Page 55 of Gossip Game

“Aunt Charlie!” Two of the kids scrambled to their feet and ran into Charlotte’s outstretched arms.

Noah watched as she sank into a nearby chair and pulled the twins into her lap.

“Oh, honey.” Bridgette McManus wrapped her arms around Charlotte and her children.

Her husband stepped up behind the big chair, pulling the entire group into a giant hug. He kissed his sister on the head before his daughter demanded the same treatment. A hand landed on Noah’s shoulder. He turned to find Brody Janik behind him. Brody’s wife, Shay, was busy rounding up the other two kids.

“You good?” the tight end asked.

Noah nodded.

“Who wants to go swimming?” Brody’s wife asked.

All four kids shouted out a resounding “yes.” The twins scrambled from Charlotte’s lap, their excitement over seeing her forgotten in favor of a pool party with their cousins.

“Let’s go get our suits on.” Shay herded them to the other side of the penthouse.

“The network lawyers called while you were en route,” McManus announced once the noise died down. “Kincaid was dismissed for cause before they came out of the commercial break. They are prepared to issue a written apology in all the major newspapers and social media sites tomorrow. I’ve asked them to run it through Bridgett beforehand.”

“You have grounds for a major lawsuit, Charlie,” Bridgett explained. “I don’t want to let anyone off the hook that easily.”

“I want to know how he found out,” Charlotte said.

Bridgett sighed. “It seems the CEO we selected gets a little chatty after a few glasses of wine. Probably why her current company didn’t match our offer to her. I hope I didn’t overstep, but I withdrew our offer an hour ago.”

Charlotte shook her head. “Of course I don’t object.”

McManus wrapped his arm around his sister. “You’ll find the right person. In the meantime, I’m going to cancel Bucky Kincaid so that he can’t even get a job as a janitor in a professional sports locker room.”

Noah cleared his throat. “If it’s all the same to you, sir, I’ll be looking after Charlotte’s well-being from here on out. Kincaid is mine to deal with.”

The air in the room stilled. Bridgett arched an eyebrow at him while her husband leveled a lethal look his way. Brody snickered. A muscle twitched in McManus’ cheek. He shifted his eyes from Noah to his sister. Charlotte’s smile was radiant as she gave him a half shrug.

McManus made an ugly sound before resettling his focus on Noah. “In that case, maybe we can dispense with you calling me ‘sir.’”

“I’ve got a list of things I like to call him,” Brody offered with a smirk.

“Brody!” The tight end’s wife yelled from somewhere deep in the apartment. “You’re supposed to be helping me with the kids!”

“I’m helping my teammate,” Brody griped.

Bridgett rolled her eyes at her younger brother.

He sighed. “Tomorrow after film study.” He gestured between himself and Noah. “I’ll show you that list.”

McManus made his way over to Noah and extended his hand. There was a twinkle in his eye Noah had never noticed before. “I put up with Brody because I love my wife. I suspect you’ll be easier to tolerate.”

Noah shook the other man’s hand. Charlotte came up behind her brother, pulling both men in for an awkward hug. Noah was relieved when the elevator doors opened again, and McManus’ personal assistant strolled out of it.

“Linc. Did you find anything?” Bridgett asked.

Linc’s expression was glum. “It wasn’t the pap we paid off who leaked the photo. That guy’s studio, including his photo storage, was incinerated in the wildfire that swept through Santa Rosa several years ago.” He turned to Charlotte. “I’m sorry, Charlie. This one is on me.”

Noah shifted closer to Charlotte.

“What are you talking about?” she demanded.

Linc pressed his fingers to his forehead. “Remember that law student I mentioned I was dating?”

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