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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 door. 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.
CHAPTERTEN
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.
“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.”
