Mia Found (Starting Fires Book 3) by Makenzie Smith Read Free Book Online Page A

them all.
    “ I trust you,” I said.
    After the waiter left us, he and I regarded each other. The candlelight was casting tender shadows across his face. Casually, he was leaned back in his chair, toying with his silverware. His smile was soft, inviting. It made me feel warm.
    This was so different from the Paul I’d grown accustomed to. His usual reluctance was replaced by courage. He was self-assured. Willing. What had changed?
    “ Do you still think you’ll move to Florida?” I asked because it was important. What would be the point in beginning anything with him if he’d be leaving soon?
    He was thoughtful, mulling over my question. “I don’t know,” he finally said. “I have plenty of reasons to go. It might be time to leave. To start over somewhere. But…”
    The statement fell off and he looked hesitant.
    “ But…?” I pushed.
    “ But…I don’t know. Maybe I have a few reasons to stay, too.”
    Me. I’m a reason to stay. “When do you have to decide?”
    “ In a few months.”
    A few months. Would it be worth it? I looked into his eyes and knew it was. Paul’s rightness drew me in. I had to know what could happen between us, where it would all lead if given the chance.
    We fell silent again, studying each other. He was better at it than I was. A quiet, nervous laugh escaped me when his look became too much to bear. Paul shook his head finding something about me charming.
    “ What?” I asked.
    “ Nothing. You’re about to graduate aren’t you?”
    “ Yes,” I said. “In May.”
    “ Have any plans?”
    “ Not really. I have a minor in Art History, but there haven’t been many openings in this area for something like that. No matter what I do, I’ll probably have to move too.”
    Paul confessed that he didn’t know much about art, or what I could do with that degree, but he’d visited the New Orleans Museum of Art several times. It was ironic really. I’d never been.
    “ What?” he said when I told him. “Really?”
    “ I know,” I said, laughing with embarrassment. “It’s shameful.”
    “ Well, I know where I’m taking you next time.”
    I hid my excited smile by propping my mouth against my hand. “I’d like that,” I said, trying not to seem too ecstatic.
    When the food arrived, we dove in, sharing the plates. Everything was perfect. Creamy sauces. Hearty meats. Flavorful sides. It wasn’t long before my tummy was full and couldn’t take any more.
    “ Goodness,” I said, pushing the food away. “Can you cook like this?”
    “ No,” he chuckled, stuffing the last bit of meatball into his mouth. “Afraid not. My mother though…” He made a pleased grunt. “She’d run my uncle out of business.”
    “ What’s that?” a gentleman asked. He was smiling and approached Paul with open arms. Paul stood to give him a hug. “If Mamma Macione opened a restaurant, I would be working for her in two weeks. Tops.” He was older and had a slight Italian accent. He had to be Paul’s uncle and wanting to make a good impression, I smiled when he looked at me. “And who is this?” he asked, kneeling down in front of me. He took my hand and looked deeply into my eyes. It was unnerving and I chuckled hoping to hide my unease.
    “ Such a lovely lady. Is she with you Paul?”
    “ Yes,” Paul answered, exasperated. “She is. Now stop being weird.”
    “ Me? Weird? It is not weird to appreciate the beauty of a woman.” He turned to me, squeezing my hand. “What is your name?”
    “ Mia,” I said, leaning away from him. He seemed nice, but had no notion of personal space.
    “ Mia?” He smiled. “Do you know what ‘Mia’ means in Italian?” I shook my head. “Paul has not told you?”
    “ No,” I said.
    “ Mine .”
    “ Oh.”
    He stood, pulling me to my feet. Still holding my hand, he gave me a twirl and my face heated. “Now, let me give you back to your beloved.” Paul accepted my hand in his then put an arm around my waist.
    “ She is lovely, Paul,”