Page 15 of Gossip Game

“Hank, Meara, can we have the room please?” she asked, her tone indicating it wasn’t a request.

The GM reluctantly released McManus, muttering something that only the two could hear, before gesturing for the community relations director to precede him out of the suite. McManus still had a death glare aimed at Noah. Mrs. McManus patted her husband’s biceps, seeming to break the spell. Husband and wife exchanged a look that could have been an entire conversation. McManus blew out a sigh before nodding his head and dropping back into his chair.

His wife settled a hip on the corner of the desk and looked between Charlotte and Noah. “The media are churning out some wild stories about you two. It would help if we knew how to spin this. Who wants to go first?”

Oh, hell to the no.

Noah was on his feet and halfway to the door before anyone could stop him. Who knew his 4.93 forty-yard dash time would come in handy off the field?

“The media is well aware that I don’t comment on my personal life. Tell them whatever you want, Charlotte. I need to get back to practice.”

He was relieved when McManus didn’t try to stop him. Halfway down the stairs, however, the staccato beat of boot heels on linoleum had his hackles back up.

“Noah, wait,” Charlotte huffed.

Luckily, the practice facility was mostly deserted, this being the last free weekend before the season started. That didn’t mean there weren’t a few trainers and players milling around. The last thing Noah wanted was an audience for whatever zany thing Charlotte was going to say or do. She’d barely landed on the last step when he wrapped his fingers around her wrist and hustled her into the area behind the stairs.

“Hey,” she protested.

Noah quickly released her. Mainly because touching her was torture. Also, he didn’t believe in exerting his strength and size over women. She swept her hair back from her face and shot him a disgruntled look.

He was wrong. Her brother didn’t have the same mouth. Charlotte’s lips were much fuller and way more alluring. He knew from experience they were also pillowy soft. And as much as he wanted to trail his tongue over them right now, he was smart enough to know the danger in that move.

Stepping back, he crossed his arms over his chest. “If you’re expecting a big thank you for bailing my ass out back there, you can forget it. I can take care of myself.”

“What? No. I wasn’t going to do that. Jay was being a beast for browbeating you.” She pressed her fingers to her forehead. “I never intended for this to go this far.”

“Mm. Should have thought about that before last night’s grand gesture.”

She jerked her head back. The wounded look in her eyes had his gut clenching. But it was the truth. She started it.

Should he have retaliated with their Internet breaking kiss? Probably not. Okay, definitely not. He was already paying for it, though, because now that he’d tasted her again, he was going to suffer the consequences every night for the foreseeable future.

Charlotte’s sigh sounded resigned. “Look, I’m only in the States for a few more days. This should all blow over before the season starts. In the meantime, I’ll make sure my brother stays off your back. I’ll tell him something that will appease him.”

“I’m sure you will.”

Blue eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means you have no problem spinning a story to fit your needs.”

His eyes were drawn to her long neck as he watched her swallow whatever biting retort she intended. The gold chain she wore winked at him, drawing his gaze lower. She dragged in a deep breath, giving him a bird’s-eye view of her breasts rising and falling beneath the form-fitting T-shirt with her company’s logo emblazoned across the front.

Noah dragged his eyes just in time to see the corners of her mouth turn up to form a sly smile. He had the sudden thought that he should protect the family jewels. She took a step closer. He forced himself not to react to her nearness, but the effort was moot. Every nerve in his body jumped to attention, dammit.

“Well, it wouldn’t be—” Her fingers brushed against his chest when she lifted her hands to make air quotes. “—spinning my story to say that you kissed me against my will. Twice.”

He chuckled at her bravado. “The photo evidence says otherwise. Your hands were all over my ass.”

Score one for the home team.

Her lips quivered until she sank her teeth into the bottom one. He needed to get away before he did something stupid. Like kiss her again. He took a giant step back and turned in the direction of the locker room.

“But duly noted,” he called over his shoulder. “Next time, Princess, if you want me to kiss you, you’re going to need to beg for it.”

Charlotte sighed as she pushed the folder across the conference table.

“Don’t sound so glum. You don’t have to make a decision right away,” Bridgett said as she refilled her water bottle from the pitcher at the coffee bar in the back of the room. “It’s important that you take your time. Find someone with a similar vision to yours.”

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