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“Why me?”
“There’s something about you that I could never say no to.” She grasped his shoulders, lifted herself onto tiptoes, and kissed his cheek.
Mack savored the softness of her lips against him and the sweetness of her scent. It was an appealing mix of vanilla and musk. He about grabbed her and pulled her in for a real kiss but she slipped into her car. He grasped the door. “So, you’re saying you want to date me?”
“I’m saying I’m interested in amonogamousrelationship with a huge, studly offensive lineman,” she said. “Yes, I want to date you.”
Yes! He almost punched a fist in the air. Whatever odd thing was going on with her, it didn’t matter to him. He wanted more time with her. Once she knew him better she’d tell him about it. “I have to fly back home tomorrow night for a meeting with some sponsors Monday morning. Can I be with you tomorrow?” he rushed out.
“Are you a church-goer?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Meet me at the First Presbyterian Church of Georgetown, Colorado at precisely ten a.m.”
He grinned. “I will be there.”
“Plan on dinner with the family after. It’ll probably be fish.”
He laughed. “I like fish.”
“You like everything.” She blinked up at him and he wanted to tug her back out of the car and kiss her, but she hadn’t dated anyone in four years. She was probably only twenty-one or twenty-two, so basically, she hadn’t dated since high school. Crazy. She had an interesting story and he wanted to know it, but mostly he wanted to do this right and take it slow and be with her.
“I mostly just like you,” he said.
She put a hand to her heart. “You’re a charmer, Mack Quinn, I don’t care what they say about you.”
He chuckled and only a lot of self-control allowed him to say, “I’ll see you tomorrow,” and close her door. He watched her drive away. And he cursed himself for promising not to Google her.
CHAPTERTWELVE
Sariah sat in the hard pews, with Josh on her right side, wondering if Mack was going to show. Her family usually tried to squish in one row near the back of the chapel, but Hyde, Lily, and Teresa were here today and Sariah had been forced to admit to everyone that Mack was coming, so she could save him a spot. She checked the entry one more time—empty. She glanced at her phone—ten a.m. on the dot. The gaping open spot to her left probably confused her fellow church-goers. Sariah had never brought anyone to church.
Hyde leaned across Josh, put both hands over Josh’s ears and muttered, “If he breaks your heart, I’m going to rip him apart.”
“Good luck with that one,” she said.
“I don’t care how big he is, you haven’t seen me mad.”
“I’ve seen you psychotic, like right now, and it doesn’t look good on you.” Usually she loved her surrogate big brother, but she didn’t need to be reminded that she’d been stood up. It hurt enough.
Hyde gave her a tight smile. “You just wait and you’ll see psychotic. I’m not putting up with him hurting you when I warned him.”
Josh squirmed and looked up at Hyde. “Why you covering my ears?” he said, very loudly, just as the pastor stood at the pulpit.
Several people turned around. Josh lifted his hands, all innocence. He was so cute the people just smiled and turned back around.
Hyde gave her one more concerned look. Sariah loved Hyde, but he must not know Mack very well. Mack wouldn’t hurt her. She discreetly checked over her shoulder. The door remained stubbornly closed. At least not intentionally. At least she didn’t think so. She sighed. What did she know? She’d trusted Tyler the two-timer. They’d dated for six months and she’d never seen through his lies.
The church door whooshed open and Sariah whipped around to look. Mack walked in. She’d seen him in a suit the night of the Patriots’ party. Seeing him in a suit for the second time was just as delicious as the first. The perfectly-tailored navy blue suit complimented his muscular, broad frame. His blue eyes sparkled at her and his blond curls were gelled and smoothed away from his handsome face.
“Mack Quinn is at my church!” Josh was so excited he yelled, interrupting the pastor’s opening remarks.
“Shh,” Mary and Trudy said together.
Sariah just stared at Mack as he eased in next to her. He reached his arm around her shoulder and whispered into her left ear, “Sorry for being late. An accident blocked the freeway.”
“It’s okay.” He was here. She wanted to jump up and cheer.
