AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He has such gorgeous eyes.
Heaven help me.Willow gave a little laugh. “Why am I nervous? Oh, let me count the ways. I’m in charge of a party for two hundred people in a new venue with new vendors on Saturday. I said the food would be excellent, but honestly, I can’t be positive. The caterer has never served this big of a crowd before. Plus, my son and daughter will be the ringbearer and flower girl, and I’ve misplaced the pillow and basket. What kind of a wedding planner am I if I can’t keep up with my kids’ stuff?”
The bartender brought the check. While looking at it, Noah asked, “Is that why you were crying into the cottage cheese?”
“It was yogurt!” Willow insisted. “Get your dairy straight. And stop responding to everything I say with a question.”
“Do I do that?” He grinned when Willow balled up her napkin and threw it at him.
“You’re deflecting. My brothers tried the same thing with me. You’re the one who got me into this mess. You can at least make a little effort here. Tell me something about yourself, Mr. Mystery Man. I dare you.”
Chapter Six
TELL HER ABOUT MYSELF?Noah had already told her more than he’d told anyone in months.
But what had he expected when he’d allowed her aunt to maneuver the two of them into the Let ’Em Fall Tavern for a beer? He’d known they wouldn’t sit here in silence. Of course she’d ask questions. Get-to-know-you queries. The type of questions one often asked on a first date.
This wasn’t a date.
But all of a sudden, it sure felt like a date.
Gee, thanks, Drew.The dratted little kid had invaded Noah’s comfortable gloom and drawn him out into the light.
Well, he’d allowed it to happen, so now he needed to pay the price. He’d allow Willow to get to know him. Up to a point.
He took a fortifying sip of his lager, then said, “All right. I grew up in Denver. I went to the University of Colorado on a football scholarship.”
“You did? What position did you play?”
“I was a kicker. I had a good leg.”
Noah frowned into his beer, wishing he hadn’t mentionedthe wordleg. He’d already said all he intended to say about his injury. He braced for her to ask the natural follow-up question:So why do you limp around?Instead, she said, “My brother Jake—the groom—played quarterback for the Rice Owls. His senior year, they beat Texas, which is my alma mater. He still rubs it in every chance he gets. So, what was your biggest victory in college?”
Noah relaxed. This he could talk about without being defensive. In fact, this he could talk about and have some fun with. “I guess it would have to be my senior year. I kicked a field goal with three seconds left in the game to get the win and a trip to the Rose Bowl.”
“You did?” Willow was obviously impressed. “Who did you beat?”
He finished his beer and rolled his tongue around his cheek before answering. “The Longhorns.”
She literally gasped out loud. “You did not!”
For the first time in longer than he could remember, Noah laughed. “You’re right. I kid, I kid. We were terrible.”
Willow laughed right along with him. “Youare terrible.”
“But I was a good kicker. I actually got drafted by Buffalo.”
“That’s awesome. Did you play in the NFL?”
“A couple of years, yes. I was sidelined with an injury my third year, and after that, I was done with football. I had other things I wanted to do.” And that, he decided, was enough talking about himself. He tossed a pair of twenties onto the table. “So, you ready to go?”
“Let me pay for—”
“No. My invitation, my check.”
“Actually, Aunt Helen—”
Noah’s tone held a note of exasperation as he said, “I’ve got it, Willow.”
