Mia Found (Starting Fires Book 3) Read Free

He’d pretended like I wasn’t even there. Maybe he hadn’t known I was.
    “ I saw you last month,” I said, curious to know if he had.
    “ Really?” He sounded surprised. “Where?”
    “ At Lucas’s show. The last one he did. Did you see me?”
    “ No, I didn’t. I wish I would have though. You remember that woman I was with?”
    How could I forget? It had disappointed me to see her on his arm. Not in a jealous way. Just a disappointed way. “ Yes ,” I said, drawing the word out with a grin.
    Paul chuckled. “Well, that was our first date. It ended horribly. Some of your sunshine would have made the night bearable.”
    I couldn’t help it and giggled.
    Paul stopped pushing me and I stood, turning around to face him. We were smiling at each other. My heart wanted to try with him, it wanted to see where it would go, but I was so insecure and nervous. I didn’t know what to say or how to say it.
    I can be bold, I thought. What harm will it do to let him know?
    I stepped closer and warm tension pooled between us. Our hands gripped the swing’s chain, so close they were touching. Paul’s eyes never left mine. We weren’t speaking. We were only staring, mesmerized. What was he thinking?
    “ Mia,” he said, breaking the silence. “You have a talent. A beautiful talent. And if no one else believes in you, I do.”
    Surprised tears sprang to my eyes. How had he known this was what I needed? What my heart was begging for?
    “ Uh, thank you. Thank you, Paul,” I said.
    Before I had a chance to say anything else, Paul Macione walked away and towards his car. I watched him leave, a flower growing around my heart. It was blooming, blossoming. How many more times would I have to see him before we finally gave in?
    Next time, I told myself. The next time I see him, I’m leaving nothing to chance.

CHAPTER TWO
     
    Six entire months later…
     
    IT WAS MIDDAY AND I was at work. The day was slow and to pass the time, I folded shirts on one of our display racks. Just three more months, I thought. I’d be a graduate. I could leave this swanky clothing shop and find a real job. At an art museum, I decided. My eyes closed at the prospect. What heaven would that be?
    The door chimed and without turning around I said, “Welcome to Faeries and Moonbeams. Let me know if I can help you.” I know. It was the silliest name ever. The owner was a hippy.
    “ Mamma Mia!” the customer exclaimed and my nose scrunched. Only one person ever called me that.
    “ Hey, Fontenot,” I said with a sigh.
    He strolled up beside me and browsed the shirts. The women’s shirts. “Are you buying for someone?” I asked.
    “ Nah. Just looking.”
    “ We don’t have a men’s section,” I said. He kept rifling through them, grinning. “Listen.” I put my hand on my hip and squared my shoulders. “If Lucas knew you kept coming here, he’d lose it on you.”
    He pulled a face, snorting my statement away. “Lucas don’t run shit,” he said. “If I wanna come look at girl clothes, I will.”
    I narrowed my eyes and continued folding, choosing to ignore him. Knowing I’d once dated him made me want to gag. Granted, I’d been eighteen and had just made it to college. He was older and I’d felt special knowing he was interested in me. That changed when his true colors surfaced. The brokenness I felt after he left was barely a memory now. I’d loved him and he…well, it didn’t matter anymore. I’d forgiven him for what he’d done. Though, pretending it hadn’t happened at all made it easier.
    “ Do you need something?” I asked. “Looking for anything specific?” The sooner he found what he needed, the sooner he’d be gone.
    “ You wanna sneak off to the back with me?” he asked, grinning. “I’m down if you are.”
    He winked and my repulsion was obvious. Fontenot was handsome. Anyone who saw him knew it, but that ship had sailed. His full lips and dark lashes held no sway over me now.
    “ Ugh, you’re