Page 22 of Touchdowns and Temptations

“Please,” he sighs. “One date, one evening. Nothing more.”

“No,” I repeat, resting my fingertips on the tabletop. “I don't go out with football players.”

7

Noah

Talking to Cara was another total flop. She shut down when I tried to change the subject to a date. What does that even mean that she doesn't want to go out with a football player? That's no reason not to give me a chance. Other women are dying to go out with me, and Cara Catherine Corse? Not her, of course.

She doesn't want to go out with a football player. There could be many reasons for that, and on the drive home, my thoughts are constantly turning to why she doesn't want to. She knows the business; she knows the sport and she grew up with it. If there's one woman who knows what's in store for her with a football player by her side, it's Cara. I don't think she's interested in the fame and money either.

She reminds me of Alex's ex-girlfriend Daisy from high school. Neither of them wants to live our lives. But they are the women we want. I enter our apartment and quietly close the door behind me.

“Noah?” Alex calls out and I sigh as I kick off my shoes. “Is that you?”

“Who else?” I reply, rolling my eyes.

“Mom?”

Our parents and our housekeeper Margaret also have a key.

I have to laugh and join him in the living room. Alex is relaxed on the couch watching TV. When I get to him, he turns it off silently and grins at me. “So?” he asks. “How did it go?”

“Shit,” I answer, dropping into one of the chairs. “It totally sucked, actually. She still doesn't want to.”

Alex slowly sits up and looks at me questioningly. “She doesn't want to?” he asks. “She likes you. She said she thinks you're hotter than me.” Deeply offended, Alex looks at me as if this were a scandal.

“Really?” I want to know and look at him with satisfaction. “She thinks I'm hotter than you? That must have really hurt your ego.”

Alex's ego has always been bigger than himself. Every woman has to fall at his feet and those who don't are not worthy of him. I often wonder if he wouldn't be like this if Daisy hadn't left him.

They were the dream couple of the school, and I was sure for a long time that she was the love of his life. Logan and our parents thought so, too. After they broke up, Alex was a wreck. Daisy was his first love and broke up with him when it was clear he was going to college in Utah. I liked Daisy, but everyone knew she would never leave Nashville. Alex, on the other hand, held on to the idea that she would change her life for him until the very end. If he had gone to college in Tennessee, like Logan, I'm sure she would have stayed with him, but it quickly became clear that she didn't see a future in the relationship. Daisy called me a lot in the weeks after the breakup, asking how Alex was doing. You could tell she was heartbroken, too. But she had the sense not to get into a long-distance relationship that could have ended in even more chaos.

“Of course,” Alex says, laughing. “She's so hot.”

“I know,” I sigh and sit back. “She said she didn't want to because I'm a football player.” I look at Alex and tug on the waistband of my shorts. “What kind of stupid reason is that? Other women are dying to date a football player and Cara won't?” I shake my head in disbelief. “I don't understand her.”

“I've been thinking about that too,” Alex says, clasping his hands. “She grew up in these circles. Her father is Michael Corse. Maybe some rookie took advantage of her once. A relationship with her will open some doors for you. There are also black sheep who don't have honest intentions.”

I look at my brother for a long time. I hadn't thought about that yet. But it would make sense. Everyone around the Foxes tries to get in touch with Corse somehow, because he's the head of the club. Dating his daughter must be the jackpot for many.

“And now you think she doesn't see any honest intentions behind my efforts because she thinks I'm trying to get to her father?”

Alex nods and I growl.

“What kind of idiots did she date?” I think aloud. “She's amazing and the man who gets her will be more than lucky. Getting Corse would never have occurred to me.”

“Maybe she's bad in bed,” my brother speculates as the second best reason. Typical Alex. The conversation immediately turns to sex. “She's ashamed that she can't keep up with you.”

He waggles his eyebrows in a clearly ambiguous way.

“You're such an idiot,” I reply. “You know that?”

“Yes,” he says. “But it could be.”

“I don't think so,” I answer immediately. “I think the thing with her father is a good approach.”

Cara won't be convinced by me anytime soon. Meanwhile, I don't know what else to do.

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