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“He told me ‘no more’,” he imitated Griff’s gruff voice, “after he helped me track her down, and I just don’t feel right about it. It’s her secret to tell, right?”
“Hmm. I guess you could look at it like that, or you could Google her and see what you find.”
Mack had thought about it, but he wanted to earn her trust and have her tell him … whatever secrets she had. “Yeah, I don’t think so. Hopefully, she’ll tell me about it soon.”
“So you’re camping out in Denver until she succumbs to your oversized charm?”
“The idea has crossed my mind.” He had to be back in Atlanta Monday morning, but he would fly here every weekend, if Sariah wanted him to.
“You are almost as sappy as Kaleb, you know that, right? At least he has Jasmine now to keep him in line. Will this girl sass you as good as Mama or I?”
“I think she could.”
“Oh, good. She might stand a chance with our family.”
“Do you think I’m crazy to pursue her this hard?”
“I think she’s crazy if she resists you. You’re the best guy I know, Mack. And I know a lot of guys.”
“Thanks, sis.” His sister and mama were tough, but they loved him and thought the world of him. He needed that right now as he was uncertain how to proceed with Sariah, but knew he couldn’t pass up spending more time with her.
“Tell me more about the Scarlett Lily thing.”
Mack smiled but regretted saying anything. Mack might be big, muscular, and intimidating to ninety-nine percent of the population, but Griff could still thump him. Griff was the toughest man he knew, and his brother had helped him find Sariah so he owed him.
He recounted the story quick, though, because he never told Navy no, but his mind was already wandering ahead. Less than ten minutes and he’d see Sariah again.
* * *
Sariah got done a few minutes early and hurried to the parking lot, hoping to see Mack’s rented Cherokee waiting there. She grinned when she spotted it and hurried over. Mack had his phone to his ear, causing her to stop abruptly rather than rip his door open and hug him because she was so happy to see him.
He noticed her, gave her a big grin, and swung his door open. “Love you. See you soon.” He climbed out of the Jeep, pushed end on the phone, then dropped it in his pocket. “Hey. How was school?”
Sariah envisioned him meeting her every day after school. She thought that would be just about perfect, but she needed to know something and quick. A shot of terror raced through her. “Love you?” She planted her hands on her hips and stared pointedly up at him. “Please tell me that was your mama or your sister.”
His grin grew. “Do I detect some jealousy, Miss Udy?”
“No, sir. But I am only party to monogamous relationships.” He had no clue how serious she was about this, but if he was already two-timing her he wouldn’t have let her hear the “love you”, right? Tyler had been amazing at keeping his girlfriends separate and oblivious to each other’s existence, until Denise somehow found out about Sariah and then tracked her down.
Mack chuckled and took a step closer, reaching out his large hand. Sariah couldn’t stop herself from putting her hand in his. It was a brisk spring evening and her hands were chilly. Mack’s hand around hers immediately warmed her hand and the smile on his face thawed her from the inside out. “So, you’re saying we have a relationship?” he asked in his melodious voice.
“Whoa, back it right up, boy. I said nothing about ‘having’ a relationship. But I might be open to thepossibilityof a relationship, in the future, not immediate future, but maybe not too far in the future future, if, and only if, you tell me who you just said love you to.”
“Wow. That was a whole lot of confusing lingo and I’m just a simple offensive lineman.” He arched one eyebrow, looking so handsome and doing that beautiful,I will gaze at you until you beg me to kiss you,thing with his eyes. “Do we have a relationship then?”
She laughed, though she was still churning inside with worry over that love you, and pushed at his shoulder with her free hand. Of course, he didn’t budge, but it was fun to touch his muscular shoulder. “You’re about as simple as Killer Sudoku.”
“Killer Sudoku?” He grinned.
“Tougher than regular Sudoku. I fail at it regularly and my teachers claimed I was good at math. What I’m saying is there’s nothing simple about you. The answer to your question is, if you’re a patient man, maybe. What’s the answer to mine?”
“I am pretty patient.” He squeezed her hand and admitted, “My sister.”
“Finally, he answers my question. And they say women talk in circles.” She prayed it truly was his sister. Part of her wanted to keep grilling him, simply because she hadn’t trusted an un-related man in the past four years, she’d acted crazy enough yesterday and she hated to scare him completely away.
Mack arched an eyebrow. “You’re claiming that whole spiel about relationships wasn’t talking in circles?”
Sariah giggled. She had never had so much fun bantering with someone. “Where are we eating?”
