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“Okay. See you in the morning.”
Teresa peered at her from the bed. “Are you going to tell me more about that big, handsome guy?”
Sariah shook her head. “Like I said, there’s nothing to tell.”
“I think there is.”
She blew out a breath and admitted quietly, “I saw him with Scarlett Lily as we were leaving. She kissed his jaw.”
“Did it look intimate or like a famous Hollywood person being all cheesy and kissing everybody? I’ve known a lot of those types in my life.”
“It looked intimate.” Sariah hated to admit the truth, but the exchange had looked very intimate and neither Mack nor Scarlett Lily had a reputation for being a flirt or a player. The way Mack had watched Scarlett walk away bothered her as much as them being so close and Scarlett kissing him.
“Sorry, love.”
“Thanks.” Sariah slipped out the door, shutting it quietly behind her. She loved Teresa like a favorite aunt. Sometimes taking care of her was exhausting, but mostly it was fun to be with her, and the woman genuinely loved her. She was glad she’d talked to somebody about her Mack dreams being crushed.
Padding into the spacious living area, she looked out at the view of Atlanta, the lights sparkling below Hyde’s high-rise condo.
Hyde and Lily were on the couch, snuggled up. Sariah pivoted. She’d go back and hang out with Teresa some more rather than interrupt their alone time. She knew they didn’t get to be together often enough.
“Sariah?” Hyde’s voice stopped her.
She whirled back. “Hey. Don’t let me interrupt the smooch fest.”
Lily laughed. “We were just talking. Get in here and talk to us.”
Only sisters could boss somebody around like that. At least talking with them would get her mind off of Mack. She settled into the overstuffed chair across from them and smiled. “So, tell me about the wedding plans.”
Lily shook her head. “Not right now. Tell us about Mack Quinn.”
Sariah’s stomach leapt and then plunged immediately. Obviously, she wasn’t going to get her mind off of him. A couple hours ago she would’ve been ecstatic to talk about Mack, but not now.
Hyde’s brows were drawn together. He didn’t look mad, more concerned.
“Mack Quinn?” she asked, feigning innocence. Would Teresa have ratted her out about the garden interlude? She couldn’t think of when Teresa would’ve been alone with Hyde or Lily, except for that brief time that Sariah had gone back to try to find Mack … and seen him with Scarlett Lily. Schnikies, she hated that brief time.
“We’ve seen the way he looks at you,” Lily said.
“He’s asked me a couple of times about you,” Hyde admitted.
“What?” Sariah could barely keep her seat.
Hyde stared at her as only an older brother could stare at her. “After a couple of games. Has he been checking you out all season?”
“I guess.” It didn’t matter now, but why hadn’t Hyde told her? “He asked you about me? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Hyde shifted and glanced at Lily. “I didn’t want him to hurt you.”
Sariah blinked at him. Mack was huge and muscular, but he would never hurt her physically. The only way he could hurt her … he’d done at the party tonight. Two-timing her just like Tyler had done. She knew exactly why Hyde was worried and any frustration at him not telling her about Mack asking about her died quickly. Especially when Mack was obviously not the man she thought he was.
“Thanks for watching out for me, Hyde,” she whispered.
Hyde kept giving her these penetrating stares, only bested by Lily’s more penetrating stares. “If you … like him, I can give him your number. I know you’re an adult and I don’t want to treat you like you’re not. I just know he and the Quinn family are high profile and after what you went through, I didn’t want to expose you to that.”
Did shelikeMack? She liked everything about him, except for Scarlett Lily kissing him in such a public setting. “No. You’re right. It’s for the best. I wouldn’t want to be put on display again.” She tugged at the hair covering her disfigured right ear and side of her neck. “You ready to head to the hotel, sis?” She needed to get out of here. Sleep off this pain. Her silly fascination with Mack was over. She knew it couldn’t go anywhere, so why did it hurt so bad?
Hyde stood, pulling Lily to her feet. “I should’ve dropped you both off at the hotel earlier. I just wanted a little more time with my beautiful fiancée.”
