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Mack nodded. “Is there any hope of me earning a hug?”
She arched her eyebrows. “Is a hug all you’re after, big boy?”
His lips curved into the most irresistible smirk. He stood up straight and the sheer glory of his build overwhelmed and thrilled her. “No.” He took a step closer. Sariah tilted her head back to maintain eye contact. “Any man who chases a woman across the country would be a fool to not beg for a kiss at some point.”
Sariah’s stomach swooped and then filled with heat. She hoped her face didn’t reveal that if he kept being so enticing, she’d kiss him before they went on a single date.
“Hmm,” she said. “I guess we’ll see how good your begging skills are.”
“They’re pretty good. I was the youngest after all.”
Sariah laughed thinking of Josh and how he almost always got his way. “You’ve got to watch out for those babies of the family.” Though there was nothing childlike about him.
“We’re pretty irresistible.” He leaned closer and Sariah lost all rational thought and the ability to breathe.
Mack reached up and tenderly touched her right cheek. “You’re so beautiful,” he murmured. His hand trailed back, pushing at the hair covering the right side of her face.
“Stop!” Sariah screamed, ducking out of his reach.
The door burst open and Joseph stood there. “Sariah? Did he hurt you?”
Mack was eight inches taller and at least a hundred pounds heavier than Joseph. It was nice but really stupid of Joseph to stand up for her.
“No,” she whispered. She glanced back at Mack. His face was full of confusion and regret.
“I’m sorry, Sariah. I didn’t mean to …” Mack’s voice trailed off as it was obvious he had no clue what he’d done.
Sariah felt horrible for the way she’d reacted … but the thought of Mack seeing or touching her scars. Her stomach soured and she backed further away from him. Joseph put a reassuring arm around her.
Miriam appeared in the hallway. “What’s going on here?” she demanded.
“Nothing,” Sariah insisted. How could she explain why she’d screamed? She didn’t want anyone thinking Mack would hurt her. She wanted to erase the worried look from his eyes, rewind time to a few minutes ago when it was just them bantering, and somehow react differently yet still protect her secret.
“It’s time for you to go, Mr. Quinn.” Miriam folded her arms across her chest.
Mack stared at Sariah, ignoring everyone else.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I … overreacted.”
He nodded tightly, obviously still confused how she could react that extremely to him brushing her hair from her face. She never wanted him to see her scars. It was irrational and extreme but she wanted him to keep thinking she was beautiful.
She straightened her shoulders and tried to think how to salvage the situation. The best thing to do would be to get Mack out of here and talk to him later, but what would she say? “I’ll see you out front at six.”
“Sariah.” Joseph pulled her around to face him. “You don’t want to go out with a man who would hurt you.”
Sariah shook her head. “Mack would never hurt me. I … I can’t explain. This is on me.” She glanced back at Mack. He stood there looking so strong and appealing, but not threatening. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her, but what made her think she could date someone like him and not have her deformity be an issue? She’d never fit in that wives and girlfriends club of football players. She almost told him she couldn’t go to dinner, but that wasn’t fair to him.
Instead, she gave him a forced smile and pushed past Joseph and Miriam, hurrying to the women’s bathroom. She barely made it into a stall before hot tears pricked at her eyes. She couldn’t date Mack, and every part of her wanted to.
CHAPTERNINE
Mack watched Sariah leave, certain this wasn’t his moment to chase after her, though that was the only thing he wanted to do. He’d finally found her and she’d been as witty and beautiful as he’d imagined. He knew she was responding well to him, then as he went to brush her hair from her face, she’d come apart. There must be some reason she kept her thick hair over the right side of her face and neck. He couldn’t think of a time he hadn’t seen it down and swooping to the right. He’d be very careful not to try moving it again, but he wished she’d confide in him. What was he thinking? She barely knew him.
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.
