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

towards him, falling into his chest. “I adore surprises,” I said. My arms wrapped around his middle and awkwardly we moved towards the water. A railing overlooked the river and we stopped as his back hit it.
    Paul pulled away from me to lean against it. He was silent, peacefully eying the scene.
    “ Is this the surprise?” I asked. It was beautiful, but I’d seen plenty of rivers before. And while I could appreciate this one, it wasn’t much different from any of the others I’d seen.
    “ No,” he chuckled. “But it’s stunning, isn’t it?”
    The sunlight reflected along the top, tiny ripples and waves sparkling as the water moved. The wind was cool, easing the soft heat of the sun. The opposite bank was clear of commercial growth. In the place of shops and restaurants, trees and sand dunes were scattered up and down it.
    “ That’s a wildlife preserve,” Paul said, pointing at it.
    Almost as if it’d heard him, a flock a birds burst from one of the trees, casting black specks across the clear blue sky. I watched them fly away into the horizon. Now was as good a time as any to ask him what I wanted. I took a breath and went for it.
    “ Paul?”
    “ Hmm?” He was distracted, eyeing the water.
    “ What, uh, what’s changed?” His eyebrows furrowed as he tried to determine my meaning. “With us, or me, I mean.”
    “ Nothing,” he shrugged, unable to look at me. “I…I still feel the same way about you as I did the first time we met.”
    And what’s that?
    He took a breath and continued. “I guess the only thing different is me. I realized I want to know where things will go between us. I spend too much time analyzing and guessing, trying to see all the possible outcomes. I’m reluctant about every decision I ever make, but I’m tired of being that way.”
    He turned towards me and I moved with him. We were facing each other, our bodies touching. He gave me a shy, hesitant smile as he reached up to twirl a finger into my hair. “I like you, Mia,” he said. “A lot. And that has never changed.”
    “ I like you, too,” I said, blushing. “So are we…?” together. I couldn’t quite say it. The question seemed so juvenile. There were eight years between us and I wasn’t eager to remind Paul of that.
    “ Yes,” he grinned. “If you want to be.”
    I nodded my head vigorously, and he laughed. “You’re cute, Mia,” he said. “Cute and sweet and pretty.”
    We walked down the strip, passing every restaurant and shop. Excitement was bubbling over inside me. Where was he taking me? What would we see?
    As we were nearing the end, I couldn’t take it anymore.
    “ Paul!” I whined. “Where are we going? The suspense is killing me.”
    He chuckled. “That’s part of it, Pretty. What’s a surprise without a little suspense?”
    I huffed, but continued to follow.
    Finally, at the last store, all the way at the end, not even one you’d notice, Paul stopped and turned to me. His arm came out, gesturing towards it. “Go ahead,” he said.
    The sign out front said Atlantis in whimsical, scrolling script. Inside the windows I could see an array of merchandise. Sculptures. Lamps. Hookahs. Paintings.
    Curious, I took a step inside.
    Immediately, a sweet, yet smoky, aroma hit me. The store was larger than it appeared on the outside. Different sections were set off. One was completely dedicated to statues. Some made from clay. Some metal. Some even carved from stone. Beneath all of them, a tiny note told you who’d made it, where they were from, and what their inspiration had been.
    My favorite was designed by someone named Kit Charlie. It was of a woman carved from marble. Naked. One hand covered her eyes, the other rose to the heavens. She looked triumphant, but also shamed. Who was she? What had she done?
    Another section was dedicated strictly to jewelry—all unique, beautiful pieces. I meandered around until my feet found the art section.
    A large wall was dedicated to local painters.