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

his uncle said. “You must bring her to meet the rest of the family.” He turned to me. “Next time you come, ask for Anthony. I will get you anything you need.”
    “ Thank you,” I said.
    “ Dinner is on me tonight,” Anthony said, throwing his hands into the air. “Go. Enjoy yourselves. It was a pleasure to meet you, Mia.”
    “ You, too, Anthony.”
    “ Thanks, Uncle Tony,” Paul said, laughing to himself.
    He kept his arm around me until we made it to the parking lot, only letting me go to retrieve his keys. “Sorry,” he said. “Tony is a little in your face. The rest of my family is more reserved.”
    “ It was…okay,” I said, smiling. “He thoroughly embarrassed me, but then again he did call me lovely and your beloved.”
    I hadn’t meant to say the last part—that thought was meant for me and me alone. But now it was out there and Paul knew just how excited it had made me feel. His beloved. Such a sweet sentiment and one I desperately wanted to be true. If he didn’t know how I felt before, he certainly did now.
    Maybe he felt the same way.
    If I thought about it, the whole evening seemed surreal. He’d taken me to dinner at his family’s restaurant, knowing I would most likely meet at least one of them. Did he want me to? Was this more serious than a mere thank you dinner?
    With a sly smirk, he looked down to his watch. “It’s just after 7,” he said. “Do you have somewhere you need to be tonight?”
    “ No.” Smiling, I stepped into his car. This was more serious. It was date! A proper date!
    “ Do you want to watch a movie at my house?”
    “ Yeah. That sounds good. Great.” My ridiculous smile was making my cheeks hurt and I tried to hide it by looking down to my hands.
    “ Okay,” he said and reached over to interlace our fingers.
     

     
    Paul was elated that my mother and I had fixed his couch. The stitches were thick and noticeable, but they were better than holes. Ferdinand attached himself to his side, not leaving his owner no matter what room Paul went in. While they had their reunion, I settled on the couch and waited for him to pick a movie. A few minutes later, he came in with a bowl of popcorn and two large glasses of soda. I smiled as he placed them on the coffee table. It had been years since I’d stayed in and watched a movie with a man. Most of my dates consisted of meeting at bars or going out for coffee. This was sweet, intimate.
    On his battered couch we snuggled in close and shared a bowl of popcorn. It felt like something a couple would do and I grinned. The movie was one I’d seen before, but I kept that to myself because it allowed me to focus solely on him.
    Our fingers brushed and he grabbed my hand, rubbing the back of my knuckles with his fingertips. I was so starved for him even that slight touch sent warmth through my body. My sigh brought a smile to his lips and I wanted to kiss it away, but let him set this pace.
    I was hyperaware of his movements. A shift of his leg. A caress of his hand. A casual glance in my direction. Every time I looked at him, I let my stare linger a second longer, wondering if he would lean in and put his mouth on mine.
    He didn’t.
    The credits rolled and he yawned, stretching his arms into the air. He turned off the TV and stood from the couch.
    “ Are all your bags packed?” he asked. “I’ll help you bring them to your car.”
    Well, if that didn’t deflate me, nothing would.
    “ Uh, yeah,” I said. “Yeah. They’re upstairs in the guest room.”
    Not sensing my disappointment, he disappeared to retrieve them. I took an extra-long sigh. Ferdinand walked over and put his paw on my knee. “Thanks, boy,” I said, pretending he knew I needed the affection. “Your dad is an idiot,” I whispered and he barked, making me chuckle.
    “ He’s gonna miss you,” Paul said, walking down the stairs.
    “ I’ll miss him, too.”
    With my bags waiting at the door, I gave Ferdinand a hug and followed Paul out to my