Hot Item

by Carly Phillips

  “I don’t know.” Sophie looked out the window over Manhattan. “It’s a stretch,” she admitted.

  “What about the idea of deflecting Yank’s and Spencer’s focus? If they’re busy worrying about you, looking out for you, then that would leave Cashman open and vulnerable to another agent.” Riley stepped between the two women. “To any agent. Not necessarily Cambias.”

  “That’s what I thought.” She shot Riley a look filled with gratitude for attempting to salvage her friendship with Cindy.

  “Everyone’s shaken up from the break-in. Sophie’s rattled about finding the camera. I suggest nobody holds anything said in the heat of the moment against the other.”

  Cindy, with her pale face and defensive posture, appeared unsure, shaken and still very upset. “I have to go.”

  “Don’t say anything to him,” Sophie called out to her friend.

  Cindy turned back. “Why not? So the police can handle it instead? I don’t think so.” With that, she was gone.

  Sophie stepped forward to stop her.

  “Let her go,” Riley said.

  “But…”

  He grabbed her by the shoulders. “Wouldn’t you warn the person you cared about if you thought someone was out to get them?” The intensity in his eyes was enough to make his question seem infinitely more personal.

  Wouldn’t you warn me? he seemed to ask.

  Don’t you care that much about me?

  She shivered, unable to process the implications and feelings when everything around her was falling apart.

  “Listen, I know you need to go down to the police station this afternoon. But once that is done, I think you could use a break from all this.” He swept his hand around the office. “I want to bring Lizzie home to see her grandparents and I’d like you to come with us.”

  She knew he’d had something in mind for them this weekend but traveling with his daughter to meet his parents? It was too much for her to take in right now.

  “I don’t think it’s such a good idea.”

  “You’d rather stick around the city this weekend alone? Worry about stalkers, nut jobs, admirers, cameras in your bathroom and break-ins at your office.”

  “I’m not alone,” she said, shivering.

  “I overheard your uncle’s secretary making plans this weekend for him to keep Cashman busy. Do you really want to divert his focus the weekend before the draft by having him worry about you?”

  “You’re not playing fair.”

  “Neither are you, pushing me away. What happened to the brave Sophie who went parasailing with me? Who planned to go to Florida alone to find Spencer without a clue where to start?” He propped one hip against the desk and crossed his arms over his chest, pinning her with a knowing stare.

  He was taunting her. Calling her on her fears. Daring her to say yes. She’d grown up with siblings and a dare was something she couldn’t possibly refuse. Apparently, she couldn’t refuse him, either.

  Sophie never considered whether she was a brave person or not, but she certainly didn’t want to be known as a coward. “Mississippi?” she asked.

  “Brandon, Mississippi.”

  She swallowed hard. “I hear it’s nice there this time of year.”

  A slow, sexy smile spread over his face. “It sure is.”

  “And how’s the mood this time of year with thirteen-year-old girls?”

  “Unstable,” he said, laughing.

  He was taking her home with him. And that had her more frightened than when she’d found the camera in her ceiling.

  YANK WOULD HAVE DANCED if his bum hip allowed it. Before he could get caught eavesdropping, he headed for his office. He couldn’t stop at Spencer’s office to share the news, because his friend had decided to work from home for the rest of the day.

  “Work from home, my ass,” Yank muttered. Spencer was just afraid of runnin’ into his son.

  After all the years of being aggressive, going after what he wanted and doing things his way, Spencer Atkins was running scared because some pansy politician didn’t want to acknowledge a fruit in his family tree.

  Well, screw him, Yank thought. Spencer deserved as much happiness as Yank had in his life, and he was going to do everything he could to make sure his friend got it. And he’d succeed. Things had been going his way of late, after all. First Riley was taking care of Sophie without even having to be told to do it. Why should he stop there?

  Lola was going to whip him but good, Yank thought, laughing. But he could handle her. He knew how to keep her happy now, he thought and grinned.

  Yep, Yank was going to reunite father and son. Just as soon as he figured out how to bring the two men together without Riley blowing the whole thing by turning and walking away.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CINDY RAN from Athletes Only. She took an elevator to the street, then did something she never did, hailing a cab instead of taking the cheaper subway. She paid for the fare all the way to the Bronx, straight to Miguel’s office, not stopping to check in with the outer receptionist and practically flying past his personal secretary.

  All the while, her heart pounded like a sledgehammer in her chest as she silently repeated the mantra, Please don’t let Sophie be right. Please don’t let him be using me.

  She entered his inner sanctum without knocking. Sleeping with the man gave her some privileges, she thought. And if she’d been misreading him, if he did have an agenda, well, better she find out now by gauging his reaction to her barging in on whatever he was doing inside.

  She entered and came to a stop, breathing heavily. She could only imagine the wild look in her eyes, but she refused to second-guess the impulse that had brought her here. She’d dated the man, despite Sophie’s warnings, and she’d fallen in love with him, despite her own. If he’d betrayed her—

  “Cynthia!” Miguel rose from behind his desk, bracing his hands on the edge of the dark wood. “What’s wrong?”

  She never took her eyes from his face, watching every nuance she could capture. So far, all she viewed was surprise and concern that she’d shown up unexpectedly. Still, the man was a master at masking his emotions.

  He knew how to wine and dine her. His ability to treat a woman well and make her feel like the rarest diamond was unmatched in Cindy’s experience. But as much as he did and said all the right things when they were together, and as often as he called when they were apart, he’d been hurt badly by his first love. A woman who’d remained in his home country after promising she’d join him in the United States. Instead she’d stayed and married his best friend, who owned a small fleet of boats on the island, betraying Miguel in a way that had broken his heart and caused him to put up walls.

  He claimed she was the first woman he’d let in ever since. He said that the other women in his life had been ways to pass time, but she was his único y verdadero amor, which meant his “one true love.” She prayed he was telling the truth.

  “Cindy?” That he used her nickname told her he was worried.

  Well, she was worried, too, but now that she stood in front of him, fear overwhelmed her and the words didn’t come as easily as she thought they would.

  “Nicholas, let’s call it a day. I have an emergency,” he said to a man Cindy hadn’t even realized was there.

  “Not a problem,” the other man said. He rose, gathered his suit jacket, nodded at Cindy and left the room.

  Miguel wrapped his hand around her waist and led her to the leather sofa. “Sit and tell me what brings you by.”

  She couldn’t relax enough to sit. “How badly do you want to sign John Cashman?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “I do not understand.”

  “It’s a simple question,” she said, stepping out of his warm, comforting grasp. She couldn’t think when he touched her like that. “How badly do you want to sign John Cashman?” she asked again.

  “As much as I want to sign any young athlete with years of potential ahead of them. What are you really asking me?” />
  She tried to swallow, but the inside of her mouth was too dry. “We all know Cashman’s father is pulling strings, manipulating his son. He wants the best deal and he’s unsure of who can get it for him.”

  Miguel inclined his head. “Your point?”

  “You’re doing your best to convince him that you can do a better job for him than Spencer Atkins or Yank Morgan.”

  He nodded, not denying the obvious truth. “And they are doing their best to convince him they can negotiate a better deal than I can. That is the nature of the business. You knew we were business rivals before we started seeing one another. I do not understand why you have a problem now.” His voice held a frustrated edge.

  She understood but she didn’t yet have the answers she sought or the settled feeling she needed. “Did you sabotage the computers at Athletes Only? Did one of your e-mails to me contain the virus that disabled the system?”

  He stared at her in shock, not replying immediately.

  At his silence, she continued to ask the questions pounding at her brain. “Did you hire someone to break in? Put a hidden camera lens in Sophie Jordan’s bathroom?” Tears filled her eyes as she questioned him and she wiped away the moisture that prevented her from seeing him clearly.

  This time he stepped away. “I am insulted you would even ask if I did such terrible things.”

  “I can’t help it. There’ve been a lot of unsettling incidents. Scary things are going on over there. I need to know you aren’t behind them.”

  He ran a hand through his neatly combed hair. “I love you, Cynthia. I’ve trusted you not only with what has hurt me in the past, but with my heart now. I have never given that to another woman. Not since Lisette. If you cannot trust as I have, there is nothing I can say that will convince you.” He turned and started back for his desk, not facing her again until he was behind the large piece of furniture. Far away from her, physically and emotionally.

  She trembled, but inside she heard Sophie’s voice, questioning Miguel’s motives and actions. And she felt swamped by guilt over the possibility that she’d willingly accepted his love without question. She hadn’t thought about her employers, only about herself.

  “You’ve swiped talent from other agents before,” she whispered.

  He stiffened. “I have never resorted to illegal behavior. Your boss and your coworkers can have their suspicions, but either you believe in me or you do not. I refuse to dignify these accusations with more answers.” He straightened papers on his desk, waiting while she thought things through.

  If she believed in him and he’d betrayed her, she in turn would have betrayed her employers and friends in favor of a man. If she didn’t have faith in him, she could lose him forever. All she had to go on was experience—she and her father had trusted someone with the keys to their restaurant and in the end it had cost her father his life.

  Cindy wanted to trust Miguel, but how could she really know he was telling the truth?

  “Cynthia?” he asked, his dark eyes meeting hers.

  She was shaking as she replied. “I…I need time to think,” she said at last.

  “That is too bad, because if the situation were reversed, I would believe in you. In us.” A muscle pulled at the side of his mouth, a sign he was holding back emotion.

  “Miguel, please understand—”

  “I understand you don’t know me as well as I thought you did. If you think I am capable of doing these things, hurting your friends…” He shook his head. “If you’ll excuse me, I have business to take care of. Legitimate business.” His voice had turned frosty, lacking the sensual warmth he normally reserved for her.

  Confusion and pain overwhelmed her as she stepped back. Turning, she reached for the doorknob and let herself out. Not just out of his office, but likely out of his life.

  IMMEDIATELY AFTER landing in Mississippi, Sophie checked her voice mail and discovered that she must have crossed paths with her sister, Micki, midair. Her sibling had landed in New York, home from her long honeymoon. With all the chaos at the office, Sophie had forgotten about her sibling’s return. She would call Micki later. She had other things to deal with now.

  As much as Sophie appreciated Riley’s attempt to take her away from her problems, his daughter’s sullen greeting, which had been followed by a persistent scowl, told Sophie she was hardly in for an easy time this weekend. She also knew she was merely postponing dealing with whomever was tormenting her. But if it meant her uncle and Spencer could focus on the draft, she’d just have to get through this trip.

  While she was here, she planned to make notes and work through who could possibly want to scare or even hurt her. As afraid as she was, Sophie was also angry that someone would try to rule her life by fear. She refused to be cowed by her so-called stalker. Like everything else, she’d deal with this by analyzing all possibilities.

  Riley’s stepfather had sent a limousine to pick them up at the airport, and Sophie stared out the window, watching the passing scenery. And despite their moody teenage chaperone, Sophie couldn’t control her awareness to being so close to Riley. Every time she inhaled, his cologne teased her senses. She imagined she could feel the heat emanating from his body. But most unsettling was the indulgent, even tender way he looked at and spoke to his daughter. Sophie’s heart melted watching him play the role of father.

  All of which cemented her fears of allowing herself to get too close to Riley. She’d have preferred to stay in a hotel, but Riley wouldn’t hear of it. He’d insisted that his parents had enough room for a small army and she wouldn’t be imposing.

  Sophie glanced at Lizzie, who hadn’t taken her iPod headphones out of her ears since Sophie had met up with father and daughter at the airport. Sophie could hear the music blasting from across the car but doubted the teenager would appreciate a lecture on hearing loss, so she remained silent.

  From the side, Lizzie looked like her father, possessing the same profile except with smaller, feminine features. She had long brown hair she’d flat-ironed straight and wore a hot-pink Juicy Couture sweat outfit, which sat low on her hips and hugged her still-developing curves.

  Riley tiptoed around her mood, deferring to her rude behavior without comment. To his credit though, he didn’t try to excuse her attitude, for which Sophie was grateful. And from his unusual silence, she decided he wasn’t all that thrilled with the awkwardness hanging over them.

  She hoped he’d think about doing something to deal with his daughter’s behavior. But hope was all she could do since she knew better than to criticize his parenting or step in the middle of his relationship with Lizzie. She silently promised and hoped she could keep her vow.

  The car drove up to large black wrought-iron gates. The driver checked in and the massive doors slid open wide so they could drive through.

  “Okay, ladies, we’re here,” Riley said as the car came to a stop.

  Without waiting for the driver to hold the door, Sophie exited, stepping out into the Mississippi humidity, glad she’d opted for curls rather than any kind of sleek hairstyle that wouldn’t hold up in this weather.

  Lizzie slid out from behind her and ran up the huge front lawn where a slender woman in navy slacks and a silk blouse waited on the front steps, then pulled her into a warm hug.

  “Ready to meet the parents?” Riley winked at Sophie.

  The gesture did little to ease the growing nerves in the pit of her stomach. “I really don’t belong here.”

  He frowned. “You do, too. You’re my guest and they’re expecting you. There’s nothing to worry about.”

  “Except the little fact that your daughter hates me,” she muttered as they started walking up the driveway.

  He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, comforting her. “She doesn’t hate you. She hates sharing me.”

  Sophie let out a laugh. “Pardon me for thinking there’s little difference.”

  “Riley!” The woman walked down the steps and drew her son into her arms. “It’s been too long
. I’ve missed you,” she said, sounding just like Sophie always imagined a mother should sound.

  An unexpected swell of emotion rose in Sophie’s throat, emotion she should have been way beyond feeling. She was used to seeing little children and their mothers all over Manhattan and she’d passed the point where the sight would arouse feelings of loss and longing. She’d never watched two adults embrace and been hit with all she was still missing out on in her life. Until now.

  Which said something about her connection to Riley, Sophie thought and shivered despite the sticky heat.

  “You must be Sophia.” The elegant woman held out her hand and welcomed Sophie with a warm smile.

  “My friends call me Sophie.”

  “I’m Anne.”

  Sophie inclined her head. “Thank you for having me for the weekend.”

  “It’s not like you gave anyone a choice.” Lizzie stood behind her grandmother, leaning against the wooden front door, glaring at Sophie.

  Sophie stiffened. She waited for someone, Riley’s mother or Riley himself, to react.

  “Lizzie, go inside and let Marabel give you some milk and cookies.” Once the girl had turned and stomped inside, the older woman turned back to Sophie. “Maybe she’s tired from the trip.”

  “Maybe she just has a smart mouth and I’ve had enough.” Riley walked around Sophie and up the steps to the front door. “It’s high time I had a talk with her.”

  Sophie exhaled in relief.

  “Riley, wait. Just give her some time to calm down. You can talk to her later,” Anne pleaded with her son.

  Sophie had little doubt he’d give in, leaving her odd woman out around this family. A place she ought to remain, if she was smart.

  Riley gritted his teeth at his mother’s unreasonable request. Until today, he hadn’t seen how badly behaved his daughter could actually be. Or maybe he hadn’t wanted to see. Until Lizzie had turned her anger on Sophie, Riley had been content to let her mouth off, telling himself he deserved her frustration because he no longer lived with her mother. And of course, because he was afraid of having no relationship with her, as he didn’t with Spencer Atkins.