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

They left the smooth airstrip for a rougher, narrow road. Mia tried her best to steer around the worst of the ruts and potholes, but the ATV still bounced beneath them, pushing Silas against her, or her against Silas. It was hard to tell which.

Tall trees shaded them from above while squirrels darted across the trail out front and birds flitted from branch to branch. They came up on a porcupine gnawing on a stick of wood. It looked up at the sound then sauntered away into the underbrush.

The bush felt alive around them.

Then she misjudged a maneuver and they dropped into a particularly deep pothole, sending a vibration up her arm, causing her to turn the handle, squeeze the throttle and fly sharply back against Silas.

She let the throttle go, and they coasted to a stop.

“You’re doing fine,” he said, his voice calm and soothing. “You can’t miss them all.”

“I’m just taking a breather.” She didn’t want to admit she was unnerved, even though a couple more feet to the right and they’d have hit a tree.

“You want me to take over?”

“No, I’m good.” She pushed the throttle again. She was not going to give up that easily.

The road smoothed out beneath them as they cruised into the yard of the resort. They passed some utilitarian outbuildings as well as several pretty log villas set back in the woods before coming up on what was obviously the main lodge. The building was bigger than it had looked from the air, built of massive smooth logs that gleamed with clear varnish.

Several people were outside on its giant deck, some sitting at tables under umbrellas, presumably guests, while servers were moving around in crisp white shirts, patterned green vests, black slacks and black bowties. The tables sported white tablecloths. Propane heaters dotted the area. And the seating looked plush and comfortable.

All gazes were on Mia as she drove closer.

“Pull out of the way,” Silas told her. “Down past the gazebo.”

A fit-looking fifty-something woman with a tidy, dark-haired bun spotted them and started her way down the grand staircase that was centered on the front of the building and ran next to the deck.

Ignoring the curious stares and focusing on parking the ATV, Mia pulled into a clear spot and shut off the engine.

Silas climbed off from behind her. As cool air swirled against the back of her thin, yellow and gray T-shirt, she realized how much she’d liked having him pressed up against her back. She should have thought to enjoy it more during the drive instead of concentrating so hard on controlling the ATV.

“Silas!” the woman exclaimed. She was wearing crisp black slacks and a meticulously ironed, button-up long-sleeved mottled shirt that coordinated with the vests of the other staff members. “I didn’t know it would be you.” She pulled him into a hug, and Mia noted her manicure, precise makeup and her classy little jade and gold stud earrings.

“I hate to miss a chance to come see you,” he said, rocking her in the hug.

Mia was suddenly conscious of her own appearance. Her makeup was minimal. She’d fallen into that habit while working at Galina, deciding it was silly to spend an hour on her face in the morning, only to sweat it off. She was wearing a pair of Raven’s khaki green workpants, the ones with seven different pockets. And her boots were scuffed and worn, with a patch of steel shining through one of the toes.

When she’d dressed this morning, she hadn’t expected to see anyone except the staff at Galina. At least her high ponytail had held. If her hair had been loose, it would have been a rat’s nest by the end of the ATV ride.

A few seconds later, Silas drew back and turned to include Mia in the conversation. “Cornelia, this is Mia, Raven’s cousin from Los Angeles.”

Cornelia stepped forward, sharing a wide, welcoming smile. “Very nice to meet you, Mia.”

Mia held up her gritty-feeling palms. “I don’t think we should shake. I didn’t expect to be coming anywhere like this. Oh, and it’s nice to meet you too.”

Cornelia laughed and held out her hand. “I’m not afraid of a little dirt.”

They shook, and Mia felt a bit better.

“You’ll stay for dinner,” Cornelia said to Silas. She linked an arm with his and turned him toward the lodge.

“Love to,” he said, surprising Mia.

Cornelia looked back and motioned Mia up to her other side.

Mia quickly hopped up to catch them, moving from the gravel road to a cobblestone pathway that led to the wide staircase.

“I want you to make yourself at home,” Cornelia said to Mia. Then she switched back to Silas, taking in his flight suit. “You got anything decent under there?”

“Afraid not.”

“Then off to the gift shop for both of you,” she said cheerfully.

As they passed by the deck lounge, Mia saw how nicely the guests were dressed. The fashions were country club casual, but she recognized some fine labels, including two women wearing something from the Lafayette summer collection, one in a paint-spattered, cowl-neck tunic and scarf, the other in a pair of dark denim patch-pocket skinny jeans. The jeans were one of Mia’s favorite styles.

Before she could catalogue the rest of the crowd, Cornelia had whisked them through a set of big coastal cedar and glass doors and into a bright, beam-ceilinged lobby with a polished reception desk and a smiling young attendant. The brunette woman looked to be in her early twenties with dark eyes, thick lashes and amazing cheekbones.

“Hi, Silas.” The younger woman grinned. It was clear from her tone she found Silas attractive, but when her attention turned to Mia there was no jealousy or resentment in her expression.

“Piper will help you with anything you need,” Cornelia said. She gave Silas’s arm a final pat and smiled at Mia before turning for a hallway that led off from the right-hand side of the lobby.

“She wants us to dress for dinner,” Silas