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

with whatever you want.” I didn’t care where we went, I only wanted to be around him.
    Paul contemplated it, eyeing the clock. “Are you hungry?”
    “ Sure.”
    He took me to an upscale restaurant and I immediately felt uncomfortable. My attire was all wrong. Shorts and sandals. Next to him I looked like a kid. His dress shirt was perfectly pressed despite having worn it all day. His movements and words exuded confidence. He spoke with the waiter about fancy wines and obscure menu items I couldn’t even pronounce.
    My hands remained folded in my lap. Everything looked elegant and expensive and I was afraid I’d somehow break whatever I touched.
    Paul sensed my apprehension and ordered for me. After the waiter left he leaned across the table. “Is this okay? We can leave if you want.”
    “ Its fine,” I smiled. “I’m just not used to places like this and certainly not dressed for it.”
    He disagreed with an amused shake of his head. “You’re beautiful,” he said and the honesty in his eyes made my heart flutter.
    “ You’re handsome,” I countered.
    He chuckled. “Doesn’t count if I say it first, remember?” I did remember. Our first meeting. A couch. A movie. Shy smiles and awkward touches.
    His hand reached out for mine. I placed it in his and let his gentle caresses warm me. The look in his eyes was intoxicating. I’d seen it before, every time we’d met. Only this time, he wasn’t shying away. He wasn’t trying to hide it.
    “ Why didn’t you ask for my number the night we met?” I asked. “I thought you wanted to. You did, didn’t you?” I hadn’t been reading him wrong. I knew I hadn’t.
    His lip pulled up and he gave my hand a squeeze. “I did, but I thought you were too young,” he said. “And my ex, Marjorie, had just ended things. It didn’t feel right.”
    Did he still think I was too young?
    “ You know…” I smiled. “I’m still eight years younger than you. That hasn’t changed since then.”
    “ Trust me, I know,” he said and pulled his hand from mine. My fingers stretched for him in an impulsive desperation. Once I realized, I pulled them back, curling them into my lap. Paul was studying the edge of his napkin and I took a breath. I’d known my age might still be a problem for him, but it was something I couldn’t help.
    Paul was deep in thought and bit his lower lip. Unspoken thoughts and words tried to push out of his mouth, but he caught them. Needing him to explain this without my prodding, I remained silent.
    Finally he took a deep breath, ready to open up. “There…there’s just something about you Mia. You look at me like…” He trailed off, deciding not to continue that thought. “I mean, before a few days ago, how many times had we even held a conversation lasting more than a few minutes?”
    I shook my head, not knowing.
    “ Exactly,” he continued. “I barely knew you, but couldn’t stop thinking of you. And then you were here or there, always stepping back into my life. I figure it’s time for me to stop worrying about other people. I need to follow what my heart wants.” He shrugged his shoulder, a soft, self-conscious movement, and reached for me again. Willingly, I put my hand in his. His eyes focused on our joined hands and he watched as his thumb rubbed circles along mine. “And my heart wants you.”
    “ Good.” Unable to contain my happiness, I smiled. “Because mine wants you too.” His crooked grin landed on me and he awkwardly leaned across the table, stretching his neck to reach me.
    I sat up and cradled his jaw, placing a soft, gentle kiss against his lips. It lasted longer than what was appropriate for such an upscale place, and we only broke apart when the waiter appeared with our food.
    “ I’m sorry,” he said. “I can come back.”
    “ No, no. It’s fine,” Paul said, sitting in his chair again.
    We were quiet while we ate, both of us thinking. What his mind dwelled on remained an enigma, but mine…
    Paul