Page 13 of Gossip Game

Except she had survived it once. And she would again. It was Charlotte’s custom to begin each new day with an affirmation. Something she could manifest into being. And today’s was an easy one.

So what if Noah Hudson had the ability to stir up her emotions three years after they’d met? That didn’t mean she had to let him. This trip to the States was about seeing the twins off to school for the first time. And working with Bridgett to find a CEO. Panty-melting kisses from quarterbacks had no place on Charlotte’s agenda.

With that resolved, she tossed back the covers and swung her legs out of bed. She bit back a shriek at the sight of the twins standing eerily silent in the doorway. Those two were never quiet. Unless they were sleeping. And since they were both dressed for the day, she doubted they were sleepwalking. Seeing these two, hearty and whole, had all the tension brought on by dreams of Noah evaporating instantly. These two adorable faces always had that effect on her.

They looked so much like their parents. It was uncanny. Except for the fact that Vivian had inherited her father’s dark hair and icy blue eyes, while Grayson mirrored his mother with blond hair and silver eyes. They both had the same silly sense of humor, however. Charlotte liked to think they got that from her.

Too bad neither was looking very silly this morning. In fact, they looked like they’d both swallowed a bug.

“Good morning, my little chickadees,” Charlotte practically sang.

Vivian’s bottom lip curled into a pout as she clutched her stuffed dalmatian closer to her body. Grayson puffed out his chest. Charlotte’s stomach rolled. Something was not right here.

She dropped down to her haunches and reached out for the twins. “What’s wrong? You guys are scaring me this morning.” They were both stiff as boards in her embrace. “Okay, did someone eat the last donut? I won’t be mad. I’ll buy more.”

They pulled away and Charlotte thought her heart might shatter. Obviously, whatever had them so solemn was more serious than chocolate frosted donuts with sprinkles.

“Are you going to marry Noah Hudson, Aunt Charlie?” Gray asked.

Charlotte almost choked on her own saliva. “I’m sorry? What?” She glanced between their stoic faces. “Whatever gave you that idea?”

“It’s on the TV,” he replied. “Mommy and Daddy were arguing about it.”

Shit.

Her butt hit the floor with a hard thump.

This cannot be happening.

“Vivi is mad because she wants to marry him,” her nephew continued.

Charlotte might have laughed at the idea if she wasn’t so disappointed that neither of them would ever marry Noah. She cupped her niece’s cheek.

“Oh, sweet girl. He’s a very good choice for your first crush.” She was surprised at the ache in her heart those words brought on. “But not everything you see on TV is true. We’re just friends,” she lied.

Vivian sank down into Charlotte’s lap, her eyes a touch brighter and her sulk fading. Charlotte wrapped her arms around the little girl, glad that she could make her happy so easily. Yet sad that Vivi would likely have her heart broken by Noah and countless other males in her life.

“Then I guess you should explain that to Daddy,” Gray was saying. “Because he said Noah better be ready to clean out his locker today.”

Vivian let out an ear-piercing wail. It was all Charlotte could do not to join in.

FIVE

For the second time in as many days, Noah found himself in the principal’s office. Except this principal’s office belonged to the owner of the Blaze. And the mood was much less hospitable than last night’s. He had to work to play it cool beneath Mr. McManus’ seething glare.

He returned the other man’s stare without blinking. McManus was the dark and broody sibling, whereas Charlotte was breezy and open. Besides their height, the only physical resemblance between brother and sister was their blue eyes—which weren’t even that similar in color. Charlotte’s were bright and daring, like the center of a flame, while her brother’s pupils were pale and cold.

Upon further inspection, Noah noticed their mouths were alike. Both had ridiculously full lips.

Christ!

Noah had to stop thinking about that damn woman’s mouth. It was driving him so nutty that now he was checking out men’s lips. He was grateful to be dressed in his practice gear of shorts and a Blaze T-shirt, because despite his boss’ chilly demeanor, Noah was getting hot under the collar.

There was nothing he detested more than wasting valuable practice time. Especially this close to opening day. He was lucky most of the receiving corps had shown up on a Saturday. If this little inquisition took much longer, they’d all be gone by the time he returned to the practice field.

“I have some questions about last night.” McManus tapped his silver pen against his palm, evoking the image of an old-school teacher with his disciplinary ruler.

It didn’t rattle Noah. Instead, he concentrated on breathing, letting the silence stretch. He’d learned early on that nothing good ever came out of blabbering without knowing the context. If McManus had a question, he needed to ask it. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the team’s normally taciturn general manager, Hank Osbourne, try, and fail, to bite back a grin at the cat-and-mouse game playing out in front of him.

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