Page 22 of Gossip Game

She hadn’t expected to find Noah at Devlin’s Friday evening. All she wanted was a salad, a quiet place to think. Instead, she got a side dish of delicious jock to go with her meal while his mesmerizing touch scattered her brain cells.

It was getting hard to pretend she didn’t like the guy when he kept touching her and seducing her to bare her soul. Why was it that she was comfortable telling him things she couldn’t tell anyone else? And then, as if that wasn’t enough, she kissed him. Ignoring his dumb challenge that she had to beg him for a kiss, she took his mouth like she had a right to it.

Her cheeks grew warm just thinking about it. Thank God nobody in the kitchen had their cell phones armed and ready. They would have gotten a screen full. For heaven’s sake, she was practically dry humping the man in the hallway.

A day and a half later, she still couldn’t fathom what had possessed her to jump him. Maybe it was that she knew she might never have the opportunity to savor his kiss again. And she wanted to thank him. He’d accused her of not being gracious. Simply saying the words would have probably been more appropriate than mauling the man, she realized too late.

Except Noah didn’t exactly object. In fact, he’d kissed her back as though she was his type. As if he wanted to kiss her.

Don’t read too much into it. He’s a guy, she kept reminding herself.

The expression on his face when she revealed what she’d overheard three years ago puzzled her, however. He actually looked pained to have his words thrown back at him. More likely, he was simply embarrassed to be caught berating the team owner’s sister and the look she saw was nothing but guilt.

She was just being whimsical, hoping it was something else.

“It is nice to see Noah getting positive press, though,” Sophie mused. “He’s a decent guy who deserves to be treated that way.”

“If you like him so much, why don’t you date him?”

The words came out of Charlotte’s mouth with a bit more bite than they should have. Which was ridiculous because Sophie was perfect for Noah. Sweet, creative, and, having grown up around football, she wasn’t easily intimidated by the jock persona.

They would look cute together, too. Sophie wouldn’t have to worry about giving up her heels so she wouldn’t tower over Noah. The young artist had outgrown her pink hair—it was now strawberry blonde—and ditched the nose ring she’d taunted her father with as a teen. They’d have adorable babies

That was not jealousy knotting up Charlotte’s stomach.

“No thank you,” Sophie replied. “Athletes are not my thing. Especially football players.”

A melancholy look settled on the younger woman’s face.

“I’m getting the sense there is a story here.” Charlotte shifted in her chair so that she was facing her friend.

Sophie’s laugh lacked any humor. “Just me being naïve in high school. Never again.”

“What happened?”

“It’s a tale as old as time,” Sophie said with a wave of her hand. “I got a little too star-struck when the quarterback of the football team claimed to like me. I was a geeky sophomore with outrageous outfits and wild hair. What could the prom king possibly see in me? But it was nice to finally sit at the cool kids’ table for once, you know?”

Charlotte didn’t know. Her trust fund put her front and center at the cool kids’ table every day of her life. A twinge of guilt nibbled at her. Would she even have paid attention to someone like Sophie?

“Anyway, it turns out he was using me for an intro to my dad. He was trying to get a walk on spot with a D one football program and he thought a nudge from the Blaze GM would help.” She shook her head. “Luckily, my dad saw right through him.”

Charlotte squeezed her friend’s hand. “You’re very fortunate to have your dad looking out for you.”

This time, Sophie’s laugh was genuine. “I didn’t think so at the time.” She quickly sobered up, a soft smile forming on her lips as she peered over at her father and his second wife, Annabeth, the mother of former Blaze star, Will Connelly. “But he turned out to be pretty cool.”

Asia Dupree-Carter, media director for the team, dropped into a chair on Charlotte’s other side. “Can I bend your ear for a minute?”

“Sure,” Charlotte replied. “What’s up?”

“I’ve been fielding requests all day for a statement.”

Charlotte waited for Asia to elaborate. “A statement?” she asked when it was clear Asia wasn’t going to elaborate.

“About you and Noah.”

“Uh, oh.” Sophie sounded more smug than concerned.

“Does the team normally comment on the players’ personal lives?” Charlotte demanded.

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