Chapter 9

NINE

Unfortunately, his best wasn't good enough.

The plane ride from Arizona back to Baltimore that Sunday night was quiet. Mainly because the Blaze had dropped another game. Thankfully, the blame for this one could be laid squarely at the feet of their kicker. Noah had perfectly executed three long passes down the field to get them in scoring position with only three ticks left on the game clock—only to have the field goal bounce off the left upright.

To be fair, one of Arizona's players got his paw on the ball as it passed over the line of scrimmage. Otherwise, Taylor's kick would have given them a walk-off victory. Still, Noah was relieved not to be the scapegoat for this one.

Beside him, Brody Janik chuckled as he scrolled through his phone.

"You've got to hand it to Charlotte's devotees," the tight end said. "They've got your back."

Noah shot him a what's that supposed to mean look.

Brody chortled again. "Except in this case, they are circling the wagons around Taylor." He leaned over so Noah could see his phone screen. "They are coming to his defense for missing the field goal. They've even started a campaign asking fans to donate to his anti-bullying charity. They're each giving nine bucks to match his number. So far, they've raised nearly ten K and it's only been two hours."

Sure enough, Charlotte's Trulies were all over social media in support of Taylor and the Blaze. Noah's chest squeezed with pride at the devoted way people stood with Charlotte. She deserved it. If only she had the same confidence about her abilities.

"It's a nice gesture," he admitted. "I have no doubt Bucky Kincaid will find a way to taint it somehow, though."

"I'd like to see the asshole try," Brody squeezed out through his tight jaw.

"He'd be a fool to mess with Charlie's fans," Jay McManus said, appearing out of nowhere to stand in the aisle next to Brody's seat. "They're already coming for him about his remarks last week."

"See? What did I tell ya?" Brody looked between Noah and his brother-in-law. "I suggested Huddy hire Bridgett to sue the guy for slander." He rubbed his hands together. "But this will be infinitely more fun to watch play out."

Noah didn't bother commenting. He was too busy trying to quash the unease rolling through his gut. The Blaze owner rarely made a social call to the back of the team plane. And since they'd just lost a tough one, Noah doubted it was to deliver an "atta-boy" to anyone.

"Switch seats with me," McManus demanded of Brody.

Any other player would be halfway to the front of the plane by now, but Brody's relationship with the Blaze owner was unique. The tight end hesitated, almost as if McManus' words had been a request.

"Are you asking as the boss man or my brother-in-law?" he eventually drawled.

A charged stalemate followed until Brody rolled his eyes and hastily unfastened his seatbelt.

"I really don't know what my sister sees in you," he said, hauling himself out of his seat and shoulder checking McManus on his way past.

"Don't eat all the cookies up there. I don't need to explain to my wife why you ended up in a sugar coma," McManus warned Brody.

The tight end gave a backward wave that might have included an obscene gesture before he walked away.

The Blaze owner sighed heavily as he settled into the seat Brody had just vacated. The seatbelt clicked loudly in the quiet night.

So much for the guy only staying for a minute.

McManus rested his head against the seatback and closed his eyes. The moment stretched painfully before he spoke.

"You played a hell of a game tonight."

Hmm. Maybe there were "atta-boys" for a loss.

Noah remained silent. There was no point in responding with a thank you. The guy was paying him to play a "hell of a game" every time he stepped onto the field.

McManus raised his lids enough to give Noah the side-eye. Apparently, silence wasn't going to cut it here.

"Everyone played well today. We win as a team. We lose as a team." Noah parroted Brody's words from the other night.

"And you're the ultimate team player," McManus replied.

Noah let the comment pass, waiting to see where his boss went with it. If he even meant it as a compliment.

McManus' eyes were open wide now. And laser focused on Noah. "But right now, I need you to drop the ‘never kiss and tell' act and tell me why Bucky Kincaid has it out for you. And what role does Charlotte play in this?"

Ahh, there it is. The real reason for this little visit.

Charlotte's brother was a brilliant, self-made billionaire. It didn't surprise Noah that he'd finally put some of the puzzle pieces together. It pissed him off that McManus would somehow want to lay any blame on his sister, though.

"Charlotte's not responsible for any of the bullshit that comes out of Kincaid's mouth," Noah snapped, not giving a damn that this was the man who signed his paychecks.

The corners of the other man's mouth twitched slightly. "Your defense of my sister is admirable. I respect that. I respect it a lot." His shoulders relaxed. "Her championing of you yesterday was equally emphatic."

Her what?

The Blaze owner's smile turned sly. "She beat Brody to the punch, insisting that Bridgett file a slander suit. Too bad for her. The team had already stolen her thunder and threatened one of our own. Not to mention filing a formal complaint against the network and a few choice emails to the show's sponsors." He glanced at his watch. "Right about now, Kincaid ought to be making an on-air apology for his salacious remarks. I demanded they send us each a video copy. It should land in your email inbox when we are wheels down." McManus chuckled. "It might have been a harsher punishment to let Charlotte's Trulies handle it, though." His face sobered. "He'll know now not to mess with my sister's reputation. Or that of my franchise quarterback."

Noah swallowed roughly. No one on the team had ever mentioned the franchise tag. As far as he knew, he was fighting for his life on the Blaze. It was a heady thought, knowing management was still behind him.

He decided to throw his boss a bone.

"Kincaid made the moves on Charlotte, and she turned him down. He didn't like it."

McManus' jaw clicked loudly. "And you somehow came to her rescue?"

"Yes." The one word would have to suffice because Noah wasn't sharing the details of the rest of that night with anyone.

"Charlotte returned the favor by rescuing you at the auction."

Noah nodded. "I supposed that kiss plastered all over social media was her way of thanking you too?"

A twinge of guilt lodged itself in Noah's gut. He had been the one to initiate that kiss. Still, it was safer to keep steering along the "no comment" route.

McManus sighed heavily. "And tonight? Do you think Kincaid will let it drop with his apology?"

"He'd be a fool not to."

The Blaze owner barked out a laugh. "The world is full of fools. Especially those who are constantly chasing fame."

"Charlotte is lucky she has you for a brother and protector, then."

A soft smile appeared on McManus' mouth. "My sister is?—"

"Extraordinary." The word slipped out before Noah could stop it.

McManus stilled in his seat. His shrewd gaze pinned Noah to his seatback. "That she is," he said, his tone thoughtful. "Not everyone gets close enough to see that about her."

"The world is full of fools," Noah repeated.

"Mm. My sister is lucky to also have you in her life."

I'm not in her life , he wanted to scream. At least not the way he wanted to be.

The seatbelt clicked again when McManus unfastened it. He groaned slightly as he unfurled his tall body from the seat. "Although maybe keep the PDA off social media. My daughter has a massive crush on you. The last thing I need is more tension between the women in my life."

Great.

McManus paused before making his way back up front. "She'd do well to end up with a guy like you."

The comment stunned Noah.

"I'm referring to Charlotte, by the way," McManus clarified. "No one will ever be good enough for my daughter."

"You've got to be kidding me!" Charlotte barely resisted the urge to toss her morning coffee at her computer screen. Only because that slimeball, Bucky Kincaid, wouldn't feel a thing if she did. "That wasn't an apology. That was a ‘boys will be boys' cop-out if I ever heard one."

"Mm-hmm, we call that a ‘word salad' in court," Bridgett murmured over her cellphone.

"And does he think anyone's buying his BS about it all just being ‘locker room smack talk?' That he was trying to ‘psych Noah up to play better?' I can't believe the network let him get away with that."

"He brings in big numbers," Bridgett replied. "And eyes on the screen translate to big money. They look the other way and line their pockets even when what he says straddles the line."

Charlotte groaned in frustration. "And that whole part where he apologizes to Noah and offers to go grab a beer with him—ugh! I won't be able to keep food down for a week."

Bridgett chuckled. "I doubt the two will be bonding over a beer any time soon."

"Yeah. I don't see Noah taking the bait."

That didn't mean guilt wasn't gnawing at her stomach. If she hadn't dragged him onto Bucky Kincaid's radar three years ago, Noah wouldn't have to be constantly watching his back. He wouldn't have to worry that everything he did could turn into fodder for social media trolls. And then she'd gone and made matters worse when she "bought" Noah at the auction.

"Do you think this will be the end of it?" she asked Bridgett.

Her sister-in-law shook her head. "Bucky has a target on his back. If he's smart, he'll tread carefully. He has to know he won't get a second chance with Jay. Or your Trulies."

Charlotte had to smile at the effusive way her fans had come for Bucky after his show on Friday. And how they'd lifted the Blaze placekicker following yesterday's game. Blaze fans brushed off the missed field goal, even going so far as to contribute to the guy's charity which was now a hundred thousand dollars richer .

"Listen, Charlie, that's not why I called," Bridgett said. "Your lenders are thrilled with your CEO selection."

At least someone is.

Charlotte silently chastised herself for the thought. The woman she'd chosen came with impeccable credentials, a proven track record leading a successful retailer in the U.S., and no hesitation about relocating to London. By all accounts, she was fair-minded and likeable. And she didn't balk when Charlotte insisted that she remain in the loop on the day-to-day operations.

"But they still want you to seriously consider taking the company public," Bridgett added with a rush.

As if this day could get any worse.

Charlotte's heart sank. It was her worst fear confirmed. Taking her company public meant appointing a board of directors. Yet another layer between her and the enterprise she'd created from scratch. The one thing that belonged to her and only her.

For now, anyway.

Bridgett sighed on the other end of the phone. "Look, they've only mentioned that you consider it. Nothing has to happen in the short-term. In the meantime, I think we should get it out there in front of the media and other potential investors that you've taken the step of bringing in someone to help you strengthen your brand. It may calm the waters, so to speak."

Ha! What about my fears? What's going to calm them?

Why was it that every time she was searching for her inner calm, Noah's face appeared? His brown eyes instilling confidence. His fingers feathering down her cheek. His full lips murmuring reassuring words.

You're a smart woman. Trust your instincts .

Noah believed in her. More than she believed in herself.

Hire someone to teach you the skills, he had advised.

Hadn't she just done that? The lenders could "suggest" she take Truly You public all they wanted. Before it came to that, however, Charlotte was going to learn everything she could about running her own business.

"You're right," Charlotte agreed. "A little schmoozing of the media never hurts. Let's finalize the deal with her and set up a press conference for early next week."

"It might be hard to get everyone over to London by then." Bridgett sounded surprised. Probably because she didn't expect Charlotte to agree so readily. "Your new CEO has to make some plans for her move and the Blaze are playing on Thursday night. I couldn't get to London until the weekend."

"Then I'll come to you. We'll make the big announcement next Tuesday."

It was a great excuse to see the twins.

And possibly a football game.