Mia Found (Starting Fires Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

him. “I’ll let you stay in here if you promise not to destroy anything else.” His sad eyes shifted over to me, but he didn’t move. “I’m off tomorrow,” I said, giving his ear a rub. “I’ll take you to the park. Promise.”
     

     
    Paul texted an hour later asking if something was wrong. I asked if it was okay if I called him when I got off. When he agreed, I became excited, eager to talk to him on the phone, but he was concerned, afraid something bad might have happened.
    Is Ferdinand all right? Are you all right?
    Yes! I said. Don’t get too worried, but we had a little accident today.
    A few minutes passed when he responded, Did he destroy something?
    Maybe…
    It happens. Call me later. :)
    The rest of the day was torture as I waited for the chance to speak with him. I couldn’t close the store fast enough, and sped back to his house, wanting to make sure nothing else had been destroyed before I called.
    It was in relatively the same shape as I’d left and I rewarded Ferdinand with a treat. After we went for our walk, I called Paul while sitting on the arm of his destroyed sofa.
    “ Hey,” he said, sounding happy to hear from me.
    “ Hey,” I said. “How was your day?”
    “ I’m exhausted.” Paul yawned, emphasizing his fatigue. “But I’m sure it was better than yours.” His chuckle was deep, a low rumble in his chest. “What did he destroy?”
    “ Your couch cushions,” I said. “I’m sorry. Was I supposed to do something? Could I have prevented this?”
    “ No,” he said. “Don’t worry about it. I forgot to tell you to leave my bedroom door open. He has some separation anxiety, but usually does okay.”
    “ That’s actually kind of cute,” I said, smiling.
    “ Until he rips up your couch.”
    “ I’ll try to get it fixed.”
    “ No, no,” he said. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle it when I come home.”
    “ I don’t mind.” Quiet. Longing. Let me help you.
    He gave another soft chuckle. “You’re sweet, Mia.”
    Hopefully he meant sweet as in I want to kiss you and not let me ruffle your hair and buy you an ice cream cone.
    “ Is Florida nice this time of year?” I hoped it wasn’t. I hoped it was hot and sticky and awful, and he’d run home and realize he wanted to stay right here.
    “ The beaches are,” he said. “Do you like the ocean?”
    “ It’s been so long since I’ve gone,” I said. “I should go this summer.”
    “ Maybe we could go–I mean…Yeah, you should.”
    Did he want me to go to the beach with him? As I promised I’d do with Paul, I went for it. “Well, if you go again, maybe I can come with you.”
    Awkward, dense silence.
    “ But then who would watch Ferdinand?” he asked.
    “ Oh.” Maybe I’d misread his signals. “Well…I don’t…I was only saying…if you wanted…I mean…”
    He chuckled. “I’m joking. I’d love to go to the beach with you.” Paul was smiling. Even through the phone, I could feel its warmth.
    “ Really?” I asked, ashamed by how shocked I sounded.
    “ Of course. But I don’t know if I’ll be able to get away this summer.”
    “ Well, keep me in mind if you do.”
    “ I will,” he said.
    We were both smiling now.
    “ Are you tired?” he asked.
    “ A little.”
    “ Me too. I need to get some sleep, but I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
    “ Okay.”
    “ Goodnight, Mia.”
    “ Goodnight, Paul.”
    I held my phone in my hand even after I’d hung up, grinning at it.

CHAPTER SIX
     
    AS PROMISED, I BROUGHT Ferdinand to a park the next day. He was by far the largest dog there but had no idea. Right away, he attempted to play with a Chihuahua, scaring her half to death. Its owner gave me a menacing look, snatching the little thing from the ground.
    Oh, please. It was clear Ferdinand was harmless. “You’d think you ate him, the way she’s carrying on,” I told Ferdinand as we walked towards the larger green.
    I unleashed him and he sprinted away, sniffing every bush and tree