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“Am I going to see you again?”
He gave her a slow grin. “You thought you were getting rid of me that easily?”
She bit at her lip. “Not if I’m a lucky duck.”
He lifted his right hand and brushed his fingers down the left side of her face. “I’ve worked far too hard to find you, Sariah Udy. No way I’m giving up now.”
“So, it’s all about the pursuit. Not that you really want to be with the most hilarious woman I know.” She put her hands on her hips, hoping he didn’t realize she was also the most insecure woman she knew.
Mack chuckled. “You are hilarious and this has nothing to do with the pursuit. It’s all about me wanting to be with you.” He bent forward and gently kissed her then he pulled back and said, “You have my number?”
She nodded. Teresa and Allie had made sure of that.
“Will you text me, please?”
“I’ll flip a coin. You want heads or tails?”
He grinned. “No coins. I can’t leave this one to chance.”
“Life’s a gamble.” She shrugged innocently.
He stepped closer, his strong body brushing hers. “If you don’t text me, I’ll be waiting at the school Saturday at six o’clock.”
“If I do reveal the rock star I am and text you, you’d better be waiting at the schooleveryday at six o’clock.”
“Every day spent with Sariah Udy.” He groaned, wrapped his hands around her lower back, and pulled her in close. “You have no idea how much I want to do that,” he murmured against her left cheek.
“Then why don’t you?” She was being all kinds of brave. What if she chased him away? She had no clue how relationships worked.
He looked down at her, so serious it scared her a little bit. “Sariah,” he said gently. “We both know there’s something you’re not telling me.” His eyes flickered to the right side of her face and neck and back up.
Her chest tightened and terror rushed through her as all desire to tease with him splashed out like Josh had dropped another milk jug. It was not only going to make a mess it was going to curdle and reek. He wanted to see her scars, know what happened to her. Did she tell him about Tyler too? Was she ready for any of that? What if Mack saw her deformity, left her, and never returned?
“I don’t want you to tell me until you’re comfortable with me, until you know you can trust me.”
Sariah gulped, her worries changing to surprise. He was letting her off the hook. Asking her to learn to trust him. She didn’t know if she could ever trust a man, after what Tyler had done to her.
“I want to take this slow, and if I’m waiting at the school for you every day …” He shook his head. “I’ll push ahead too fast and maybe scare you away.”
Sariah buried the left side of her face against his chest. Could it be possible he was really this perfect for her? He wanted to take it slow. He wanted her to trust him.
“Thank you,” she managed to squeak out. Pulling back from his embrace, she gave him a watery smile, praying she wouldn’t break down in front of him. “You’d better go catch that plane.”
He nodded. “I’ll see you Saturday.”
“I’ll be texting you before then.”
He grinned, climbed into his vehicle, and shut the door. Sariah stepped back. He slowly reversed and with one last wave, he pulled away from the house. She watched him drive around the park and then up the road before he disappeared from sight.
“You okay?”
Sariah jumped. She whirled to see her entire family standing there. Lily was watching her with understanding but worry in her eyes.
“I’m better than the Patriots on the football field,” she said, nodding vigorously. “So … what did you think of Mack?” She had to turn the attention away from herself. She was still close to tears, but it was because Mack was so great, not because he’d made her sad. Yet the fear of being destroyed emotionally was there as well.
“He’s the best!” Josh yelled.
“Hey.” Hyde lifted his hands, palms up. “I thought I was the best.”
