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

win, you know.” Silas wrapped his comforting arms around her. “Before this is over, you’re going to win.”

“Maybe,” she said, suddenly feeling more tired than angry.

“Not maybe. Be positive. Be confident.” He smoothed her hair then drew back to meet her eyes. His lips curved into an unexpected smile. “In the meantime, want to do something fun?”

The question caught her off balance. “Fun?”

“Yes.”

“What?” she asked, growing suspicious when a twinkle came into his eye.

But instead of suggesting something sexy, he nodded at a spot behind her. “Look.”

She twisted her head. There was nothing behind her except the forest and a massive loader sitting twenty feet away.

“It’s the six one five,” he said. “Want to take it for a spin?”

“Very funny.”

“I’m serious.” He took her hand. “It’ll be a confidence builder.”

“You know my record with loaders.”

He started forward, drawing her along. “Once you try this, the mini loader will feel like a toy. Plus, there’s nothing to hit out here, and I’ll be right beside you. Nothing can go wrong.”

She craned her neck to look up at it, oddly warming to the idea. A distraction was exactly what she needed right now, something to take her mind completely off the problems at Lafayette. If she went back to Raven’s, she was only going to sit and stew.

“There’s no way I can drive this,” she said, being realistic.

“I’ll drive. You assist.” He braced his hand on the ladder.

“It’s sort of intimidating.”

“That’s the point.” He cocked his head to the doorway above, giving her an encouraging waggle of his eyebrows.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this.” She reached up and grasped the cool metal, pulling herself onto the first rung.

“I’m right behind you,” he said.

The door to the cab was wide open, and she climbed carefully inside. The square space was dusty and worn, and the floor scattered with grit, but she was a lot less sensitive to cleanliness these days. It had a single seat for the driver.

“Where do you want me?” she asked as he climbed in and hunched over behind her.

“Sit down for a minute.”

“I told you, I’m not driving.”

He chuckled. “I need to get the door shut.”

She sat down on the bouncy seat. “It has joysticks,” she said. “I’ve had bad experiences with joysticks.”

“Those are levers,” he said, securing the glass door. “Totally different thing.”

“Very funny.”

“Stand back up,” he said, drawing back into the corner to give her room.

She rose and he slid past her into the seat. Then he patted his lap.

“I won’t be in the way?”

“No. You’re going to help me.”

Feeling doubtful, she perched on his thigh. “Taking your life in my hands here, Captain Burke.”

He reached around her to the ignition key. “You don’t scare me, princess. First, we start it up. It’s a diesel, so one click, then you wait about fifteen seconds for the glow plugs.”

“Glow plugs?”

“The ignition system.”

“Sure.” She didn’t have the slightest idea what he was talking about, but there wouldn’t be a quiz on this at the end.

He started the engine, and it rumbled loudly beneath them, vibrating the cab.

“Pull the steering wheel down into place.” He demonstrated, and she scooted back against his chest to get out of the way. “The levers are boom up and down and bucket tip up and down. Easy.”

“That’s what they said about the mini loader.”

“Try it,” he said. “Pull for up.” He took her hand and placed it on the smooth black lever, covering it with his own and pulling.

The boom groaned in front of them, the bucket rising up in the air. After a minute, they pushed the level to move the bucket partway down.

“Dual brakes on the floor.” Silas showed her the pedals. “And this takes it into forward.”

The machine lurched, startling her, and she grabbed onto him. They trundled ahead toward the access road to the strip.

“Where are we going?”

“There’s a pile of gravel at the end of the strip. We can take a few scoops.”

“Are there planes up there?” She leaned forward to peer out, remembering what he’d told her at the Wildflower strip.

“Good question,” he said. “We’re staying off to the side, but you should always check anyway. Want to steer?”

“I’m not ready to—”

He put her hands on the wheel before she could protest. “Just like a car.”

“A really big car.”

“Try turning.”

She did, carefully easing the wheel one way and then the other as they made their way up the access road.

They turned onto the runway, and she started to relax and take in the view.

“We’re really high up in this.”

“We are.”

“I can see so much. Is that the river?”

“Falls Creek,” he said. “It parallels the road then runs into the river. Water’s really high now with all the rain and the runoff. Look up the mountain to the left there. In a minute, you’ll see the falls in the distance.”

The falls came into view, wide and frothy white, looking like they were falling twenty stories down the mountain. “It’s gorgeous.”

“Isn’t it? There’s a trail up if you ever want to hike it. It’s steep, great exercise.”

“Bear spray required,” she guessed, thinking a hill climb would be a great workout.

“And a group of three or more.”

She watched the falls as they drove farther along.

Silas’s arm was loosely looped around her waist. His hand moved, brushing her thigh, and she was suddenly aware of everything—the warmth of his chest; the strength of his thighs; his musky, familiar scent.

She was on Silas’s lap, and she was pressed tight up against him, like she’d hoped to be so many nights since Wildflower Lake. Since this was for a legitimate purpose, she didn’t have to feel guilty; she could just enjoy the sensations.

“Stay at least twenty feet from the edge,” he said, his voice a very sexy rumble in her ear.

He was controlling the accelerator, and he upped the speed, making her bounce a little.

“Oh,” she said in surprise.

He tightened his hold, and desire soared to life, starting at the back of her thighs, sending the tingling warmth coursing upward.

“You’re getting too close,” he