Cami’s Georgia Patriots Romance Collection

by Cami Checketts

  He met the stony gazes of the guy who’d tried to protect Sariah and severe bun-lady. The guy was his first massage. He must’ve been standing outside the door to burst in that quickly.

  Grabbing his shirt, he tugged it on and walked toward them. They both backed out of the way. Mack felt like he should apologize to them, but he hadn’t done anything wrong.

  He walked quietly to the receptionist desk and pulled out his credit card. Bun-lady finally came and took it, charging him for the third massage, even though he hadn’t really gotten much of a massage. He left a generous tip, gave her a forced smile, and headed outside. A brisk, spring wind hit him as he trudged to his rented Cherokee. This roller coaster with Sariah was killing him. He’d finally found her, she was flirting with him, and then, bam, he’d somehow messed it all up again. At least she’d said she’d meet him at six. He’d been terrified she’d rescind their dinner agreement.

  Settling into the Cherokee, he tilted the chair back and closed his eyes, hoping he could rest and the dull headache that was starting behind his eyes would disappear.

  His phone rang. He pulled it out without sitting up. “Hello,” he muttered, hoping it was Navy or one of his brothers. He could really use some advice from his sister.

  “Mack,” the voice was unhappy and he instantly recognized it as Hyde Metcalf’s voice.

  He sat up and wondered if the angels in heaven were conspiring against him. “Hey, Hyde.”

  “Caleb called me.”

  “Figures.”

  “You found Sariah?”

  “Yeah.” He stared out of the windshield at the bright spring day. The wind rustled budding tree branches. Why had he come here? Did he even have a chance with Sariah?

  “And?” Hyde’s voice was tight and controlled.

  “She’s going to dinner with me at six.”

  “Did you bully her into that?”

  “What? Come on, Hyde,” he protested. “Have you ever seen me bully anybody into anything?” Mack might be one of the toughest offensive linemen in the nation but he had never pushed his way around anywhere, besides the football field. He’d learned young that people were intimidated by his size and he’d tried extra hard to be kind and not give anyone a reason to fear him. Being bullied as a small child for his speech impediment had made him empathetic. He hated the thought that maybe he had scared Sariah because of his large build. The only other reason she would have freaked out like that was because there was something wrong with her face or neck.

  There was a pause then Hyde finally admitted, “No.”

  “I just want to get to know her. Why are you so against me?”

  Hyde blew out a breath. “It’s not you. It’s your fame and your family and Sariah is just delicate.”

  Mack swallowed, staring at the front of the massage school. Half an hour ago he’d think Hyde was being overprotective, but he’d witnessed … something. “She was flirting with me and I pushed the hair from her face and it flipped her out.”

  “I bet it did.”

  “Did someone hurt her?” He was imagining everything from an abusive boyfriend to a traumatic accident.

  “Sariah’s very private and it’s not my story to tell. I know you wouldn’t intentionally hurt her, but please be careful with her. Please think about her and not your own desires.”

  Mack didn’t know what to make of any of this. He wasn’t some selfish brute that was going to push himself on Sariah. “I’ll treat her like I would want someone to treat my sister.”

  “I guess that’s all I could ask. I’ll check in with you soon.”

  “Okay.”

  Hyde hung up the phone. Mack laid back against the seat and squeezed his eyes shut. This whole deal with Sariah was unnerving. Why was he so drawn to her and why did Hyde act like she was a fragile piece of beautiful pottery? The interactions he’d had with her showed she was witty, strong, and feisty. The only weird thing had been when he pushed at her hair and she screamed.

  Frustration rolled through him and he second-guessed everything from his motivation to pursue her to everyone’s overprotectiveness of her to even Sariah’s mental health. He’d take her to dinner, but that might have to be the end of his Sariah quest. No matter how much he wanted to be with her, he couldn’t allow her to be hurt.

  * * *

  Sariah made it through the last hour and a half of school, her mind replaying the way she’d reacted to Mack’s gentle touch over and over again. Ah, Mack. He was a gentle giant and she was a freak-out crazy woman. How could she explain why she’d reacted like that? She still didn’t want him to see her ugliness. She knew the insistent way he was pursuing her would end soon, if it hadn’t already, but she didn’t want to see revulsion in his eyes. She could still remember the first time Tyler had seen her scars. He’d recoiled and then she’d been very careful to keep her hair covering her right side after that. She never let herself reflect on when Tyler’s girlfriend and her brothers had been trying to drown her and then discovered her scars. They’d changed their plan and used her injury to exploit Tyler. Sariah knew it had probably saved her life but at the time she hadn’t been certain she wanted to keep living.

  She said goodbye to everyone and took a deep breath. When she walked out those doors she might be face to face with Mack Quinn. Making sure her hair was in place, she said a prayer and marched resolutely out front of the school. You got this girl, she muttered to herself.

  Searching around, she didn’t see Mack. Her stomach filled with a heavy sickness, like eating an entire loaf of stale bread by yourself then discovering it was moldy. He’d left and wasn’t coming back. She didn’t blame him, but oh, how it hurt. She’d known she shouldn’t let herself fall for him, but stupidly she had.

  Walking slowly toward the parking lot, she squinted at the sun glaring off of shiny vehicles. She walked past a black Jeep Cherokee and jumped when she saw there was a large person inside. Putting a hand on her heart, she took another quick look. The man was inclined in the driver’s seat, sleeping, and she recognized him.

  Mack. She kept the hand on her heart. He hadn’t left. He must’ve decided to wait in his car and had fallen asleep. She stood there, staring into his window. It was crazy that he could be so big yet so good-looking and non-threatening. His features were definitely male, strong and cut. The curly, blond hair softened him, but not as much as the blue eyes that she loved to stare into.

  As if he sensed her staring, Mack’s eyelashes fluttered and his eyes opened. He focused immediately on her. He smiled softly and her heart thumped faster.

  Sitting up quickly, he pushed the door open and climbed out. Sariah stood her ground, not wanting him to think she was afraid of him. He probably already thought she was mentally unstable.

  “I’m so sorry,” he said immediately.

  “No.” Sariah shook her head. “That was on me. I apologize for reacting like a rabid badger.” She smoothed her hair tighter around her neck.

  Mack’s eyes flicked to her neck and back to meet hers. “Can you tell me about it?”

  Sariah’s mouth went dry. “No,” she squeaked out.

  He studied her, moistened his lips, and then said, “Someday?”

  She shrugged. She wanted to tell him yes, or joke away the whole thing, but she couldn’t do either right now.

  Mack studied her for a few beats then he nodded, as if accepting her crazy secrets. “Thai food?” he asked.

  Sariah’s shoulders lowered. “Thai food sounds delectable.”

  Mack smiled at her word choice. “Are you comfortable riding with me or would you like me to follow you?”

  “I’d love to ride with you,” she said quickly. She’d really messed this up, making him think she was afraid of him. She supposed many people would be, with his muscular frame, but she knew he was gentle and good.

  He extended his hand and stared at her, his blue eyes asking her to trust him. Sariah placed her palm in his. He squeezed her hand and walked her around the Jeep, opening the passenger doo
r. Sariah slid into the vehicle, so relieved he hadn’t pushed her to know her secrets. She was going on a date with Mack Quinn. It would probably be a one and done, but she was going to enjoy every second of it.

  Chapter Ten

  Mack glanced around the small, dingy restaurant as the hostess seated them, set their menus down, and bowed herself away.

  “Don’t worry, they passed the health board,” Sariah said.

  “Maybe they bribed their way through, but no way this place actually passed any cleanliness tests.”

  Sariah laughed. “I didn’t figure you for a big old wimp.”

  Mack was so happy she seemed comfortable with him again he would’ve eaten food from a street vendor in the Philippines. “Huge wimp, just ask my sister.”

  Sariah’s gaze traveled over him. “So, all those lovely muscles are just for show?”

  Mack wished he could show her exactly how tenderly he could hold her with his muscles, but he was pretty gun shy after her reaction at the school, especially with her unwillingness to explain. “For sure.”

  “I know that’s a lie. I’ve watched you push around defenders like they were bitty babies.”

  Did that mean she was afraid of him? “Most people don’t even notice the linemen, too focused on the superstars like the Rocket and Hyde.”

  “I don’t even know who the Rocket is and Lily watched Hyde close enough for the both of us.” She glanced down at her menu then back up at him. “My gaze never left the offensive line.”

  Mack’s heart was thumping faster and faster. Everybody knew who the Rocket was. But all he cared about was Sariah was back to flirtation mode, and he loved it. Yet part of him was terrified of how taken he was by her. His mom and Navy had warned him repeatedly to stay away from women with mental health issues. They’d explained it wasn’t the woman’s fault, but it could sure make life miserable for a family if the wife and mother was unstable. His mind was racing ahead though, he’d barely gotten Sariah to come to dinner with him. He couldn’t be worrying about her being his other half, and how that might affect their future children. Children? It was really hot in here.

  “You are ready to order?” a small Oriental lady was at his elbow.

  “Um …” Mack looked to Sariah.

  “Do you trust me?” she asked.

  The question hit him hard, especially as she searched his eyes with her dark brown gaze. He did. Maybe he was a fool for it, but he trusted her with so much more than his dinner order in this hole-in-the-wall restaurant. “Yes,” he said.

  Sariah’s eyes were serious for half a second then she grinned and turned to the lady. “We’ll have the pineapple fried rice, the pad thai, the papaya salad, cashew nut chicken, the red curry, oh, and the mango sticky rice.”

  “Ah, yes. All the entrees you like spicy?” the lady pumped her eyebrows at Mack.

  “Sure.” He shrugged.

  “A three,” Sariah said. “He looks big but he’s too tender to stomach a five.”

  The lady laughed, took their menus, and bustled off. A young girl brought them waters. Mack thought it was interesting they hadn’t even asked if they wanted a different drink.

  “I’m tender?” he asked.

  “Don’t even try to deny it.”

  “Does that mean you aren’t afraid of me?”

  “Why would I be …?” Her eyes lit with understanding. “I’m not afraid of you, Mack.”

  “That means a lot to me.”

  “How could I be afraid when I know you’re a big old wimp off the field?” She grinned to show she was teasing.

  Mack felt relief rush through him. She wasn’t afraid and she knew he had a tender side. He reached out and put his hand over hers. “All right, you can tease me and call me ‘a big old wimp’ and make me eat at questionable restaurants, as long as you promise to spend tomorrow with me.”

  Sariah turned her hand over and linked their fingers. “I’d love to, but I have school.”

  “On a Saturday?”

  She nodded. “Sunday and Monday are our days off. Lots of massage clients come in on Saturdays.”

  “I’d say I’d come back for a massage tomorrow, but I don’t know how welcome I am there.”

  She released his hand and tucked her hair around the right side of her neck then toyed with her water glass. “Yeah. I’m sorry.”

  “No, I shouldn’t have brought it up again.” But he really, really wished he knew what had happened, especially now that she’d said she wasn’t afraid of him. He wanted to see past her hair, see if there was something wrong, but he wondered if it wasn’t more likely that some guy had scared her. That was the feeling he got from Hyde, and from everybody else who was overprotective of her. “But you’ll go out with me tomorrow night?”

  She took a sip of her water and then gave him a mischievous grin, the teasing Sariah restored. “I don’t know, Mack Quinn. You’re counting your chickens before they’ve even been put in the incubator.”

  He grinned. His knowledge of raising chickens was sadly lacking. “I’m hoping they don’t feed us a raw chicken in this place.”

  “Oh! You are going to eat those words. An hour from now you’ll be begging my forgiveness for dissing on my spot and planning when you can come back. You’ll have dreams about this food.”

  Mack would have dreams about her, but he doubted he’d dream about this food. “We’ll see,” was all he said. He didn’t care what the food tasted like, or if they were in violation of health codes. He was finally with Sariah. Maybe there was something wrong with her physically or mentally but he didn’t care. He was finally getting his chance to get to know her.

  * * *

  Sariah appreciated the easy flow of conversation with Mack as they ate the delicious food. He’d told her a little bit about his large family, explaining the connection of Scarlett Lily to his brother Griff. She appreciated hearing the truth of that interaction from his lips. Occasionally he looked searchingly at her, probably wishing she’d tell him why she acted so crazy at the school, but he didn’t ask again.

  She’d ordered a lot of food, assuming that he could eat a lot, and he had proven her right. His manners were impeccable, and he made sure she always got first chance at a dish, but when she assured him several times that she was full, he cleaned off each plate.

  “You ready to eat crow, my boy?” she asked as he ate the last noodle from the pad thai plate and she finished off the last bite of mango sticky rice. The coconut sauce was delicious.

  He nodded. “I’m thinking of ordering some to take back to the hotel.”

  She punched a fist in the air. “Yes! I knew I’d win this battle. I’m more battle savvy than Napoleon.”

  Mack covered her hand with his own and she had to keep her head on straight as her body reacted to his simple touch.

  “You’d win any battle with me,” he said.

  Sariah gave him a sassy smile when she wanted to tell him her every secret and beg him to move to Colorado. “I hope I never have a battle with you.”

  Mack studied her. “Will you go to dinner with me tomorrow night?”

  “I wouldn’t miss it.”

  His smile made her stomach heat up.

  “Big guy like the food?” their waitress asked.

  “Very much. Can I get a pad thai to go? Level four heat. And another order of mango sticky rice.” He handed over a credit card. “Would you like any dessert or something else?” he asked Sariah before the woman left.

  “No, thank you.” She couldn’t believe he had really ordered more food. Midnight snack? As strong as he was it probably took quite a bit of calories to maintain his muscle mass.

  They chatted some more about their large families as they waited for the to-go order and then walked out to his rental. The ride back to the school parking lot passed too quickly and before she knew it, Sariah was standing outside her beat-up Civic staring up at Mack. The evening was cold but she hardly felt it as his warm gaze lingered on her.

  “Thank you for an absolut
ely lovely dinner,” she said.

  “Everything with you is a little sarcastic, isn’t it?”

  “Ah,” she protested. “That was sincere through and through.” Sarcasm had protected her many a time and was pretty much the only weapon in her arsenal.

  He chuckled and rested one hand against the hood of the car, leaning closer to her but not touching her. Sariah’s insides did a happy jig and she leaned a little closer as well. She doubted he’d kiss her, especially after her reaction earlier today, but he’d flown clear across the country and he’d said a man didn’t do that unless he wanted a kiss. Hopefully, that meant he’d try to pull her close again, this time without touching the right side of her face.

  “Thank you for dinner,” she said breathily.

  He nodded, his blue eyes giving her this beautiful smoldering look as he leaned even closer.

  “Wowzers,” she mumbled.

  “What?”

  “I never knew real people could do that.”

  “Do what?”

  “That smoldering, I’m going to lean close and schmooze you with my beautiful blue eyes, like off a movie screen.” Her face got hot. She shouldn’t have said any of that, but she had to break the tension somehow.

  He smiled as if he thought she was hilarious, but possibly a little unstable. “I’m guessing the smoldering look didn’t work if you’re making fun of me.”

  “Oh, no, it’s working.” She gave in to the longings she’d had since the first time she’d seen him, all burly and tough in his football uniform, and placed both palms on his chest. “Whoa. Those muscles are … tantalizing.”