Page 63 of Touchdowns and Temptations

“Let's drop the subject,” I decide.

My parents want to meet Noah as my boyfriend. Where will we get to if I introduce them to every guy I go to bed with? No, that's not going to happen. Noah and I are not a couple and we never will be.

I look at my phone and see that I have unread messages from Marina and Noah.

*Noah: Are you there yet?

*Cara: Yes, and you?

*Noah: Just got here.

I close the chat and check Marina’s texts.

*Marina: Have fun tonight! Are you with Noah?

I roll my eyes. Of course, Marina knows Noah is here. But why does she think we're here together? I sigh. It could be because she's the president of the Noah McCarter and Cara Catherine Corse fan club. Marina thinks I should finally give in and start a relationship with him. After all, I have nothing to lose. She's not entirely wrong. So far, what I have with Noah has been good for me and I like being with him. But I don't want to. I have my principles and I'm not going to break them for Noah McCarter. I puff out my cheeks and answer Marina.

*Cara: I'm here with my parents.

*Marina: Yes, and? Your dad is going to win an award anyway.

*Cara: We are not discussing that anymore.

*Marina: But we are still discussing it, because one has nothing to do with the other.

I groan in annoyance and my mom gives me a questioning look. I wave her off and go back to talking to Marina when someone taps me on the shoulder. I turn to see Alex grinning at me. Noah is standing next to him, looking much more tense than his brother. He scrutinizes me. His eyes glide over my body, but the corners of his mouth don't turn up.

Doesn't he like me? Heat rises in my cheeks. If there's one man I want to please here, it's him.

“Hey!” I get up from my seat and let Alex kiss me on both cheeks. This draws my parents' attention to the McCarter twins.

“Hello, Mrs. Corse,” Alex says, greeting them formally as well.

“Hello,” she says, smiling. “Hello, Noah.”

“Hello, Mrs. Corse,” he says, smiling at my mother. “You look great.”

I smile and my mom thanks him. Noah and Alex shake my dad's hand and chat with him.

I'm irritated that Noah doesn't greet me, but I don't question it. I prefer to look at him. He's shaved, which makes his features look a little too soft. I prefer it when he has a little beard. The tailored dark blue suit suits him perfectly, and the red handkerchief is the same color as my dress.

“Are you sitting behind us?” I ask and Alex nods.

“Right behind you,” he says, winking at me. “I can sneak gum in your hair.”

“And I can slap you in front of everyone when you do that,” I reply and my mom laughs. “I wasn't joking.”

“Of course not,” Alex says amused and sits down. I look back at Noah, whose attention is completely focused on my dad. When my mom joins the conversation and one of the NFL's most important officials appears next to them, I sit down again.

“Hey!” I jump to see Noah's grinning face in front of me. He's resting his forearms on the back of the chair next to me.

“Hey,” I whisper. “Why do I always notice that scar?”

I lift my hand and place my fingers on it. He grins and shrugs.

“I don't know. Maybe because you find it sexy.”

“Maybe,” I mumble. “You look great.”

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