Page 27 of Touchdowns and Temptations

“Hm,” I say.

“No caviar and yachts and villas. No private jets and designer clothes.”

“Are you making fun of me?” I ask and he shakes his head.

“No. I'm sorry. For me and Alex, this is all we've ever wanted. We can give our parents so much, but, of course, I understand that it's different when you've always had everything. We didn't walk around in plaid shirts and cowboy boots and lassos, that's bullshit.”

“Too bad.” I grin. “That would have been something.”

Noah wiggles his eyebrows and I laugh again. “Those are all bad rumors about us.”

“Then tell me the truth,” I say. “I'm very curious.”

“Okay,” he says. “I grew up in a suburb of Nashville. It was almost its own little town. We had grocery stores, gas stations, high schools.” I listen with interest. “Alex and I have another brother. Logan is five years older.”

“Another brother?”

“Yes.” He grins. “My mom hoped so much with us twins that we'd be a girl and a boy.”

“And then she had three boys?”

“Yes,” Noah answers. “My parents didn't know our genders. Alex is two minutes older than me. He was originally going to be called Alexandra because Mom was pretty sure he was a girl.”

“And you, Noah?”

“Yes,” he says. “They had a boy's name and a girl's name ready. Without further ado, they changed Alexandra to Alexander.”

“That's funny,” I laugh. “And Logan was excited about his brothers?”

“Not at all,” he says. “He found us mostly annoying and unnecessary.”

“I always wanted a sister, but unfortunately I never got one,” I tell him. “Pregnancy with me was very difficult for my mother.”

“I'm sorry,” he says, smiling at me. “Sometimes I really want to hit Alex against the wall, but to live without him? Impossible.”

“Because of your special bond as twins?” I giggle and Noah laughs.

“We've always been together. In kindergarten, at school, and then we were separated for college, which was hard.”

“I believe you, but now you're back together. And you live together, right?”

“Yes. We live in an apartment, but it gives us enough space so we each have our privacy.” Noah looks at me and winks. What does that mean? Is he indirectly telling me that I can come over? Absolutely not.

“And what does your brother do?”

“Logan?” I nod. “He's a tight end for the Nashville Warriors.”

“You're lying!” I say it faster than I meant to. My hand lands on his muscular upper arm and I pull it back as quickly as if I'd burned my paws. I shouldn't have touched him. That was a big mistake. Touching his muscular shoulder and feeling the warm skin under my fingers ...

“I mean I... you're all... uh... football players?”

“All of us!” Noah laughs. “Alex and I used to imitate Logan.”

“With success.” I grin. “And who's the best?”

“Logan's been playing a lot longer than us,” he says, smiling. “He's won the Super Bowl twice. We haven't yet.” I nod and keep listening to him. “My stats are better than my brothers’, but there's more competition at their positions. I'm sure you know from your dad that it's easier to set records as a quarterback. But I don't think I'll ever be able to match him. He was amazing.”

I turn away and look out the window. He was bound to mention my dad and his accomplishments sooner or later. They all do. My dad, the superstar, the Boston Foxes legend, and them, the young players who want to date his daughter.

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