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

“You just said—” Brodie sat up straight. “Oh no. Oh no you don’t.”

“I haven’t figured out how it could work. I mean, a bush pilot, in LA?”

“That’s nuts, Silas.”

“They have, like, national forests and things around there, right?”

“I need you here.”

“She’s there.” Silas took a drink. He’d feel terrible leaving Brodie, but he couldn’t see another way.

“You can’t up and follow a woman to California.”

“I thought about building her a house here in town. Danny offered me the plans for a three-bedroom villa. They’re nice. Mia would like it.”

“There you go.” Brodie gestured with his beer bottle.

“It would still be in Paradise, though, where there’s nothing for her. No restaurants.”

“The Bear and Bar.”

“No clubs.”

“You can dance on the deck.”

“No nightlife.”

“Aurora Borealis.”

Silas frowned. “You know what I mean.”

“Not all women are like your mom.”

Silas shook his head. “Most of them are.”

Brodie didn’t argue. “You’ve lost your mind.”

“What if I haven’t?” Silas was seriously considering that possibility. What if it turned out Mia was more important to him than his bush-flying career? What did he do then?

“I tell you what,” Brodie said decisively. “Take the new Cessna down. Take the weekend; make it a long weekend. Feel her out. See what you think. Enjoy the noise and the crowds and the commercialism.”

“You can spare me for a long weekend?”

“Xavier can step up. I’ll make it work.”

“What if I’m right? What if I’m in love with her?”

Brodie plunked his beer on the table and shook his head. “I guess the heart wants what the heart wants.”

“Seriously? You’re going poetic?”

“No, I’m mocking you.” Then Brodie frowned. “Ah hell, I’d sure hate to lose you.”

Silas hated the thought too. “This is the best job I’ve ever had.”

“But she’s the best woman you’ve ever had.”

Silas couldn’t help but smile thinking about her. “By far.”

*   *   *

Mia’s bags were packed and waiting for her driver to arrive. Nine years ago, she’d moved in with all of Alastair’s things. Now she was leaving them here for Henry and Hannah. Her closet was full of more clothes than she’d ever wear, plus she chose new Lafayette outfits every season. So, she’d been very selective, taking things that were comfortable more than glamorous. If she needed a killer outfit, she could always get something from the warehouse. She was a standard size and easy to fit.

She had a one-month reservation at the Waldorf to give herself time to condo shop.

“As your lawyer, I have to seriously advise against this,” Marnie said, where they sat in the formal great room under the huge portrait of Alastair’s father that hung above the ornate stone fireplace. The fireplace hadn’t seen a fire in decades.

The mantel was covered in expensive sculptures, including two golden candlesticks. The candles never burned either. Mia hadn’t given that a single thought, at least until she stayed in Alaska. In Paradise, fireplaces were for heating and candles were for making light. In Raven’s cabin, anyway, nothing was for show.

“Your objection is noted.” Mia took a sip of her final bottle of Chateau Garrant. It had been Alastair’s favorite.

“The house I can see,” Marnie said. “But I busted my butt to get you sole control of Lafayette Fashion.”

“They’re his kids, Marnie.”

“They’re his little terrors.”

“They’re not as bad as we thought.”

“But two-thirds—two-thirds of the company to them?”

“There are three of us. That seemed fair. I didn’t give any of it to Theresa.”

“I’d have had you committed if you’d tried to bring her into the mix.”

Mia laughed at Marnie’s scowl.

“Can we at least take a few bottles of this with us?” Marnie asked.

Mia waved a hand. “Take as many as you like.”

“Seriously?”

“Sure.”

“I’m really going to,” Marnie warned, coming to her feet.

“You know the way to the wine cellar.”

“I do.” Marnie paused. “You’re sure?”

“Have at it.”

Marnie grinned then and headed for the basement stairs.

The doorbell rang, and Mia rose to meet the driver. This evening was her final good-bye to the house, and it felt even better than she’d expected to leave the past behind.

She opened the door and staggered to a halt, finding Silas standing on the porch. She blinked for a moment, unable to believe what she was seeing.

Her heart lifted with joy before astonishment settled in. “What are you doing here?”

He gave a self-conscious half-smile. “I was in the neighborhood.” He paused. “Well, by neighborhood, I mean Los Angeles generally, not this particular street.” He looked past her into the foyer. “So, this is the place.”

“Come in.” She realized she didn’t much care why he was here; she was just thrilled to see him, really thrilled, grab-him-and-kiss-him-hard-and-deep thrilled.

He moved past her, gazing with interest at the high ceiling, the formal staircase and the rich mahogany walls. “It’s like a palace in here.”

“It is grand,” she said, closing the door behind him.

“Raven’s place must have been a shock to your system. No wonder you thought it was a joke.”

“I got used to it,” she said, still fighting the urge to kiss him.

“I doubt that.” He walked into the great room. “Paradise can’t compete with this.”

“It’s not a competition,” she said, reluctantly accepting the fact that he wasn’t here to kiss her.

It was strange to see him in these surroundings. He didn’t fit, not by any stretch. It wasn’t his clothes, the black work pants, the leather boots or the T-shirt delineating his broad shoulders and bulging biceps. It might have been his rangy build. But she thought it was the contained wildness, the power that didn’t seem to belong among all the elaborate trimmings.

Another knock sounded on the door, and Mia went back, knowing this had to be her driver.

It was.

“Come in,” she told the uniformed man. She could feel Silas watching her. “The bags are upstairs in the master bedroom.” She pointed to the staircase. “Turn left at the top. It’s the double doors at the end of the hall.”

“How many bags?” he asked.

“Six. They’re on the bed and on the floor, burgundy plaid.”

“I’ll get them loaded up right away,” the man said. He gave Silas