Mack nodded. She gave him one last smile that didn’t reach her eyes, and sauntered away to greet some other players, congratulating them on the Super Bowl win. Mack watched her go, wondering at the story between her and Griff and feeling badly for her. It had been common knowledge that she’d been dating the famous hockey player, Josh Porter, last fall. He’d dumped her at Christmas for Callum Hawk’s new sister-in-law, Hannah Hall. The press had made a huge deal about it, but somehow Mack didn’t think Scarlett had been as invested in Josh as everyone seemed to think. It was obvious to Mack that she cared for his brother. He’d pass her message on, though he doubted Griff would do anything about it. Mack worried Griff, Colt, and Navy would all grow old alone. Griff was too hard, Colt was too much of a player, and Navy was too invested in her career.
Mack had no desire to be alone. He focused on searching for Sariah. The party was starting to thin out and he worried she’d left. If she had, how was he going to find her again? Hyde’s request that he stay away from Sariah was so faded he could hardly remember how Hyde had phrased it. Especially when Mack had the remembrance of her waist in his palm and her dark eyes focused on him as she leaned closer in that garden.
Chapter Five
Sariah wanted to talk to Mack before they left, but the room was crowded throughout the awards and dinner and she, Lily, Hyde, and Teresa stayed close together. She didn’t want to just disappear and she didn’t want to have to explain her obsession with someone she barely knew.
It was obvious Teresa was tired and some of the party-goers were starting to head out. Hyde said he’d go get his Lexus from the valet. Sariah leaned close to Lily after he left and whispered, “I need to go say goodbye to someone, can you take Teresa to meet Hyde and I’ll be right there?”
“Sure.” Lily winked. “As long as I get to hear all about this ‘someone’ back at the hotel.” Lily still lived and worked in Golden at the gym where she and Hyde had met. After she and Hyde married, she would relocate to Atlanta. Sariah knew the long-distance relationship hadn’t been easy but they were very in love and a solid couple.
Sariah nodded quickly, nervous. She’d only have a minute as she didn’t want them waiting for her and wearing out Teresa even more. It had been an exciting night for Teresa between her proud Mom moments with the awards Hyde received and the flirtations that didn’t stop from Bucky.
She hurried toward the spot she’d seen Mack talking with a group of players and stopped in her tracks. Mack was leaning in close to a beautiful redhead, speaking intently to her. The woman kissed his jaw and then whispered in his ear. As she pulled back, Sariah recognized her. Scarlett Lily. The famous and beautiful action movie actress.
Mack’s eyes followed Scarlett as she walked away in an off-the shoulder black dress that was flattering and alluring. Her skin was smooth, deeper-toned than most redheads Sariah had seen. The thought of Mack gazing at, and possibly touching that lovely skin made Sariah’s stomach churn. The truth she’d ignored while talking to Mack in the garden hit her again. She could never be in the same class as Scarlett Lily, or any of the wives or girlfriends of these players. She could never be with someone like the glorious Mack Quinn.
Pulling her hair tighter around her burn marks, Sariah spun on her heel and hurried to meet her sister. Tears stung at her eyes, which was ridiculous. She hardly knew Mack and had no rights to him because of a couple of silly interactions. She was immature and had no clue how relationships with the opposite sex worked. Obviously, she’d been smart to keep her distance from men after Tyler destroyed her emotionally and his girlfriend, Denise, hurt her physically. This just reaffirmed it.
Lily and Teresa were waiting for her in the entry. Lily pumped her eyebrows but Sariah shook her head and looked away. She’d be in for a grilling later, but right now she just wanted to make sure she didn’t burst into tears.
Chapter Six
Mack lost all decorum as he searched every spot in the mansion, where the public were welcome to roam, to find Sariah. He’d tried to play it cool earlier but now he was desperate. Finally, he conceded that she’d left and he made the rounds with a heavy feeling inside. He said goodbye to teammates and coaches and finally met Bucky close to the door.
“Thank you, sir, for everything.”
Bucky shook his hand vigorously. “Thank you, son. It’s been a great couple seasons with you on board.” He released his hand but pinned him with a gaze. “Beautiful young lady I saw you with.”
“Yes, sir, she is.”
“Anything happening there?”
“Unfortunately, not.” He forced a smile.
Bucky threw back his head and laughed. “Ah, us poor men. You’re a good one, son.” He slapped him on the shoulder and moved on to the next person waiting to say goodbye.
Mack’s feet were too big for his body as he trudged out the front door and off the porch, handing his ticket to the valet. They finally brought his Range Rover to him and he tipped the valet and then scrunched himself inside, obviously, the valet had to move the seat forward to be able to drive it. Pushing the programmed seat button, Mack relaxed as the seat pushed back and he could stretch out his legs.
Puttering down the tree-lined drive, he debated what he could do, if anything. Calling Hyde wasn’t going to get him anywhere. He shook his head, frustrated. Sariah. She’d been right there, and he’d lost her again.
He thought through the night and remembered the conversation with Scarlett. He needed to try to contact Griff and give him Scarlett’s message. Sometimes Griff went off the grid and the family couldn’t contact him, but he always got back to Mack later. He had told Scarlett the truth, his brother was a great man who did what he did to protect others.
Wait a minute. Griff! His brother could find information no person should be able to find. He pushed the button on his steering wheel and asked to call Griff Quinn.
A few rings later and his brother answered, “Mack.” Griff was never warm with anyone, but Mack knew he was a little softer for him. The entire family was. He appreciated their devotion to him, and tried hard never to take advantage of it. Tonight, he might change that.
“Hey, bro. You home?” Home for Griff was Sutton Smith’s sprawling mansion in southern California. Griff had plenty of money, but seemed to have no desire to have his own place or settle down. He lived to protect innocent people and put himself in danger.
“Belize.”
“Oh.” Mack used to ask what Griff was up to, try to have a normal conversation with his brother. He learned quickly Griff wasn’t interested in normal or sharing much of anything. “Thanks for answering my call.”
“I always try to answer yours.”
Mack knew that response was about the kindest thing Griff would ever say to anybody. He turned onto the side road leading toward the freeway, increasing his speed. “Hey, I met someone who said she knew you from college.” Griff didn’t respond so he continued. “Scarlett Lily.”
He heard an audible intake from Griff. Mack paused, thinking this was the strongest response he’d ever gotten from his brother and wondering if his brother would reveal anything to him.
“And?” was all he got.
“She asked me to tell you …” How had she phrased it? Thoughts of Sariah pushed other conversations to the back of his mind. “That she asked about you.”
“Hmm.” Griff sort of grunted.
“What’s the story there, bro?”
“Nothing. Scarlett’s … nice.”
“Nice? I think a lot of men would have a better description for Scarlett Lily than ‘nice’.” Mack was goading him now and it wasn’t nice, but Scarlett obviously felt something for his brother and he would love to see his brother fall in love. Then again, it probably wasn’t fair to Scarlett to push a hardened man like Griff on her. She did seem like a very nice person.
“Did you need something?”
Classic Griff. But Mack did need something. “Yeah, I, um, need some info, a home address, work address, phone number, whatever you can give me.”<
br />
“Why and on who?”
“Sariah Udy.” The who was so much easier to explain than the why. There was absolutely no way to explain to Griff how Sariah looked at him, how he’d fallen for her, why he couldn’t get her out of his mind. Not that Mack cared that Griff would think he was a wimp, which Griff would. It was simply that falling for a woman wasn’t in Griff’s makeup. He had no point of reference for it. It was much better for Scarlett Lily that she not see Griff again.
Mack cruised onto the freeway, pushing the buttons so his vehicle would basically drive itself.
Griff was still waiting. “Why?” he asked again.
“I love her,” Mack sputtered out. Oh, no! He didn’t love her, love her. He didn’t even know her. But he had to get to know her.
“What?” Griff grunted, his voice filled with disgust. “You’re too young to know what love is.”
“Please help me find her, Griff.” He ignored the reference to his youth. He was the baby of the family, but he was twenty-five, self-sufficient, and he knew his own mind.
“Does she want to be found?”
“I think so. It’s her brother-in-law who’s blocking me.”
“Hyde Metcalf?”
“You know who she is?”
“I watch the news occasionally,” Griff said drily.
“Do you watch Scarlett Lily occasionally?” Mack knew he shouldn’t have said that the instant the words were out.
“Do you want help or not?” Griff’s voice had gotten chillier and more raw than normal.
“Please, Griff. I just need to talk to Sariah. You know me, I’ll leave her alone if she’s not interested.”
Griff waited, let him sweat it out. He only needed to lightly touch the steering wheel to keep his car speeding along with traffic, but his grip on the steering wheel got tighter and tighter.
“Please,” he said again.
“I’ll see what I can find.” Griff hung up without a goodbye.
The conversation wasn’t bad as far as conversations with Griff went and Mack felt a giddy happiness inside. Griff was the best at finding info. Soon Mack would be knocking on Sariah Udy’s door.
* * *
Sariah made sure Teresa was settled in one of the spare bedrooms at Hyde’s condo, her stomach churning the entire time. She couldn’t get the memory of Scarlett Lily kissing Mack’s jaw out of her mind. His jaw. That perfect jaw Sariah would love to touch with her fingertips. And Scarlett Lily had touched it with her lips.
Why had Sariah deluded herself into thinking Mack Quinn was special or that she was special to him? She hated how inexperienced and vulnerable she was. A few looks and kind words and Mack had captured her heart. She had to learn how to be stronger, somehow.
“Good night, sweetheart,” Teresa said. “Don’t you worry about me. I’m just tired.”
“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 she like Mack? 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.”
“Wouldn’t want to deny you that.” Lily winked at him. “Teresa was worn out. We’ll get an Uber, no worries.”
Hyde pulled out his phone and brought up the app. Sariah said goodbye to Hyde and hurried to the front entry. Thankfully the condo was big enough they could have some privacy to say their goodnights. Unfortunately, it wasn’t big enough for her to miss hearing the sound of their kissing, soft laughs, and smitten voices. Oh, to find a love like Hyde and Lily’s. Obviously, it wasn’t in the cards for her. Sariah pushed a hand against her heart, but it still felt tight and painful.
Chapter Seven
Two weeks had passed since Mack had seen Sariah. Griff
had finally, finally got him some information. He didn’t blame Griff, not at all, he’d just been impatient because he wanted to see Sariah. His brother had been busy taking down a trafficking ring in Belize and rescuing dozens of women and children. His brother was a hero many times over, and Mack was proud of him. He still wondered what had happened with him and Scarlett Lily, but knew he’d get nothing out of Griff. Bringing up Scarlett’s reference to tickling Griff might get Mack a reaction, but guaranteed it would tick Griff off. Most people tried very hard never to tick Griff off.
Mack was in a rented Cherokee, driving west from Denver up I-70 into the mountains toward the little town of Georgetown. Sariah’s hometown. He couldn’t stop thanking Griff, and Heavenly Father, in his head. He had Sariah’s address. The only worry was if she was actually here. Hyde had said she lived in Denver. Was she working in Denver, going to school in Denver? Most people at twenty-one or twenty-two wouldn’t still be living at home. But this was his only hope of finding her. Griff had only given him this address, and told him gruffly to stop saying thank you.
The river flowed next to the freeway, speeding along with spring runoff. Mack rarely saw traffic this sparse in Atlanta, especially on a Friday at noon. It was a pretty spring day. The leaves were just budding on the trees at this higher elevation, but there were so many pine trees in these mountains it still looked lush and green. He’d been to Denver quite a few times but he’d never seen this part of the area and he loved it. Not quite as green as Georgia, but these towering mountains were unreal.
He took the turn for Georgetown and drove past a mountain lake and through a very quiet town. The mountains sheltered the town, towering above it on all sides. It fit Sariah perfectly—beautiful, peaceful, guarded, and unassuming.
He followed Siri’s directions, stopping at a small house on the edge of the town’s park. The grass was still brown from winter and a few piles of snow remained. How cool was that? Mack had grown up in Rhode Island and loved the snow. He’d missed it since going to college in Texas and living in Georgia the past couple of years.
Cami’s Georgia Patriots Romance Collection Page 19
