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Jane was Sariah’s closest friend at school and Sariah had made the mistake of saying Scarlett was even more beautiful in person when Jane had been dying over pictures of the hockey star, Josh Porter, and Scarlett Lily last fall.
“I only saw her at a party.” She prayed nightly for Scarlett’s safety. She didn’t know her but Sariah had always thought she seemed like a genuine and beautiful person. It was sickening to think of her disappearing and what she might be going through.
“Your life is insane, my friend. Scarlett Lily at parties. Your sister getting ready to marry Hyde Metcalf. And best of all, you’re dating Mack Quinn.” She squealed. “He’s so hot. Only somebody as gorgeous as you could be by Mack Quinn’s side.”
Sariah smiled but her gut twisted. She and Mack had been texting all week and last weekend he had shown exactly how great he was. She was the farthest thing from gorgeous. Mack should have someone on his arm like those model-looking women at Bucky Buchanan’s Super Bowl celebration.
“See ya,” Sariah said and hurried away before Jane could say more. She burst out of the front door. It was chilly but not unbearable. She didn’t see Mack so she walked toward the parking lot. Several of her classmates walked past and said goodbye. Discreetly looking in windows, she couldn’t find Mack sitting in any of the vehicles. Not sure which rental he would have this week, she pulled out her phone to text him as she paced the now nearly-empty parking lot to keep warm. She could climb into her car, but he’d probably be here soon. She hoped. Her deep-seated trust issues reared up and she worried. What if he didn’t come? What if he realized she wasn’t a perfect model and moved on?
“Hey, lady,” a rough voice said from right next to her.
Sariah jumped back and clung to her phone. The man was rough-looking with scraggly hair and a long beard, dirty clothes and face. His blue eyes were cloudy and darted all over her body and then back to her face. He gave her a smile that looked more like a grimace, revealing tobacco-stained teeth. Sariah took a quick breath and said a prayer. She didn’t want to hold to stereotypes, but she also didn’t want to be alone with this man.
Her eyes darted around. Was Mack coming? Was anyone else around that could help her if this guy proved as dangerous as he looked?
She backed up another step.
“Got any spare change?” he asked.
Sariah clung to her phone and her purse. She didn’t have cash of any kind. “I’m sorry, I don’t,” she said.
“Liar,” he spit at her. “Give me some cash.” He stepped up closer.
Sariah shook her head. “I don’t carry any cash.”
“Then give me that purse and I’ll see what a liar you are.”
He grabbed at her purse.
“No!” Sariah whipped her body away from him so he couldn’t grab her purse. He tugged at her hair and she screamed.
Tires rumbled into the parking lot and a door slammed. Sariah looked up to see Mack storming toward them.
“Mack,” she sighed. He’d come.
The man released her and turned to face Mack. He squealed and tried to dart away. Mack grabbed his arm and shoved him to the ground. “Stay there,” Mack demanded.
Sariah barely had time to reposition her hair around her scars before Mack’s blue gaze was sweeping over her. “Are you okay?”
She nodded.
Mack wrapped his arm around her, bringing warmth and reassurance. He pulled out his phone and dialed 911. As soon as he started telling the operator about an attempted assault the man tried to crawl away.
“Don’t try it,” Mack warned.
The man stared up at him. His eyes were still cloudy but they were filled with terror. Sariah wondered what he saw. As drugged out as he seemed, Mack probably looked like a terrifying giant instead of the gentle, kind man that he was. She cuddled into his side. He glanced down at her and tenderly kissed her forehead, whispering, “Sorry, dinner might be a little late tonight.”
She smiled and wrapped both arms around his strong abdomen. “As long as I’m with you I don’t care.” A truer statement had never come from her lips. Mack was massive and could probably best anyone who threatened her, but he was a gentle giant with her. She’d never felt so safe and desired. Maybe all her fears and trust issues could be resolved with Mack. He’d come for her tonight, exactly when she needed him. Would it be possible that he’d always come for her?
Sirens pierced the air and the man jumped to his feet and tried to make a run for it. Mack released her and flew after him, tackling him to the ground and holding him there until the policemen leapt from their vehicles with their guns drawn.
Mack slowly stood with his hands up, as per their instructions. Sariah’s breath whooshed out of her at the beauty of this muscular superman. She wanted to spend every minute getting to know him. When he was with her, she felt as if she didn’t need to worry about anything.
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
The next two months passed by in spurts and stops for Mack. Each Saturday afternoon he’d fly to Denver, take Sariah to dinner somewhere different, go to church with her and her family the next day, have dinner with them, and then turn around and fly back. The rest of the week he tried to keep himself busy with training, working with his agent, his sponsors, and his financial people, but Monday through Friday were too slow. All he wanted was more time with Sariah, but as promised he tried to take things slow with her.
He bought a second house in Marietta, only a couple miles from Bucky’s mansion. The house was much too large for a single guy but it was in a beautiful wooded area and his tax advisors said he needed a write-off. He couldn’t get himself to sleep there and still lived in his downtown Atlanta condo. The house was too far away from the gym and the field were his excuses, but he knew the real reason was he wanted to be in that beautiful house with Sariah. He’d fallen in love with her. He’d fallen in love with her family. Even Hyde was great to be around now and Josh was his favorite. If only Sariah would trust him with her secret. He was very careful to never touch the right side of her face or neck and her hair always covered it.
