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Sariah could hardly believe how amazing he was. “You’re actually … attracted to me right now?”
A loud breath popped out of him. “Oh, Sariah. If you could only see how incredible you look right now.” He smiled. “I promised you I wouldn’t kiss you too much again, but you in this swimsuit, looking so beautiful.” He shook his head. “We’d better get to a public place quick.”
He took her hand and started toward the door. Sariah tugged at him. “You aren’t grossed out by my scars, or embarrassed of them?”
He shook his head. “I think scars add character. Wait until you see my brother, Griff. His entire back was burned by a bomb. He saved my sister-in-law, Jasmine’s life that night.” He touched her neck again and Sariah trembled from the tenderness of it. “How were you burned?” His brow furrowed, as if he was concerned what her answer would be.
She stared at him, dumbfounded by his acceptance. Months she’d been afraid and waiting to show him her disfigurement, and he took it in stride as if she’d just told him about a childhood skiing accident where she hurt her knee or something. “Campfire,” she muttered. “I was five.”
Relief flashed across his face, which confused her. Where did he think she’d gotten the scars? “That must’ve been terrifying for your parents.”
“Yeah. My mom still won’t talk about it. I think she likes me covering it up.” She paused and then asked, “Do you like me covering it up?”
He shook his head. “Every part of you is beautiful to me. If you’re more comfortable with your hair over your neck that’s fine, but I don’t think you should cover it up. It’s part of you. You’re beautiful.”
Wow. Sariah was still trying to process his awesomeness. Blushing, she walked over and picked up the white coverup and slid it over her head. Mack walked slowly to her. His gaze was intense and the most beautiful smoldering look she’d ever seen.
He fingered the sleeve of her coverup. “You can wear this if you want,” he said in a deep, throaty voice, “But don’t wear it for me.”
Sariah felt warm all over. Who needed a hot tub? “You don’t care if I strut down to the hot tub without anything over my suit?”
He shook his head. “I think you should share your beauty with everyone.”
Sariah searched his gaze and the sincerity, desire, and love there had her body pulsing with joy and acceptance. “I won’t wear it then,” she whispered.
Mack’s gaze heated her even more. He reached down and grasped the edges of the coverup. His fingers brushed against her thighs. He pulled it up her body in one of the most tender and tantalizing moves she’d ever experienced. Lifting it over her head, he dropped it to the floor and then his eyes slowly traveled over her again.
“So beautiful,” he whispered.
Sariah stared up into his blue eyes. “Have I told you how much I love you?” she asked.
Mack smiled. He bent low and kissed her. “I love you,” he murmured, then he kissed her again. The kisses quickly grew in intensity and Sariah didn’t even flinch when his palms framed her face and his fingers grazed her scars.
Mack drew back first. “Like I said, we’d better get to a public place quick.”
“Don’t want a repeat of last night?” she teased, feeling light and happy and so in love. Soon she’d tell him about the other nightmare associated with her scars, but she didn’t want to tarnish this moment, or how she felt with Mack looking at her with such devotion and desire.
“No, ma’am. Especially not with you in a swimming suit. Whoo.” He blew out a breath. “And those girls today claimedIwas hot.”
She laughed and let him escort her out of the suite and toward the elevator. Mack thought she was hot, even with her scars. She had officially found the perfect man for her. She loved him so much.
CHAPTERNINETEEN
Mack woke up at six the next morning, feeling like he could conquer the world. His legs actually were a little stiff from the biking and hiking but he needed a really intense weight workout today. He left a note for Sariah and texted her phone but she didn’t respond, she must be still asleep, then he headed for the hotel gym. It was decent, as far as hotel gyms went. He worked out for a couple of hours before hurrying back to their suite. He couldn’t wait to be with Sariah again. Today they were going to bike on the trails around town, buy some bear spray, do a hike to Meridian, or Long Lake, as the locals called it, and maybe paddleboard the river. It wasn’t warm enough to want to get wet, but Sariah had proven how brave she was.
He smiled as he swung the suite door open and rushed for his bedroom. Sariah’s door was still closed, but it was only eight-thirty. He hurried to get into the shower. Even though they would get sweaty again hiking, he didn’t want to stink like a gym rat. Last night they’d gone to their separate rooms after hot tubbing. He wanted to be careful not to put them in a compromising situation, but this time with Sariah was ideal. There was only one worry. He still hadn’t told her that Griff had sent him those pictures and he’d already known about her scars. Would she be upset? His stomach churned at the thought. He didn’t want to keep anything from her, but last night she’d needed his love and acceptance, not more questions about how the scars had caused her torture and trauma.
As he got out of the shower, he heard Sariah’s door open and close. Then he heard his bedroom door open. He hurried to slide into his pants and opened his bathroom door, steam following him out. Sariah was waiting just inside the bedroom door. He noticed her hair was covering her right side again. Had they regressed from last night? Had he not responded correctly, shown her exactly how beautiful she was to him?
“Hey.” He smiled but she didn’t return it. “What’s wrong?” Mack hurried across the small bedroom to her.
She held aloft her phone. Anger flashed in her eyes, but she also looked very vulnerable and beautiful right now. “This is wrong, Mack. I knew I shouldn’t fall for somebody famous.”
“What’s going on?”
She shoved the phone against his chest. Mack took it and scrolled through the article, some online celebrity magazine. “Has another impoverished Udy girl captured a famous Patriots’ player’s heart?” was the first line. He scanned the article. It made Sariah and Lily look like gold diggers who had pulled the wool over Mack and Hyde’s eyes. He remembered hearing about stuff like this last spring when Hyde and Lily started dating.
“It’s just some stupid ragtag,” Mack said. “You can’t let stuff like this bug you.”
