Cami’s Georgia Patriots Romance Collection

by Cami Checketts

  “Mack.”

  He glanced over at her. “Yeah?”

  “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 school every day 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.”

  “Oh! Sorry, Hyde.” Josh grinned. “You’re the best best, but Mack is definitely the second best.”

  “Whew. I thought I got replaced for a minute.”

  Everyone laughed.

  “He seems like a really nice guy,” Sariah’s mom said.

  Her dad nodded. “Not sure we can handle any more famous, burly football players in the family though.” He inclined his chin to Hyde.

  Hyde smiled. “Yeah, I think I need to be the only one.”

  Sariah rolled her eyes. “You all need to relax. We’ve been on two dates.”

  “He tracked you down from Georgia and came to church and the family dinner. I think that’s a little more serious than two dates,” Lily said.

  Caleb rolled his eyes. “I hope I don’t have to be that persistent when I find the woman I love.”

  “It’s not love,” Sariah protested. The word persistent gave her both hope and fear. Mack said she could reject him 1009 times and he’d keep coming back. Was he just a smooth talker or could he really feel as deeply for her as he seemed to.

  “I love him,” Josh said. He started running for the house. “Who wants to play catch?”

  Sariah wrapped her arms around herself, chilled suddenly and wanting to be inside.

  Caleb and Hyde said they’d play. Everyone else started filtering back toward the front door. Hyde stopped and edged in close to Sariah. “Are you feeling comfortable with Mack?”

  “He’s a really nice guy, Hyde.”

  “I know. You’ve just been through so much.”

  “I’m not made of glass, bro. I’ll be fine.”

  His dark eyes filled with relief. “So, you told him about the fire, and Tyler and … Denise?”

  She shook her head jerkily, her stomach filling with acid. Someday, she’d have to tell Mack. What would happen then? “He knows something’s wrong, but he wants me to get to know him, trust him, before I tell him.”

  Hyde nodded. “That’s pretty standup of him.”

  “He gets my vote for stud of the year.”

  Josh barreled out of the house with a football tucked under his arm. He slammed into Hyde. “Let’s play!”

  Hyde picked him up and softly tackled him onto the ground. “I already tackled you.”

  “No fair,” Josh hollered, laughing.

  Sariah watched their antics, but her mind had driven away with Mack. How long did she have until he either saw her deformity or found out about it? Maybe it was smarter to tell him soon, but she wanted more carefree time with him. Time before it all crashed down.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Sariah shoved her water bottle and her phone in her purse and headed toward the front exit. Jane walked out of one of the treatment rooms.

  “Relax yourself into a coma this weekend,” Sariah said.

  Jane smiled. “Sounds lovely. Have you heard if they’ve found Scarlett Lily?”

  Sariah shook her head. It was the big story this week that Scarlett Lily had disappeared from her Newport Beach home, not taking her cell phone or her Audi. The police weren’t leaking any details but the media were in a frenzy about it.

  “Don’t you know her?”

  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 c
ould 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.

  Chapter Fifteen

  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.

  Hyde and Lily’s wedding was a great day for the family. They’d married on the beach near Hyde’s southern California home and been able to keep the paparazzi out for the most part. Mack’s agent informed him there were some pictures circulating of him and Sariah from the wedding, but the publicity was good.

  Scarlett Lily had returned from what most sources were claiming was an abduction. She declined commenting on her disappearance, no matter how much pressure the media put on her. Jade had sworn up and down that Griff was somehow involved, that Jasmine knew something too, but neither of them were talking. Griff wouldn’t admit anything to Mack when he tried to call him, telling him he was on an undercover job in Peru and couldn’t talk.

  Mid-May on a Monday night, Mack was feeling the letdown of another five days before he saw Sariah again. His busy season was starting up soon. In June they’d be back to mandatory practices. Something had to change with him and Sariah. Soon he’d be too busy to fly to her. They’d been texting back and forth tonight and a few seconds ago she’d casually mentioned something about having vacation time from school. Mack pushed dial immediately after seeing the text.

  “Just needed to hear my voice?” Sariah asked.

  “Always.” He stood and paced his apartment, ideas forming in his mind. “You have vacation time?”

  She hesitated then said, “Yes.”

  “Would you go away with me somewhere?”

  “Where?” Her voice squeaked. Why was she so nervous?

  “Anywhere you want.” It hit him why she might be concerned. They’d kissed, but never anything more than that. “We’d get separate rooms.”

  “I know, it’s not that.”

  “What is it?”

  No response.

  His grip on the phone tightened. “Please, Sariah. I just want uninterrupted time with you. These past two months I’ve loved being with you, getting to know you and your family, but I … I really want more time than these short weekend trips. Just a few days. Please.”

  “Okay,” she squeaked out.

  “Yes!” he hollered.

  “Calm down, you didn’t win the Super Bowl again.”

  “It feels like it. Thank you.” He sank into his leather sofa. “Where do you want to go? We could fly anywhere. Is there a spot you’ve dreamed of seeing?” He didn’t care where, just as long as they were together. He usually flew commercial but he could charter a jet, or have Kaleb send his jet, or have Griff come fly them in a helicopter, if he wasn’t on some clandestine mission. Where to, though? He would love to get Sariah somewhere warm. Their trip to California with her family for the we
dding was only for the day and they hadn’t had time to swim in the ocean. Kissing on the beach sounded too good to be true. But wait. She might not want to be in a swimsuit. Whatever she was hiding on her neck, she hid it well. He’d never seen her in anything that didn’t have a decent collar and long sleeves, even on warm days.

  “Why don’t we drive to Crested Butte for a few days?” she suggested.

  “Crested what?”

  She laughed. “Crested Butte. It’s about fours away. It’s beautiful there. We could go on hikes and mountain bike rides and just chill and relax together.”

  It wasn’t a tropical island but he really didn’t care. He’d get to be with Sariah. “When could you go?”

  “Let’s go to church with my family on Sunday and then we can leave after dinner. I’ll get Tuesday and Wednesday off school.”

  “I’ll get hotel rooms booked. Thank you.”

  “Happy to serve,” she quipped.

  He smiled.

  “Truly, I’m like a puppy waiting to chew on your shoe. I can hardly wait.”

  Mack chuckled at another one of her cute analogies. “Neither can I.”

  They talked for a few more minutes then said goodnight. Mack thought this might be the weekend. Maybe she’d finally trust him enough to show him her neck, tell him about whatever happened, and maybe he’d finally get brave enough to tell her he loved her.

  He was clutching his phone and jumped when it buzzed with an incoming text. He clicked on the text from Griff, but the phone kept buzzing. Griff must be sending a bunch of texts. It opened up to a picture. Mack squinted at it. He couldn’t see the woman’s face but wet, dark hair trailed along a neck and shoulder that were badly scarred. Maybe burns? Had Griff made a mistake and sent him something from an op that was meant for Sutton Smith, or one of his buddies?

  He scrolled through as if watching a horror show. The pictures showed a misshapen ear and more angles of the burned neck, shoulder, and upper arm. It looked like someone was holding the person in place and had ripped their shirt off, as only the strap of a bra was visible. The seventh or eighth picture down showed the person’s face. The breath rushed out of him and Mack collapsed onto his sofa.