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

So he simply nodded in agreement and strode back to Mia to close the deal.

“Hey, Mia,” he opened. “Busy this afternoon?”

She seemed taken aback by the question.

“I’m doing a run up to the Wildflower Lake Lodge,” he continued smoothly. “You should hop in the copilot’s seat and take a tour.”

Raven hit him with an instant look of gratitude, jumping in immediately, her tone openly enthusiastic. “That’s a great idea. They’ve got a really nice setup out there, Mia. You’ll love it.”

“But—” Mia looked around, obviously not wanting to leave in the middle of her own mess.

He understood, even admired her hesitation. But she couldn’t fix a flat tire, and right now she was causing more harm than good.

“My truck’s right out there by the road,” he said, pointing with a jab of his thumb.

Raven gave her cousin a swift one-armed hug. “You should go. It’s a perfect day for a little sight-seeing.”

“You’re sure?” Mia asked.

“Absolutely. You need to have some fun while you’re here. Go see a few things, kick back, pretend you’re a tourist for the afternoon.”

“Let’s do it,” Silas said. “It’s a super-light load, and it’s ready to go.”

Mia hesitated a final second while Silas gave her an encouraging smile.

“Okay,” she finally agreed.

Silas shared a parting look with Raven, and she mouthed a “Thank you” as he and Mia set off in the direction of his truck.

He played tour guide on the drive to the airport, talking up the state and describing some of the features he’d show her on the flight. Then after the safety briefing and takeoff, he took up the role again, naming the rivers and mountains along the way, swooping low on the peaks for a view of a mountain sheep herd, then down into the valley to see a moose in the shallows and a small pack of wolves running along a worn trail. As the airplane gained altitude again, Wildflower Lake Lodge came into view.

“Are those wolves dangerous?” Mia asked, craning to look back over her shoulder. “They seem awfully close to the lodge.”

“They’re thirty miles back and over a mountain pass. They won’t bother anyone there.”

“So long as you’re sure about that.” She peered out the side window then at multiple red roofs gleaming boldly in the sunlight against the emerald forest next to the crystal-blue lake.

“I’m sure.”

“We’re a long way from anything, aren’t we?”

“Paradise is the closest town.”

She went quiet as he circled toward the strip.

“You okay?” he finally asked.

“A little intimidated by all this wilderness,” she said.

“Don’t be. The lodge is a very well-run operation. You’ll like Cornelia, and the clientele there is more your crowd than mine.”

She turned to look at him. “My crowd?”

“Millionaire city dwellers. They come here to get away from it all.” He adjusted the flaps and the engine speed as they cruised their way toward the dusty landing a mile out back of the lodge.

*   *   *

With the airplane now silent on the narrow airstrip, Alaska felt enormous around Mia. She and Silas walked toward a little white shed at the edge of a thick forest. He had a box under his arm containing a computer component for an emergency repair.

“Is someone coming to meet us?” She wasn’t crazy about standing out here completely defenseless.

There were wolves and bears lurking out in the woods, and Raven had told her more people were killed by moose than any other animal in Alaska. Raven had also said moose could weigh up to fifteen-hundred pounds.

Mia had no desire to meet a fifteen-hundred-pound moose.

“There’ll be an ATV for us in the shed,” Silas said as they arrived at the little building.

It wasn’t locked, and he pulled up on the wide overhead door. It clattered its way open until it rocked to rest ten feet in the air.

There were three ATVs parked inside. One had a little trailer attached. Another was larger, with side-by-side seating and would transport six people. The third was just like the one at Galina, only bright blue with a long black seat and front and back racks. Silas headed for the third one.

“Can I drive it?” she asked, thinking this could be a chance for some extra practice.

Silas seemed hesitant as he fastened the computer package to the rack with a couple of stretchy black cords. “You took out a truck tire this morning.”

“That was with a loader. ATVs have logical steering and stuff.” She checked out the handlebar controls and saw they looked exactly like Galina’s.

“And stuff?”

“Throttle. Brakes. Starter.” She pointed them all out to him. “I know what I’m doing.”

“Kill switch,” he said and pointed. “In case it all goes bad.”

“Ha-ha.” She frowned at him then looped her leg over the seat, wrapping her hands around the handlebars and getting settled. The key was already in the ignition, and the ATV was facing the open door.

“So, we’re doing this,” he said as he straddled the seat behind her.

She started up the engine. “We’re doing this.”

She revved it up and pulled straight out of the shed, breathing a small sigh of relief when they were clear.

“Hold up,” Silas called out.

She stopped smoothly and felt proud of herself. “What?”

“I need to shut the door.”

“Oh. Right.” Of course. She waited as he dismounted, mentally reviewing the driving controls while he pulled the door closed behind them.

He returned and hopped back on the ATV, looping one arm around her waist, surprising a little gasp out of her.

“Ready?” she asked to cover up her reaction.

“Ready,” he rumbled behind her ear. “You can pick up the access road at the south end of the strip. But check for air traffic before you start. Always check for incoming planes. This might be a quiet strip, but it’s still an active runway.”

Mia looked up, all around the sky. It was blue and clear. “Nothing up there.”

“Then off we go.” He settled himself on the seat behind her, the inside of his knees cradling her thighs and his chest brushing against her back.

“Off we go,” she muttered under her breath, her