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

“What about Alaska?” she said, stopping him.

He looked back, vaguely hearing the outer door open to the living room.

“Did you even consider Alaska?” she asked. “Do you still think I’m not good enough for Alaska?”

For a moment he was distracted knowing a waiter was in the suite. Then her words penetrated.

“Maybe I didn’t fit in at first,” she continued. “Okay, I’ll grant you that. I made loads of mistakes. But I learned the WSA radio. I mastered Raven’s kooky shower. I drove a loader. I fought off a damn grizzly bear. What more do I have to do, Silas? Exactly how much more do I have to do to prove myself to you?”

“What?” he asked, too stupefied to come up with something more intelligible. He was grateful to hear the door click closed and know the waiter had left.

“I am good enough for Alaska.” She huffed.

He reached for her, but she pulled away. “You’ve got this all wrong, so wrong.”

“And if I’m not, I can learn.”

He took her shoulder then, shifting closer. “There’s nothing for you to learn.”

Her eyes were glassy with unshed tears. Her voice was small. “Don’t give up on me so soon.”

“I’m not giving up on you.” He could see he was botching this big time. He drew her into his arms. “I was afraid.” He rocked her, smoothed her hair, kissed her temple. “Afraid that Alaska wasn’t good enough for you.”

She swallowed. “Why?”

“I love you, Mia. I’m head over heels in love with you, and I’ve been racking my brain trying to come up with a way for us to be together.”

She drew back. “You came here to be with me?”

He nodded, smoothing her messy hair back from her face.

“That was your plan?” she continued.

“Yes.”

“Well, that was stupid.”

He grinned.

“You’d hate it here.”

“I thought you’d hate it in Paradise.”

“I can’t wait to get back to Paradise.” She searched his expression. “I love you, Silas. I don’t love this.” She waved her arm around the room. “I don’t even love Lafayette, not really, not the way Henry and Hannah seem to love it.”

“Henry and Hannah? Why are we talking about them?”

“I gave them Lafayette. Well, I split it with them. But they’ve got controlling shares.”

Silas’s brain scrambled to keep up. “I thought you gave them the house.”

“That too.” She came up on her knees and cradled his face in her hands. “There’s nothing holding me here, Silas.”

“So . . .” He couldn’t bring himself to believe it. “You’ll come to Paradise.”

She nodded, and his chest all but burst with emotion.

“I’m building you a house,” he said, drawing her into his arms again.

“Yeah? Something like Raven’s?”

“No, not like Raven’s. I wouldn’t ask you to live like Raven.” He made a point of gazing around the opulent room. “Plus, there are certain elements of your lifestyle I’m coming to like. Danny’s offered me the plans for a villa—just like the one we had at Wildflower Lake. We can buy a lot near the river if you want. Or we can do something else.”

“I’d love a villa by the river. That sounds perfect.”

“I never should have let you go.”

“I had to come back here to find out what mattered,” she said gently. “I think we both knew that.”

“I mean, I should have come back with you. I should have known enough to figure this out with you by my side. I made so many mistakes.”

She chuckled at that. “You? Seriously? I’m the super-klutz.”

“No, you’re wrong about that. I took one look at your classy clothes, your beautiful hair, your elegant manners and made assumptions. I was wrong to do that, and I’m sorry.”

She shook her head. “We’re both guilty. I took a look at you and thought you were a serial killer.”

“I’m still sorry that I scared you.” He shook his head with a chuckle.

“A sexy one,” she said in a husky voice. “But I took one look at your stature, your height, your shoulders—” She rubbed his bare shoulder with her palm. “Your rakish beard and rugged chin, and I thought you were dangerous.”

“I’m not dangerous.” He paused. “Well, not to you. Maybe to some of those yahoos who’ve been trolling you on social media.”

“They’ve stopped. Well, mostly stopped. But they’re never going to find me in Paradise.”

“You’re coming to Paradise.” He repeated it because he couldn’t quite believe it was real.

“I’m coming to Paradise,” she said on a sight, her lithe body molding against him.

“I love you so much.” He kissed her mouth, her tender, sweet mouth, gathering her as close as he could, holding her tight as he dared, determined never to let her go.

Chapter Seventeen

Mia wanted Silas to enjoy the best of LA, so she made reservations at the Hamburg Room, a private club overlooking the Malibu shore. It was one of her favorite spots, where waves crashed up on the rock shore, splashing over the ground lights and against the glass wall. The lighting inside was more muted, yellow-toned and romantic.

She’d dressed in a midnight-blue off-the-shoulder, chiffon-column sheath, with a sweetheart neckline and an asymmetrical hemline. It looked great with diamonds, and she’d worn them on her ears and around her neck. She’d had her favorite hairdresser put her hair up, going with an elaborate style, since she wouldn’t be coming back to the salon again. The night was also a not-so-fond farewell to a barely-there pair of black stilettoes with ankle bands. They’d looked fabulous, but they were the most uncomfortable pair of shoes she’d ever bought.

She wanted to have a final night out to remember.

Silas had only brought along jeans and a dark blazer, but he’d paired them with a white dress shirt and a burgundy tie. He looked fantastic, turning the heads of several women as they were shown to a prime table beside the window. The white tablecloth was crisp and the crystal stemware sparkled over the polished silver.

“What do you think?” she asked as they took their seats.

“It sure isn’t the Bear and Bar,” he