Chapter 5

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.

McManus heaved a frustrated sigh. "Let's start with why my sister felt the need to buy you for twenty-five thousand dollars!"

The force with which he asked the question practically rattled the wall of windows overlooking the practice field. Osbourn groaned. The team's community relations director jumped to her feet.

"To be fair, sir," she interjected. "Your sister did not buy Hudson per se. She paid twenty-five thousand dollars to go bowling with him."

McManus swung his computer monitor around angrily, revealing a photo of Noah and Charlotte, their lips locked in a deep kiss, outside of the penthouse the night before. "Does this look like bowling to you?!"

The woman sank back into her chair, not bothering to respond. Noah's left leg began to twitch before he rested his palm on his thigh to calm it.

"I've arranged to take some kids from the school bowling later this month," he told them. "The class that brings in the most cereal boxes to be donated to a local food bank will win the outing. On my dime."

The GM arched an eyebrow. "That's very magnanimous of you. Most guys would have washed their hands of the situation. And the team would have supported that decision."

Noah glanced over at the community relations director. "I'd like it if the team could provide the chaperones."

She nodded while Osbourn barked out a laugh.

"It's the least we can do," the GM said.

"If that's all." Noah moved to stand up.

Big mistake.

"No one is going anywhere," McManus snarled. "I want to know what possessed my sister to bid such an obscene amount."

"Have you asked her that, sir?" Noah was pushing his luck. He knew that. But he also knew he hadn't violated a single clause in his contract and that was the only hold this man had over him.

"I'm. Asking. You."

Noah kept his mouth shut and his gaze locked with his boss until McManus slammed his palms on his desk and vaulted from his seat.

"Do you realize I can trade you and you'd be emptying out your locker tomorrow? Or I could have your ass riding the bench for disciplinary reasons?"

Osbourn cleared his throat. "Technically, Jay?—"

"Dammit, Hank, don't tell me what I can and can't do with my football team." McManus gestured wildly at Noah. "One of my players had his tongue shoved down my little sister's throat. Who the hell knows what else is going on between them?"

Despite the embarrassing situation, Noah had to feel for the guy. McManus' love for his sister was clear as day. Even if Charlotte was the man's kryptonite.

Noah didn't pity the guy enough to spill any tea, however. Besides, there wasn't anything else going on between them. He ignored the hollow feeling in his chest that came with that realization.

"With all due respect, sir. I don't kiss and tell."

McManus actually growled as he rounded his desk. The GM snapped to attention, putting an arm out to stop him mid-stride. Fortunately, reinforcements arrived at the same time.

"For crying out loud, Jay, cut it out," Charlotte demanded from the doorway.

She stormed into the room like an ancient crusader leading her troops into battle. Her long red hair billowed out behind her, the thud of her boot heels barely muted by the plush carpeting, and her eyes blue as flames. No one would mistake her for a mere princess the way she was carrying herself. She was a fucking queen, ready to slay dragons.

And he hated how turned on he was by the sight of her.

"Noah is right. You could have asked me! I would have told you. There's no need to bring out the torture devices," she admonished her brother.

Would she have? Would she have told her brother everything? He hoped not because he'd rather his boss not know how gullible Noah had been in falling for his sister's wiles. Mostly, though, he was embarrassed by the dick way he'd paid Charlotte back last night.

Time to hit the showers. McManus would have to make do with using his sister for a punching bag. He was pretty sure she wasn't averse to standing toe-to-toe with her domineering brother.

He was halfway out of his chair when a hand stalled him. Noah locked eyes with Bridgett McManus, the owner's wife, who doubled as a ball-busting trial attorney. She was wearing her take-no-prisoners smile as she gestured for him to retake his seat.

"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."

"But we've interviewed twelve qualified candidates this week and I don't feel right giving any of them control of my company."

Bridgett chuckled as she sat back down. "Now you know how I felt interviewing nannies." She sobered up and reached across the table to grab Charlotte's hand. "You aren't giving your baby up. You're just putting her in the hands of someone with a bit more experience managing a company that's had a meteoric rise. And you'll always have me looking over the shoulder of whomever you choose."

"Yeah, but I can't keep asking you to fly back and forth between here and London." Charlotte shook her head. "You put practicing law on hold for a while to be a more hands-on parent. And these past three years, it seems like you've worked harder than ever."

She didn't mention the fact that she suspected Bridgett was staying on out of guilt. As some sort of compensation for Charlotte carrying her children. The idea that her sister-in-law might be feeling obligated to help at Truly didn't sit well.

Bridgett waved her hand around the conference room. "And during that time, my kids were right upstairs. Your brother built-out these offices so we could both work from home. In fact—" Her lips curved up in a mischievous grin. "There is plenty of office space here. You could always move your headquarters back to the States. We'd love having you around more."

Charlotte would love that, too. But watching Jay and Bridgett with their beautiful children—the Christmas card worthy family she helped create—was just too painful. Not when she wanted that for herself.

Her brother and her sister-in-law would be crushed if they knew she thought that way. They were always enthusiastic about including her. But she didn't want to be the fifth wheel for the rest of her life. Besides, deep down, she believed Jay and Bridgett did it to thank her. And their kindness felt a lot like pity sometimes.

"And give up my friends and fans in London?" she quipped. "I couldn't." No need for her sister-in-law to know that Charlotte's friends didn't understand her need to do something with her life besides living off her father's fortune.

"We'll work something out, then." Bridgett withdrew her hand.

Charlotte didn't have time to contemplate the flat tone of her sister-in-law's voice because Gray and Vivi were bounding into the room, Jay on their heels.

"Mom, we stopped and got cookies on the way home," Gray announced as he crawled into his mother's lap. "I got you a peanut butter cookie."

"I got you a lemon one, Aunt Charlie." Vivi scrambled into Charlotte's lap, nearly dropping the bag containing the cookie.

"Cookies?" Bridgett arched an eyebrow at her husband.

Jay dropped two backpacks into an empty chair. "It was a special occasion. They finished their first week of school."

Grayson shrieked with laughter when Jay tilted Bridgett's chair back so he could kiss her. Charlotte looked down at her niece, who was ignoring her parents' display, instead dissecting her chocolate chip cookie, and putting it into her mouth, piece-by-piece.

"This doesn't look like your school uniform." She tugged at the Blaze jersey Vivian wore with her uniform skort and white sneakers.

"Friday is Spirit Day," Grayson explained as he snuck a taste of his mother's cookie. "Everyone wears jerseys for their favorite team."

"Ah," Charlotte said. "I'll bet there were a lot of Blaze jerseys."

Vivian huffed out a frustrated sounding breath. "All the girls wore Noah's jersey." Her bottom lip curled. "Even the teachers."

"Yeah, our teacher said she didn't even like football, but Noah is now her favorite player," Grayson added. "She even got Noah's jersey for her nieces, and they live in Florida."

Charlotte exchanged a puzzled look with Bridgett.

"What did Noah do to become so popular?" she asked.

"It's ‘coz you've got lots of fans. And he kissed you," Grayson said. "Mrs. Ruttle told the class you're going to get married."

Her brother muttered something that sounded savage.

"What?!" In her shock, Charlotte almost dumped her niece onto the floor. Her stomach was already there. "Who started that rumor?"

Jay's long-time assistant, Lincoln Harris, strolled into the conference room carrying a stack of folders. "It's everywhere," he said. "And we can't keep Noah's jersey in stock. Neither can the league." He grinned at Charlotte. "Your Trulies have all become instant Blaze fans." He gave his boss a thumbs up. "The network has made Sunday's game its game of the week. Everyone is interested in the Blaze QB now that Charlie is his main squeeze."

This time her brother groaned.

"Hey, man, more eyes on your team means more money in your pocket." Linc shrugged. "I say let the fauxmance play out. While they are all speculating when the wedding will be, they'll be scooping up jerseys and boosting our television ratings."

Vivian grew stiff in Charlotte's arms. "You promised you wouldn't marry him," she whimpered.

"No one is marrying Noah Hudson. Least of all me." Charlotte gently transferred her niece to one of the other chairs before standing. She aimed a death glare at Linc, her friend and confidant for nearly a decade. "Shame on you for helping to perpetuate this nonsense."

Linc's eyes went round against his caramel skin. "Ah, come on, Charlie. You've known me long enough to recognize my sarcasm when you hear it. I don't like these stupid rumors any more than you do." He put his hands on his hips. "But you're a successful businesswoman now. Everyone is going to come for you. You've got to roll with it and figure out a way to make it work for you and your brand."

Great.

Now even Linc was pointing out her flaws as a CEO. And the worst part? He was right. She wasn't cut out to run a company.

She snatched up her bag and draped the strap over her shoulder. "I'm going to catch a barre class."

"Aren't you coming with us to the back-to-school picnic?" Grayson asked.

"Oh, no." Charlotte shook her head. "I think it would be best if I stayed away from Shepard Academy for a while."

"Charlie, wait." Bridgett handed her son off to Jay. "I have an idea about the CEO search I want to float by you."

That was the last thing Charlotte wanted to think about right now. She waved her sister-in-law off. "My brain is a little fried right now. Let's talk about it tomorrow."

She was acting rude. Especially after everything Bridgett did to help with Truly You. Charlotte hadn't evolved as much as she'd thought, obviously. She hurried out of the conference room before she did or said something else that might reveal how childish and insecure she still was.