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

It was Raven’s truck with Mia in the passenger seat, and Silas’s pulse kicked up at the sight of her.

Her shiny blond hair was bouncing in a ponytail. She wore a snug burgundy top with a colorful scarf around her neck. Her face was fresh and bright, and he could already picture her form-fitting jeans and sexy leather ankle boots.

His feet started moving, taking him toward the truck as it turned in and halted in front of the hangar.

Raven got out on their side. She grinned, looking perky and energized. “Feels good to be back in business.”

“The pilots are raring to go,” Brodie said.

With the exception of Brodie and Silas, everyone had a flight taking off in the next few hours. The entire ground crew and a few of the Galina workers were here loading up the planes.

Silas’s attention went straight to Mia as she walked around the back of the pickup box. The view of her beat his expectations, and he had to fight with himself to keep from going straight over and pulling her into his arms, kissing her and more.

“Hey, Brodie,” Xavier called out. Xavier, Kenneth and T-Two were all walking their way.

Brodie turned to the call.

“The tires for Wildflower are causing us grief,” Xavier said. “Tobias says they can take them in the otter.”

“That’s one option,” Brodie said and started to walk to meet them.

“Would it impact the delivery times?” Raven asked, going along with him.

“Hi,” Silas said to Mia in an undertone, pulling her attention from the conversation.

She looked his way and he moved closer. “Haven’t seen you for a couple of days.”

“We’ve all been busy.”

“I heard you were feeding the bridge workers.”

She shrugged. “A few sandwiches is all. Raven’s place was closest.”

“No more heavy equipment operating?”

She smiled at that. “Turns out you need some kind of a license.”

Her phone rang suddenly, interrupting them. “Ah, cell service. I do love cell service.” She put it to her ear. “Hey, Marnie.”

Silas knew he should back off and give her some privacy, but he didn’t want to go anywhere. He wanted her to finish the call so they could get past this awkward back-and-forth and have a real conversation about them and their relationship and where it might be now.

“How did that work?” Mia asked, sounding both shocked and happy. She listened again. “Just like that?” She shook her head. “I can’t believe it.” She laughed. “You sure earned your retainer today.”

Mia’s smile grew wide as she listened to Marnie. “I will. You bet. Later today, probably. Thanks, Marnie.” She ended the call.

“Good news?” Silas asked.

“I won.”

“Won?”

“Everything. The judge threw out the case. We’re not even going to trial; Alastair’s personal lawyer backed Marnie. The judge concluded Alastair was of sound mind when he wrote the will and that there was no evidence I had any undue influence on his decisions. An age gap alone is not grounds to contest a duly authorized will.” She laughed again and all but squealed in happiness.

“That’s great news.” Silas tried to sound enthusiastic. He knew it was the best possible outcome. He also knew it meant Mia would be leaving Paradise.

She looked at him then, the real her, not the aloof acquaintance she’d pretended to be earlier. “So . . .”

“Yeah,” he said. “So . . .”

“I’ll be looking for a ride to the Fairbanks airport.”

“Sure. You bet.” He didn’t want to know, but he made himself ask. “When?”

She bit her lip. “Today.”

His disappointment was acute.

“Or tomorrow.” Her gaze moved over to Raven. “I should probably leave time to say good-byes.”

“That’s a good idea.” He wanted to slow her down, even if he had no right to do that.

Raven looked over at them then, and Mia waved her phone.

“What?” Raven asked as the little discussion group broke up and she headed back their way.

“We won.”

Raven looked astonished. “The lawsuit?”

Mia nodded. “As of this minute, I am sole owner and CEO of Lafayette Fashion.”

“That’s fantastic!” Raven’s reaction was honest and enthusiastic as she grabbed Mia for a hug.

Silas felt like a jerk for his lukewarm response. He also kicked himself for not using the moment as an excuse to hug her. His arms felt empty as he watched the two women embrace.

“Great news!” Even Brodie did a better job of it than Silas.

“I guess certain people are getting fired,” Raven said with a gleam in her eyes.

“I can’t fire the twins,” Mia said. “But that’s fair. Alastair wanted to take care of them. Besides, they’re never around. I can’t see them suddenly starting to meddle.”

“What about their enablers?”

“I have to figure out who they are first,” Mia said. “I don’t want to be vindictive, but I don’t want them sabotaging me either. Somebody signed the cancellation order for London and Milan. It won’t take much of a detective to work that one out.”

Silas couldn’t help but be impressed by Mia’s confidence and decisiveness. On the other hand, he’d really loved the uncertain, slightly klutzy Mia, the one who tried new things, made mistakes and tried again.

He didn’t want her to change. He didn’t want anything to change. He wanted Mia to stay here in Paradise, talk with him, laugh with him, make love with him. He wanted the impossible, but he knew better than to go after it.

Mia belonged in the fashion business, where she was accomplished and influential. She deserved her dream as much as anybody else. She belonged in city and she always would, just like Silas belonged in the skies.

*   *   *

Mia thanked Raven profusely for taking her in and saving her sanity. She promised both Raven and Breena that she’d keep working on the matchmaking project from LA.

Brodie had had a sudden change of heart. He had some conditions, but they weren’t unreasonable. And he’d offered to fly twelve women from Fairbanks into Paradise free of charge.

Mia was convinced he’d done it to keep peace with Raven. Brodie and Raven were an enduring team. Right now, it was professional because that was important to both of them, and neither of