Mia Found (Starting Fires Book 3)

by Makenzie Smith

  “Not this time,” he said. “But I’ll have to go back in a few weeks and stay for longer.” He turned into me, and grabbed my hand, toying with my fingers. “I want you to come with me then. If you can.”

  I smiled. “I can. Absolutely.” Anytime he was near me, I couldn’t stop touching him. My hand always found its way to his stomach, his hair, his arms. Today was no different and while he looked at me, I brushed his beautiful hair back. His eyes closed, relishing the caress. “Are you still coming to my graduation party?” I asked, hoping my gentle ministrations would ease his nerves.

  His response was a tiny nod of his head.

  “I’m going,” Fontenot said, walking into my kitchen. A too small towel was wrapped around his waist, and I scowled at him. Could he at least try to be decent in front of me?

  Fiona’s parents weren’t nearly as involved in her life as mine were. When my mother found out that they weren’t celebrating this milestone with her, she insisted Fiona get to share my party. It sucked, especially since we were barely speaking to each other.

  So that meant Fontenot was going to be there.

  But it also meant Nicole would be.

  I hadn’t told Fiona that and didn’t plan to. I’d invited Nicole before I even knew Fiona was freeloading on my celebration. She’d have to suck it up. Nicole would be there whether she wanted her to be or not.

  Paul ignored Fontenot and sat up straighter on the couch. “Do I need to bring anything?” he asked.

  “No,” I said. “They should have everything.”

  “Are you sure? This is the first time I’m meeting them.”

  I smiled, loving that he wanted to impress them.

  “No need to be worried,” Fontenot said. “Helen and Bill are laid back. Hell, if they liked me, they’ll fucking love you.”

  My eyes narrowed. Why did he have to do that? He was just being a jerk. My parents barely knew him. They’d met once and it was only in passing.

  Usually, Paul did a good job of pretending Fontenot wasn’t even there, but today I saw the frustration in his eyes.

  “Do you want to go to my room?” I whispered to him.

  He nodded and began following me, but stopped when Fontenot said, “Hold up.”

  I looked at him expectantly, but he waved Paul over. With a sigh Paul went to him, putting his hand in Fontenot’s outstretched one. I saw the tension in their arms, but couldn’t hear the low words Fontenot whispered to him.

  “Cut it out,” I snapped. “Like he needs any of your amazing ‘wisdom.’ ”

  Fontenot chuckled, but let him go. “Oooiee. Mamma Mia’s getting feisty. I like that.” He winked when Paul’s back was turned. One day Paul was going to lose his cool. So far, he’d been a good sport and took Fontenot’s words with a grain of salt, but soon, he’d snap. I only hoped I’d get to be there.

  When we were alone in my room, I wrapped my arms around him and gave him a squeeze. “I’m sorry,” I said. “Hopefully we won’t have to deal with him for much longer. I’m sure Fiona and I will be moving out soon.”

  “I think he wants me to punch him in the face. I’m trying really hard to be decent here, but I don’t know how much more of his shit I can take.”

  It was understandable and I hated that he had to suffer him if he wanted to spend time with me. “What did he say to you?”

  “You really wanna know?”

  “Well…” I hesitated. “I’m not sure.”

  He chuckled. “Just that I needed to hold on to you and that you’re a good girl.”

  “Really?” That’s what he wanted to impart? He was such a douche.

  “Yeah. Like I didn’t already know that. Sorry, Mia, but your ex is an ass.”

  “I know. It’s embarrassing.”

  He leaned down and sweetly brushed his nose against mine. As he was pulling away he saw my newest painting displayed on the easel. “Wow. This one is good.”

  “Really? You think so?”

  “Yes, Mia.” He laughed, shaking his head. “Get used to people paying you compliments.”

  It was one of my favorites. In one corner was a big tree. Browns. Oranges. Reds. It bled off the canvas and danced across the top. White space took up the middle and another tree blossomed in the opposite bottom corner. When I’d finished it, I knew I’d be giving it to my brother. He loved trees and found something so wholesome about them.

  Paul sat on my bed, and pulled me into his lap. “I have to go soon,” he said. “The office is handling a merger and I need to go back to take care of some things.”

  His hands rested on my thighs and gave me a squeeze. We still hadn’t had sex, and with every one of his intimate touches my body flamed. It was burning with desire for him and I didn’t know how much longer I could wait.

  My mouth went to his neck and gave him soft kisses. “How much time do we have?”

  His sigh was soft and aching. “Not long,” he said, bringing my back to the mattress. His hands searched my body, touching and squeezing where he could.

  He had a willpower I admired, but also loathed. Our intimate relationship hadn’t progressed since that one night in his bed. He hadn’t even tried anything more. It was always me who pushed. Me who took things further. I knew he wanted to. The evidence was everywhere. His labored breaths, his hard arousal, his greedy hands.

  But he always stopped me.

  When he felt my hands moving to his pants, he pulled his hips away and sat up. “I have to go,” he said.

  “Paul,” I said—only his name but full of agitation.

  “I know. I know,” he said. “I’m sorry, Pretty, but I gotta get back to the office.”

  Pretty. He knew using that pet name would soften me. “When will I see you again?” I asked.

  “Soon,” he chuckled. “You can stay with me all weekend if you want.”

  “Promise,” I demanded, sitting up in the bed. That proposition was too good to be true.

  “I promise.” He leaned over and kissed me. “I’ll be working late Friday night, but I’m all yours for the rest.”

  My graduation would take up most of our time, but it was something. “Okay,” I said. “Call me later.”

  He nodded and left me on the bed, hot, needy, and frustrated.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  THE NIGHT BEFORE MY graduation should have been filled with nerves and excitement. Instead, I walked around Paul’s townhome in a lonely gloom, no one but Ferdinand to keep me company. Paul was working late, and even though I knew he would be, I’d assumed he’d be home by 8 or maybe 9.

  Currently it was 11 p.m. and I hadn’t heard a word from him in hours. His last text message was sent at 8:47 p.m. I’ll be home as soon as I can. I’m sorry. Just tonight. It’ll be better tomorrow and Sunday. Promise.

  While I waited for him, I watched TV, took a shower, and gathered all of my clothes for the next day. When all that was finished, I still needed something to do, so Ferdinand and I went for a late walk.

  It was quiet in his complex, the occasional smoker venturing out to their patio as we strolled. A large duck pond sat in the middle of the townhouses and I led Ferdinand over to it. Needing a moment, I sat on the bench and listened to Ferdinand’s husky breathing. His head darted this way and that as new and exciting sounds opened up to him.

  “What do you think, boy?” I asked, needing someone to talk to. “Why does your daddy keep pushing me away?” It might have been unfair. Maybe I was being selfish.

  Ferdinand turned when he heard my voice, resting his head against my knee. His big eyes looked up at me as I gave his head a rub. “Does he have someone else hiding away?” I’d meant it as a joke, smiling even as I said it, but as soon as the words left my mouth, doubt settled in my stomach.

  “He doesn’t, does he?” I asked, and Ferdinand made a huff, annoyed that I’d stopped rubbing him. “What am I doing? You’re a dog. You don’t know. I mean, no offense.” I sighed. “Come on. Let’s go home.”

  My throat felt tight the entire
walk back, only growing tighter when I saw Paul leaned against his car, talking on his phone. Being as quiet as I could, Ferdinand and I slowly approached.

  “Because,” he said to whoever was on the other end. He sounded annoyed and put off. “I don’t have time for this right now. I’m tired. I’ve been at work since 7 a.m. and I just wanna go inside and sleep, okay?” There was a pause, another person talking. I wanted so badly to hear what they were saying.

  “I’ve got to be there next week, we can handle—”

  Whoever they were cut him off and he rubbed a frustrated hand through his hair. Could there really be a woman in Florida? Could he be talking to her right now? Even as I thought it, I knew the answer. No. He didn’t. I was being irrational.

  Instead of lurking in the shadows like a creep and letting the doubt and confusion consume me, I took a deep breath and put on a smile. My Paul was finally home.

  “Hey,” I said as Ferdinand and I made our way over.

  With a grin he walked towards me. “I gotta go,” he said into the phone. “We’ll talk later.” He stuffed it into his pocket and wrapped me in a hug. “What are you doing out here so late?”

  “Ferdinand and I were bored and went for a walk.”

  He brushed my hair back from my face and kissed me firmly. This wasn’t a hello kiss. This was something else. Too much passion and longing were in his lips. He pulled back and kissed me again. Softer this time.

  “Is everything okay?” I asked.

  “Yeah,” he said. “I’m just tired. Sorry about tonight. I didn’t know I was going to be stuck there for so long.”

  “It’s all right,” I said, unable to make him feel guilty, especially since he looked so worn out. “You look like you could use some sleep.”

  “Yes.” He sighed. “I’m exhausted.”

  As soon as we made it indoors, he went upstairs and started the shower. I made sure all the lights were off before I went up, too. After my pajamas were on, I lay on his bed and eyed his desk. In the top drawer, pushed into the back and hidden under papers, was a picture of his ex-girlfriend. I wondered if it was still there. My insecurity nagged me, feeding me lies. Maybe there’s someone else. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t want to be intimate with you.

  I had to shut it up. Deep down, I knew what I would find when I opened that drawer. With the water still going, I quietly made my way over and pulled it open. Delicately, trying not to disturb anything, I searched for the picture.

  It was gone.

  I scanned the other drawers.

  Nothing.

  It wasn’t there.

  As I knew it wouldn’t be.

  “Here’s your proof. Stop being so stupid,” I whispered to myself.

  As I waited for him to finish, I turned on the television in his room and snuggled into bed. When he came to me, he eyes were red from exhaustion and I could see the lethargy in his limbs. He crawled into bed and closed his eyes.

  “Paul,” I said, rubbing my fingers through his slightly damp hair.

  “Hmm?” His eyes didn’t open.

  “Who were you talking to outside? You sounded upset.”

  His eyes slowly opened, looking over at me. “No one important, Pretty. Just stuff I need to take care of at the Florida office.”

  My fingers kept moving through his hair. Did I believe him? His deep, green eyes looked into mine and their honesty was tangible.

  “You work too hard,” I said, kissing him on the forehead.

  “I know.” His hand rubbed up and down my back, pulling me into his side. “It’ll get better in a few weeks. The merger will be done and hopefully all this with the sister office will calm down, too.”

  I nestled into him and blindly aimed the remote at the television, turning it off.

  With him lying next to me, his fingers softly playing with my hair, I felt my body relax. “You have a big day tomorrow,” he said. “Are you nervous?”

  “Are you?” I chuckled. He was meeting my entire family.

  “A little,” he confessed.

  “They’ll love you.”

  We were silent, our breathing evening out when he asked, “Do you forgive me?”

  “For what?”

  “For tonight? I shouldn’t have kept you waiting so long.”

  “Well that depends,” I said. “Are you sorry?”

  “Yes. I won’t let it happen again.”

  “Then I forgive you.”

  He kissed the top of my head and we drifted off to sleep.

  The next morning was a whirlwind. We overslept and rushed to get dressed. Luckily, his bathroom mirror was large enough for both of us, and I raced through my routine. Already, my phone was buzzing with calls from my mother. I was supposed to be at the school ten minutes ago.

  “Are you almost ready?” I asked when my makeup was through.

  “How do I look?” he asked, holding his hands out.

  He was wearing grey slacks, perfectly pressed and fitted on him. His white shirt was rolled up at the sleeves and a navy tie hung on his neck. He looked delicious.

  My hands went to his shoulders and I smiled up at him. “You look perfect.”

  “So do you.” My dress was black with turquoise lace fringing the top and bottom.

  “Uh-huh,” I said. “Doesn’t count. I said it first.”

  “Well this time it wasn’t fair. I asked you how I looked.”

  My hand wrapped around his tie and pulled him in for a kiss. It was just getting good, his hands gripping my behind and leading me to the bathroom counter when my phone buzzed again.

  “To be continued,” I said.

  Paul sped towards the school and dropped me off at the back entrance. I texted my mother where to meet him and felt bad that he’d have to make the introductions alone.

  The staff was annoyed with me, pushing me along the corridor to my place in line, but it didn’t matter to me. After today, I’d have nothing to do with them anymore. What I was going to do, where I was going, all of that was yet to be determined, but anything was possible.

  From my seat, I had a clear view of my family. Luckily, Marlowe and Lucas knew Paul. It had to make his situation less awkward.

  As far as graduations went, it was just as boring as the rest of them. I waited. And waited. And waited some more. My name was called. A picture was taken. I waited again, and then we were done. My heart pounded, giddy to see Paul and my family. Outside, I raced to our meeting point and not caring what my family thought, jumped into Paul’s arms. He laughed and kissed me on the cheek.

  “Did you meet everybody?” I asked.

  “More or less.”

  Just in case formal introductions were never made, I brought him to my parents. “Momma, Daddy,” I said. “This is Paul.”

  “So nice to finally meet you,” my mother said, giving his hand a shake. “You can call me Helen and this is Bill.” My father eyed him warily, still not sure if he was suited for his baby girl. “He’s all bark and no bite, I assure you,” my mother said.

  Instead of welcoming Paul, my dad smiled and pulled me in for a hug. “I’m proud of you sweetie,” he said.

  “Me too,” Lucas said, patting me too hard on the back.

  “Ouch,” I whispered.

  My grandparents were also there. My aunts. My uncles. My cousins. Paul was getting lost in the shuffle, but I tried to keep him close beside me as we made our way through.

  My celebration was at my parent’s house, a twenty minute drive away. When I told my father that I was riding with Paul, I saw the perturbed glimmer in his eyes.

  “Dad cut it out,” I whispered to him. “I like him. A lot.”

  “Don’t mean I have to.”

  He had such a double standard. When Lucas met Marlowe he deemed her one of the family almost immediately. Paul, on the other hand, was going to have to “prove” himself.

  “Well get used to him. I plan on keeping him.”

  He didn’t seem happy about that either, but I ignored him and searched for
Paul. I found him talking to Marlowe and smiled when we made eye contact.

  “You look beautiful,” he said when I took his hand. “So beautiful.”

  Marlowe gave me an ecstatic thumbs up as we walked away. “You ready?” I asked.

  “Sure. I think the worst is over anyway.”

  “And what part was that?”

  “Meeting your dad. He, uh, doesn’t like me much.”

  “He’ll get over it,” I said. “I told him that I’m keeping you.”

  “You did?” He laughed, finding that amusing. “You’re cute, Mia. I wanna keep you, too.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  THE DRIVEWAY OF MY parent’s home was lined with cars. Over half were for me, but Fiona had garnered a big group herself. Lucas found me as soon as I stepped out of Paul’s car.

  “What’s Fontenot doing here?” he asked, grabbing my arm.

  “Let go,” I hissed, pushing him off. “He’s here with Fiona.”

  “Well, make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid.”

  “Oh yeah, because I’m just gonna follow him around everywhere.”

  Paul walked over and eyed Lucas. I’d grown so accustomed to looking at his face, and was probably the only one who noticed the minuscule scowl he gave my brother.

  “He’ll be fine,” Paul said. “I’ll handle him if anything happens.”

  Lucas jerked his head back, not expecting Paul to step up. “Fine,” he said. “He’s all yours.”

  When he walked away, Paul brought a hand to my arm and gave it a rub. “Did he hurt you?”

  “No,” I huffed. “He’s just being a butthead.”

  Paul helped me unzip my graduation gown and took my hand as we walked into my parent’s home. Inside, I was bombarded by family and friends, Paul stepping away to make room.

  Every once in a while, I’d see him hovering in the background, giving my guest their space but letting me know he was there for me. Gentle smiles. Sly winks. Seeing him in my parent’s home felt right. He felt right, but more importantly I felt right with him in my life. It was like I could do anything or be anyone. Paul’s faith in me made me strong.