Page 46 of Gossip Game

The corners of her lips twitched at the compliment.

“I’ll second that,” Chris interjected from beside them.

Noah shot his brother-in-law a look he’d seen Devlin employ to send defensive linemen scurrying. It worked like a charm.

“You know, I think I hear Ainsley crying,” Chris mumbled before he disappeared into the crowd.

He’d no sooner left, however, when the president of the boosters stepped in.

“Are you ready for your big entrance, Noah?” he asked.

Noah bit back a groan. The boosters expected him to flex the entire night, beginning with a stadium entrance riding in the back of a convertible with the marching band accompanying him. All this showboating was ridiculous.

“Your family is headed into the stadium. I should go with them,” Charlotte said quietly.

And the last thing he wanted to do was let Charlotte out of his sight.

Maybe not ever.

Noah looked over at her. How could he have ever believed they were from two different worlds? Out of his reach? He knew the real woman behind the moniker. He’d known her since that night in London. And she was looking at him with the same cautious optimism gripping his gut.

How you go forward is what’s important.

His father’s words echoed in his head. He reached for her hand to keep her from walking away. “Go for a ride with me.”

It was only after the words were out of his mouth that Noah realized his question wasn’t literal. There was so much more he wanted from this incredible woman. The ride into the stadium was symbolic of the beginning of a lot more. At least he hoped so. A sweat broke out at the back of his neck when Charlotte blinked several times before slaying him with a guileless smile, so beautiful it damn near knocked the wind out of him.

“I would be honored,” she whispered as she laced her fingers through his and curled into his shoulder.

He lifted their joined hands and kissed her fingers. “Let’s give ‘em something to talk about.”

She threw back her head and laughed.

THIRTEEN

Charlotte had a hard time concentrating on the action on the field. Especially with Noah looking ruggedly handsome in his rollneck sweater and well-worn jeans. From the moment he took her hand earlier, he hadn’t let go. Throughout the game, he sat with his solid body pressed up against hers so that they were joined from knee to shoulder. She resented every time the team scored because it meant having to stand from their deliciously warm cocoon and cheer.

Then there was the funnel cake. A delicacy unfamiliar to Charlotte, but something she was going to enjoy again and again. Especially if it meant Noah would nibble at the trace of powdered sugar on the corner of her lip. Sophie wasn’t going to let her live it down when that particular image landed on social media.

Her friend was probably crowing over video likely already posted of Charlotte at mid-field planting a congratulatory kiss on Noah’s lips after the dedication was complete. It was a bold move, she knew, but she was taking Meemaw’s words to heart. Going for what she wanted.

Something had shifted between them tonight. Noah was no longer acting like the man who’d once vowed she wasn’t his type. Rather, he seemed proud and almost grateful to have her by his side as he navigated the evening. Both feelings she was experiencing herself.

And there was no mistaking the hunger in his eyes, either. Each time his gaze landed on her, the longing she saw reflected there stirred up the pent-up need he’d left her with last night. And every other time he’d touched her. She was grateful when the game ended with a win for the home team.

Forty-five minutes later, they were still trying to work their way past the well-wishers and fans who wanted to glad-hand with Noah. Charlotte tried to hang back, letting him have his moment, but Noah wasn’t having it, keeping her glued to his side. He appeared to no longer care about dodging the media, pulling her into selfies with fans. She tried not to think about the feeding frenzy Bucky Kincaid was going to have with all the videos from the evening. That was a worry for another day.

The parking lot had cleared out when they reached Meemaw’s truck.

“Looks like the rest of your family left us.” She leaned her back against the driver’s door.

“Mmm,” was all he said.

Noah braced his hands on the roof of the cab, caging her in. Not that she felt trapped. Rather, she felt protected.

And desired.

“Is this the part of the evening where you lure me behind the bleachers?” she teased.

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