Mia Found (Starting Fires Book 3) Read Free Page A

disgusting.”
    “ If Fiona were here, she’d be down for it.”
    Fiona was my roommate and coworker. If she was having a fling with Fontenot, this was the first I’d heard of it. “You’re such a liar,” I said.
    His lip pulled up in a grin, saying You sure?
    Ignoring him again, I went behind the counter to flip through a magazine. He continued looking at random things for another ten minutes before joining me, sitting on our extra chair and propping his feet against the counter. My eyes closed as I tried to keep from lashing out at him. It’s what he wanted.
    The door chimed.
    “ Welcome to Faeries and Moonbeams. Let me know if I can help you,” I said robotically, not caring that I sounded rude.
    “ Mia?”
    Before I even saw him, my heart pitter-pattered. I slapped the magazine closed and smiled at Paul. “Hey!” I said with too much excitement. “What are you…how have you…” I was tongue tied, all disoriented from his sudden appearance. Months had passed since we’d seen each other. Whole, entire, full months.
    I hadn’t tried to force it. I hadn’t sought him out, knowing that if it was meant to be we’d find each other again.
    Paul had found me.
    He looked exactly the same and my smile was bright and honest. Time had done nothing to my feelings. They were still there, burning my skin.
    “ Marlowe told me to come by,” Paul said. “I’m looking for a present, but she didn’t say you worked here.”
    “ Surprise.” I shrugged and stepped around the counter. When I approached him, I reached my arms out for a hug, but then let them fall unsure if he’d want one. His arms opened at the same time mine fell. Eager to hug him I opened mine again, but now his arms had fallen. When we finally did hug it was awkward, both of us halfheartedly touching the other.
    I chuckled away my uncomfortableness. “What can I help you find?” Looking up at him, I made sure to smile as bright and honest as possible. I’m happy to see you, my smile said. He was happy too. I could feel it in the earnest way he looked at me.
    “ Maybe some earrings,” he said, uncertain. “I’m not really sure.”
    “ Are they…” I fiddled with my hair, pushing it out of my face. “Are they for your…for your, uh, girlfriend?”
    “ No,” he rushed out. “No. Nothing like that. My mom. It’s her birthday.”
    “ Oh,” I said, smiling brightly again. “Come on. I’ll show you what we have.”
    We went through two racks. Each time I reached for a new pair, I made sure it was high or across from me so I’d have to touch him as I steadied myself. He enjoyed it, his lip turning up each time my hand rested on his arm.
    The pair he was leaning towards were dangly and black. Simple though. “Here, try these,” I said, handing him a pair that were similar but with sparkly stones.
    “ I’m not sure,” he said. “You don’t think they’re too much? Too flashy?”
    I pulled my hair away from my ear and over my shoulder. “Try them on me. See if you like them.”
    He hesitated, holding the earring out awkwardly.
    “ Go ahead,” I said.
    His fingers went to my ear as he tenderly placed them and I watched his face. This innocent gesture was far more intimate than either of us let on. His fingers were fumbling, taking longer than it should. Our eyes kept connecting, flirty smiles passing between us. Just a tiny step and I’d been in his arms.
    “ It’s…uh…it’s pretty,” he said, sliding his knuckles down my neck.
    “ Do you think she’ll like them?” I whispered, unwilling to break the trance we seemed to be in. He’d never touched me like this before. I’d daydreamed about him for months and his nearness was sending my body into overdrive.
    “ Yeah,” he said.
    I turned into his hand, looking him deep in the eyes.
    The sound he made was mirthful—a sigh, a small laugh. He was looking straight at me. What was he thinking? It was hard to know. His smile was shy, timid. When it came to Paul, I decided I