my help.”

“Right,” she said, feeling hypersensitive. “Because you’re skilled and useful.”

“Because it’s going to rain tomorrow.”

She steeled herself and waved him away. “Go be useful. I’ll just stay here and be . . . I don’t know . . . decorative and useless.”

“Nobody’s saying that.”

But they were. And she wasn’t in the mood to defend herself anymore. She turned pointedly away and latched onto the first thing she spotted, the dish towel. She folded it in half then in half again as she heard the door shut behind her.

*   *   *

Mia woke up determined.

Neither Silas nor anybody else was going to dissuade her from helping Raven. He’d said one brilliant thing yesterday, before he’d blown it all by kissing her into oblivion then walking away. He’d said she should just jump in. Well, this was her jumping.

She got up early, got dressed and was cooking breakfast before Raven as came down the stairs.

“Can I borrow some of your old clothes?” she called out, stirring the pan of scrambled eggs. She didn’t normally eat eggs, but she knew they were Raven’s favorite.

The toaster popped, and she crossed the kitchen to spread the slices with butter.

“What are you doing?” Raven looked slightly horrified at the sight of all the breakfast fixings scattered across the counter.

Mia realized then that she’d gotten a little messy, but she would clean it up, no problem. “Making breakfast.”

“Why?”

“I know you like a good breakfast before work.”

“I do.” Raven rinsed the dishcloth and wiped some toast crumbs and a smear of butter from the counter.

“I can take care of that. This is almost ready.”

Raven backed out of the way as Mia—feeling very efficient—crossed the kitchen and retrieved two plates.

“Why did you get up so early?” Raven asked.

“I have a plan.”

“Okay.” Raven returned to the sink and filled the kettle with water.

“I know I need to help out more.”

“This is nice, and I really appreciate it, but I can make my own breakfast,” Raven reassured her.

“I’m not on vacation, and you’re so busy.”

“It’s no different than any other year. Summer is our busiest season.”

“But you have me here now. At least for a while. Maybe a long