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

and Mia pictured Marnie entering the lobby of her office building.

“No, nothing like that.” The woman at Wildflower Lake wasn’t a stalker. And she wouldn’t know Mia was in Paradise.

“Please don’t tell me you wandered onto social media. You know you have to stay off there. It’s only going to upset you, and those yahoos don’t make any difference at all to your case.”

“I haven’t been on social media.” That was one good thing about Paradise, it made staying unplugged a whole lot easier.

“Good. One little bright spot here, the crowd is much smaller at the end of your driveway. Just the diehards left since you’re not giving them any fodder.”

“That’s good.” Mia was encouraged to hear that, hopeful that she wouldn’t be dodging stalkers for the rest of her life.

“So, what’s the deal? What’s going on up there?”

“There’s a guy.”

Marnie’s voice perked up. “Hello? You buried the lede? What guy? Who is he? Tell me everything.”

“He’s a pilot,” Mia said, feeling a huge sense of relief to finally share with someone. “He’s sexy—like, off the charts sexy. Capable, I guess, is the best word for him. He’s smart, kind of funny, nicer than he seems at first.”

“And . . .” Marnie prompted.

“And, we went to this resort a couple of days ago, a five-star place out in the middle of nowhere, Alaska. You’d love it.”

“Paint me a picture.”

“A fancy villa overlooking this stunning green-blue lake, with huge-view windows, high ceilings, a stone fireplace, three bedrooms.”

“Please tell me you only used one.”

Mia grinned. “We only used one. Oversized tiled steam shower too.”

“Okay, I’m getting hot just hearing about this.”

“Thing is,” Mia said, faltering.

“There’s a thing? What thing? I don’t want there to be a thing. He’s not married, is he?”

“No, he’s not married. He’s got this boss who isn’t my biggest fan, and I don’t want to leave problems behind for him when I go. Plus, there’s the whole temporary thing. I’m coming home soon, and he’s staying here. And we couldn’t be more opposite.”

“But no harm, no foul in a great one-night stand,” Marnie said.

“That’s the problem.”

“You feel guilty? There’s nothing at all to feel guilty about.”

“I really want to do it again.”

Marnie took a beat to respond. “Oh. So, does hunky pilot man know this?”

“No, he doesn’t. I haven’t even seen him since—” Mia stopped speaking as Silas appeared in the doorway. She went hot with mortification thinking he might have overheard. “Gotta go.”

“Why? What happened? I want to keep talking about your sex life.”

“Can’t.”

“You sound funny. Wait, is it him?”

“Yes, gotta go.”

“Call me later.”

“Will do.” Mia ended the call.

Silas crossed the deck, pulling back the chair across from Mia and sitting down at the table.

“Hi,” she said, surprised he’d walk right up like this as if they were just two ordinary people at the Bear and Bar who hadn’t slept together and agreed to leave it at that.

“I’ve been thinking,” he said, drumming his fingertips rhythmically on the tabletop.

A surge of hope rose within her.

Did he feel like she did—that this was torture, that anything was better than suffering with this intense desire and longing? Was he going to ask her on a date or go on a tryst or to have a secret fling?

Her throat went dry and she swallowed. “About?”

“You working at Galina.”

It took her a second to process his words, and she had to swiftly backpedal on her longing.

“It’s dangerous,” he said, his expression frank and no-nonsense.

Disappointment rose inside her, regret sharpening her tone. “I’ve taken all the safety training.”

“A training course doesn’t replace real experience.”

“I’ve memorized the manuals.”

“That’s only the theoretical stuff, not the real-world stuff. And they don’t need you; not really.”

Well, there was a hit to her ego.

He wasn’t here to pledge his undying passion. He was here to let her know she was useless.

“Who told you they didn’t need me?”

“No one. This is me, Mia. I’m worried about you.”

“Oh no, you don’t.” She leaned back and wagged her finger at him. “One night with me doesn’t give you the right to—”

“This isn’t about that.”

“Then what’s it about?”

“What’s best for you.”

To think, only moments ago she had been pining away for him, singing his praises to Marnie, wishing they could be together again.

She rose. “You don’t get a say in what’s best for me.”

“Mia.”

“No,” she said sharply, turning to walk away.

“What if there was something else?” Silas called after her.

She kept walking.

“Mia, hear me out.”

She slowed, curious despite herself.

“I came up with an idea,” he said.

She stopped.

In a few strides he was next to her. “You don’t have brute strength.”

She cocked her head to look up at him. “This is your idea of a pep talk.”

“But you’re smart and articulate. You’re a quick thinker. You’re analytical.”

She was clearly desperate for a compliment because she wanted to hear more.

“I was thinking I could teach you to operate the WSA radio,” he said. “It’s an important skill, a useful skill. WSA doesn’t have a backup since Carol Sandor left town, and I’m sure you could learn quickly.”

Mia had met Shannon Menzies a few times. She was clearly smart and held in high esteem by the pilots.

“What’s Brodie going to think of that?” Mia couldn’t help but ask.

“Don’t worry about Brodie.”

“But—”

“It’s not like you’ll be live on the air while you’re learning. We can go in when the office is empty. You can practice and surprise everyone with your proficiency.”

“Another secret?” she asked, not sure how she felt about that.

His expression changed, and his look jump-started her pulse. It was clear they were both remembering their first big secret.

“Yes,” Silas said on a husky note. “Another secret.”

*   *   *

Mia watched Raven’s expression closely as she announced she was quitting Galina. Her cousin tried to cover it up, but she couldn’t completely hide her relief, and Mia’s heart sank a little bit further. Obviously, Silas had done her a favor by nudging her to leave.

She told herself to blow past the humbling experience. It wasn’t like she didn’t have a plan. She was going to take Silas up