Page 20 of Touchdowns and Temptations

Alex raises his eyebrows skeptically. I shrug and continue to study him. They look incredibly alike, but the longer I look at him, the more I like Noah.

“Maybe you don't look so much alike,” I think aloud, rubbing my chin with my finger. “The hair, the eyes, the lips, but ... Noah is kind of...” I can't find the right words.

“Smaller? Weaker?” Alex suggests.

“Hotter!” I blurt out, covering my mouth with my hand.

Ashamed, I look away and try to make light of the situation by randomly reaching for my documents. I definitely shouldn't have said that.

“Hotter?” Alex echoes and takes a step towards my desk. He puts his hands on the tabletop and leans over to me. “So why are you torturing the poor guy?”

“What?” I gasp.

“You heard me,” he replies. “Noah asked you out.”

“Stop!” I raise my hand to stop him and shake my head vehemently. “He blackmailed me, told me I could go out with him or forget about working with him. There's a difference.”

“He asked you and looked at the possibilities to get you to do it. I see it more as a kind of leveling the playing field.”

“Leveling the playing field?” I ask, raising my eyebrows. “You're a funny guy.”

“Thanks,” he says with a grin and straightens up. “So? What's it going to be? Are you going to give my brother a chance?”

I know even less about Alex's performance than I did about Noah's yesterday. Both his meeting with me and the phone call afterwards. These brothers seem to have absolutely no scruples or inhibitions when they want something.

“It's really sweet of you to stand up for Noah, but no,” I decline this offer as well. “I don't date football players.”

“Why?” he asks promptly and I tilt my head back.

“It's none of your business!”

“I think it is my business when it comes to my brother's happiness,” he replies. “Noah and I are identical twins, we're soul mates. Let me tell you how deep that goes. We went to different colleges. He went to Georgia and I went to Utah. He got hurt and at that very moment I felt pain in the same place.”

“That's bullshit!” I hiss. “Are you kidding me?”

“Maybe,” he says with a grin, making me smile. Even though I don't want to admit it ... he is funny. Damn it. I can't find Alex sympathetic. That might influence my decision. A nice family makes my plans not to date a football player falter. Because I really like being with my family.

“What I want to say is this: When he's uncomfortable, I'm uncomfortable. We have a special bond.”

“And let me guess,” I sigh. “If I hurt Noah, I indirectly hurt you, too, and you can't let that happen?”

“Exactly!” Alex winks and points at me. “And now you're going to give him a chance, right?”

“No!”

“No?” he asks. “How can you be such a hard nut to crack?”

Alex is very entertaining; I have to admit. “Do you do this often?” I ask. “To get women?”

“Not anymore,” he answers honestly. “We're getting older.”

“Okay.” I throw my head back with a laugh. “And are you here because you're looking for a new agent?”

“No, no,” Alex says, waving his hand. “I'm very happy with my agent and...”

“Am I interrupting?” I flinch violently and Alex spins around to reveal Noah. He's standing in the doorway of my office with Katie. His hands are buried in the pockets of his jeans, his mouth is set in a thin line, and his eyes are narrowed to slits. His eyes dart between Alex and me.

Oh God, this can't be true. Judging by his tight-lipped expression, I think he believes that Alex is hitting on me…

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