Hot Item

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

RILEY STRAIGHTENED his bow tie and held the door open for his date. Together they walked through the ballroom doors leading to Lola and Yank Morgan’s belated wedding reception. Riley had thought long and hard about whether or not to attend. He had more reasons to bail than to show up-from being in the same room with Atkins to facing Sophie for the first time since she ran out on him. But he had one major reason to come. Riley Nash had never run from a confrontation or situation in his life and he wasn’t about to do so now.

But he’d opted not to arrive alone. “You ready, beautiful?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

Riley glanced into his daughter’s eyes. Despite all the turmoil of the past few weeks-or maybe because of it-he’d never been as proud of Lizzie as he was lately. First, she’d owned up to her mistake and seemed to really understand how widespread the repercussions of her actions were. She hadn’t just betrayed a confidence, she’d potentially affected her grandfather’s career. Although she couldn’t undo the telling of the secret, she was trying to behave in a more mature way.

She’d also agreed to therapy. Weekly sessions with a psychologist to help her deal with her anger and her issues. There was the occasional family session thrown in for good measure, which didn’t thrill Riley, but he’d do anything for his daughter.

They walked inside arm in arm. Riley didn’t immediately see the guests of honor, nor did he catch a glimpse of the Jordan sisters or his errant father.

He breathed a silent sigh of relief. “How about a drink?” he asked Lizzie. “Want a Shirley Temple?”

“Da-a-a-d!” she said, appalled.

He winked and refrained from ruffling her professionally blow-dried hair. “Can’t blame a father for trying to keep his best girl a little girl.”

He leaned against the bar and when the attendant looked his way, Riley said, “Two Cokes, please.” No reason to drink with Lizzie around and every reason to keep his wits about him tonight.

“I wasn’t sure whether you’d make it tonight,” a familiar voice said.

Riley waited for the drinks, handed one to Lizzie and turned slowly to face his real father. “I wasn’t sure myself,” he admitted.

Considering this was the first time the two men had been in the same room together since being publicly outed as father and son, Riley tried not to squirm under the other man’s obvious scrutiny.

“May I say that I’m glad you’re here?” Spencer asked.

“You can say whatever you want.” Riley had been about to add, It’s a free country, when he noticed Lizzie’s wide-eyed stare.

She’d obviously caught the undercurrents between the two men and Riley knew she’d seen the pictures in the newspaper of Riley and Spencer side by side. No question, Lizzie was aware that this man was Riley’s real father.

At that moment, Riley realized he had a choice. He could walk away, as his gut instinct told him to do, or he could stay and talk to Spencer Atkins, as his rapidly beating heart was asking him to do. He could show his daughter that the solution to difficult situations was to run away or he could teach her to stand tall and face her fears.

“Can I order you a drink?” Riley asked the older man. As an olive branch, it wasn’t much, but it was the best Riley could do under the circumstances.

“No, thank you.” Spencer shook his head, but relief flickered in his eyes. He’d probably been expecting something along the lines of a brush-off and cold shoulder, Riley thought.

But then Riley would lose the chance of getting to know his real father, even for a few brief minutes. Now that their connection was known, no more harm could come to Harlan’s career.

He was forced to acknowledge the fact that he had many questions to ask Spencer and little time. Unless he took a step toward opening up to his father. Then perhaps the other man would meet him halfway. Stranger things had happened lately, Riley thought. And he had just the icebreaker with which to begin.

Riley cleared his throat. “Elizabeth, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.” He wrapped his arm around Lizzie’s waist, pulling her close. “Spencer Atkins, this is your granddaughter, Elizabeth. We call her Lizzie.” Riley smiled, unable to contain his pride in the young woman she was becoming. “Lizzie, this is…” He stammered over his choice of words.

“I’m Spencer Atkins,” the other man said, helping Riley out. “I’m-”

“My grandfather,” Lizzie said. “Well, one of my grandfathers. I already have Grandpa Harlan.”

“I’m hoping you have room for one more.”

“Sure,” Lizzie said, and shrugged, as if all this blended, extended family stuff was commonplace.

In her life, Riley supposed it was.

“Well, good. But a beautiful girl like you can call me whatever you like,” Spencer said, grinning.

“Watch out,” Riley warned. “Give her an opening like that and you just might hang yourself.” Riley couldn’t help but laugh.

“Hey! I’m not that bad. Give me some credit!” Lizzie said, blushing.

“This from the girl who’s just now working her way back into everyone’s good graces? I think there’s someone else you should apologize to for spilling the beans.” Suddenly he was no longer thirsty. Riley placed his untouched glass back on the bar and waited for his daughter’s defiant outburst.

But to his never-ending shock, Lizzie didn’t argue. Instead, she nodded. “I’m sorry,” she said to Spencer. “It wasn’t my secret to tell.” She glanced down and away.

Spencer’s eyes opened wide, stunned at her admission. “That’s a very mature thing for you to admit,” he said at last.

“My shrink says taking responsibility is important.” She glanced around the room, suddenly distracted. “Hey, Dad, isn’t that Brandon Vaughn?” She pointed to the retired football player who’d married Sophie’s sister Annabelle.

Riley felt certain the middle sister couldn’t be far away and he stiffened in preparation for that meeting, as well.

“It sure is Brandon Vaughn,” Spencer said, before Riley could respond. “Would you like me to introduce you?” Spencer asked.

Lizzie’s head bobbed up and down. “Can I go with him, Dad? Please?”

Riley didn’t hesitate. “Of course you can go.”

Over Lizzie’s head and eager bouncing, Spencer met Riley’s gaze-gratitude, appreciation and more in his solemn expression.

A silent understanding had just passed between them, Riley realized. The first awkward bridge had been crossed.

As he watched his daughter, his pride and joy, walk off with her grandfather, an unfamiliar emotion swelled in his throat. Lizzie would have another adult to look up to in her life.

It came at an important juncture, when she was impressionable and vulnerable all at the same time. There had been a time when Riley wouldn’t have envisioned Spencer Atkins as any kind of role model, especially not for Lizzie. But so much had changed in such a short time.

Nothing could alter the fact that the other man had ignored Riley for the first part of his life. But Riley had also learned that Spencer hadn’t lived a carefree existence during these past years. He’d suffered plenty, too. Riley admitted to being curious about the details, and he’d always had a burning desire to understand the father he’d never really known. He finally had his chance.

There was nothing except his pride to prevent them from going forward from here and he wasn’t about to let it get in the way of what he’d wanted his entire life.

SOPHIE WAS RUNNING LATE. Unintentionally, but she was still going to end up making an obvious entrance. That was something she’d have preferred to avoid, but not even her uncle’s wedding reception could change the fact that she had an upset client who’d demanded her attention.

But she was here now, and though she’d spent hours planning the details of this event, tonight she was simply a guest. Lola had hired a staff to see that the night ran smoothly. Sophie would rather be preoccupied with the details, but Lola had insisted she relax and enjoy the evening.

She smoothed the beading on her long gown, drew a deep breath and walked inside the ballroom of the beautiful hotel.

“You’re late!” Annabelle grabbed Sophie’s arm the moment she set foot inside the room.

“I had a work-related emergency.”

“Nothing serious, I hope?” Annabelle asked.

Sophie shook her head.

Annabelle exhaled with relief. “It’s just that the break-in and other problems are still fresh in my mind.”

“Mine, too,” Sophie admitted. “Spencer said he’d taken care of things. He won’t say what he did or who was responsible, but he swears it’s over. And you know Spencer-when he holds on to a secret, nobody finds out.”

“Not for decades anyway,” Annabelle said wryly. “Okay, on to other things. You look beautiful,” she said, kissing Sophie’s cheek.

“Thanks.” Sophie stepped back and took in her sister’s formfitting light blue gown that set off the color of her eyes.

Annabelle’s pregnancy was over but its effects remained, her already voluptuous curves even more pronounced. As always, Annabelle looked statuesque and gorgeous, Sophie thought. “You look fabulous yourself.”

“I second that.” Annabelle’s husband, ex-pro football player Brandon Vaughn, came up beside his wife, linking his arm through hers. He turned to Sophie and grinned. “You’re looking pretty damn good, too, little sister.” Vaughn treated her to a brotherly wink.

Sophie laughed. “Thanks. You clean up pretty nicely yourself,” she said, taking in his black European-cut tuxedo.

Annabelle rolled her eyes. “Oh, don’t boost his ego. He already thinks he’s the stud of the night.” But it was obvious by the way she devoured her husband with her eyes that Annabelle agreed with Sophie’s assessment.

Vaughn tipped his head to one side. “You mean I’m not?”

Sophie chuckled once more. “Where’s my sweet little niece?” she asked.

“You didn’t really think I’d turn down a kid-free night out on the town, did you?” Annabelle asked, grinning.

Sophie shook her head. “No, you’re a normal mother who needs a break.”

“But who’s called home every hour on the hour,” Vaughn said.

Annabelle shrugged off her husband’s words. “Like you’re any better? The sitter told me you’ve been calling in between my check-ins.”

He flushed guiltily.

“Hi, guys.” Micki joined them, rescuing Vaughn from further embarrassment. “What are you doing huddling in a corner? We should be mingling!”

“My wife, the people person.” Micki’s husband, Damian, stepped up behind her and slid his arms around her waist, pulling her close.

Vaughn glanced at the two. “Newlyweds,” he said, and groaned.

“Don’t tell me you have a problem with public displays of affection?” Micki teased as her brother-in-law absently rubbed his own wife’s back with one hand.

“None at all when I’m the one involved. It’s watching other people do it that turns my stomach.” Vaughn laughed.

Damian glanced at the women in the family, his attention lingering for a moment on each. “You ladies are looking gorgeous tonight.” He nodded approvingly, his stare settling on Sophie. “You’re looking particularly hot.”

“Oh, brother.” Micki laughed.

So did Sophie. “You always forget there’s no more need to charm me, Fuller. I finally decided I like you even if you are a ballplayer.”

Micki patted her husband’s arm. “He can’t help himself. He sees a beautiful woman and he has to react.”

Damian shook his head. “Not since I met you, babe.” He pulled Micki tighter against him.

Sophie sighed and tried not to focus on the fact that she was the odd woman out in this sea of couples. They only needed Uncle Yank and Lola to make the unit complete, but those two were due to have their own special entrance in a few minutes.

Looking past her sisters, she scanned the room and she caught sight of Riley. Even surrounded by other men in formal attire, Riley Nash stood out. He was devastatingly handsome in a tuxedo-as well as out of it, as she remembered all too well.

He appeared happy and relaxed, flanked on one side by his daughter, Lizzie, and on the other by his father. His real father. Riley and Spencer appeared to be having a civil conversation near the bar. An actual smile lifted Riley’s lips into his trademark heart-stopping grin.

She felt her stomach flip, unnerved at seeing him for the first time since their conversation in his apartment. She recalled that moment as more like a monologue than a conversation, and she still hadn’t mentally recovered from all he’d had to say to her that night.

Yet here he was, apparently over the scandal of his real parent being revealed, and making inroads with the man, whom he’d sworn he would keep at arm’s length. My, how things had changed, she thought. Riley was clearly giving Spencer a chance.

Something she hadn’t been willing to do for Riley, himself. He’d said that she was so afraid of the things she couldn’t control that she would risk walking away from him first, before he walked away or left her. When she’d run away, she’d backed up his claim. By being here tonight and socializing with Spencer, Riley was, in sports terms, one-upping her.

He was showing her up by being brave. He was the ultimate risk taker and the one person Sophie couldn’t predict or control. Just like she couldn’t control her love for him, and that love still surrounded her, making the air she breathed so heavy and thick that she couldn’t inhale easily.

She needed space, not just from Riley but from the happy couples surrounding her. “Excuse me,” she said to her sisters, who were already involved in other conversations.

Sophie lifted the hem of her dress and headed for the ladies’ room located outside the ballroom doors. No sooner had she entered the empty powder-room area and begun to rummage through her purse for lip gloss, than the door opened wide and someone stepped through.

Sophie glanced into the mirror and saw Riley’s daughter staring back. “Hi, Lizzie,” Sophie said immediately, hoping to break the ice that had still remained between them since last time they were together.

“Hi.” A tentative smile curled the girl’s lips, surprising Sophie.

“Beautiful dress,” Sophie said, admiring the lilac gown the teenager wore.

Lizzie’s smile grew wider. “Isn’t it cool? My mom took me to buy it.”

Where was the hostility? Sophie wondered. The sullenness? The anger? And then she realized the cause for the young girl’s friendly attitude: Sophie was no longer dating her father.

Sophie had achieved Lizzie’s good favor at the expense of Riley’s. Pushing that thought aside, she refocused on the teen. “Well, you can tell your mother for me you both have great taste. Of course, I bet anything you put on would look stunning on you.”

Perhaps Lizzie was encouraged by their civil tone, because she slowly edged closer to the mirror where Sophie stood.

“Can I talk to you about something?” Lizzie asked.

Sophie nodded. “Of course.”

The girl bit down on her lower lip, her nerves showing. “I…um…I wanted to say I’m sorry for…you know, being such a brat back in Mississippi.”

Another shock, Sophie thought. “You already apologized at the airport. You don’t need to do it again,” she said softly. “But I appreciate it.”

“I hope so, because I mean it this time.”

Sophie tried not to laugh and failed. She wanted to explain that she wasn’t laughing at Lizzie but the teenager spoke first.

“I know why you’re not seeing my dad anymore.”

Sophie blinked, stunned into utter silence. Lizzie claimed to know what Sophie couldn’t even explain to herself. “You do?” she asked, buying herself time to come up with another, more appropriate response.

Lizzie nodded. “It’s because of me. Because you think I’d be miserable if he was still with you and because you think I’m too horrible for words.”

This time Sophie managed not to laugh at the teen’s over-dramatic words. “You’re wrong,” she assured the young girl. “You have nothing to do with it.”

“But-”

Sophie held up a hand, forestalling an argument. “I’m willing to bet that whatever you believe I think of you is one-hundred-percent wrong.” Sophie drew a deep breath. “Because I happen to think you’re a teenager going through normal teenage stuff,” she said. “Added to that, you have parents who love you but are divorced, so you have to share your mom with her husband, but you’ve never had to share your dad. Right?”

Lizzie nodded, still not looking up.

“So you copped an attitude with me. Big deal. I’m an adult, I can handle it. Especially since you apologized.”

“You mean it? Because I told my shrink that it’s my fault that you left and my dad’s been a major grump ever since.”

Lizzie waited for her to respond, finally meeting Sophie’s gaze with wide, hopeful eyes.

“I mean it,” she assured Lizzie. Though Sophie wasn’t sure what shocked her more. That Lizzie was seeing a therapist or that Riley had been miserable ever since they’d been apart.

But she had to focus on his daughter now. “I have two sisters, one older and one younger, so I know girls,” Sophie told Lizzie. “I also deal with star athletes and, trust me, many of them throw bigger tantrums than a teenager with attitude.” She grinned, liking her analogy a lot. “Do you believe me?”

“Yeah.” Lizzie nodded. “You know what?”

Sophie tipped her head to one side. “What?”

“You’re not so bad.”

Sophie had to laugh at that. “But would you say that if your father and I were together?”

“You know what? I know that I would.” Lizzie’s eyes shone bright with approval.

Sophie didn’t kid herself that if she and Riley were a couple, there wouldn’t be rough patches with this kid, but for now, she had Lizzie’s seal of approval. But what was she going to do with that acceptance?

“You’re not so bad yourself.” Sophie smiled at the teenager and winked.

“I have to go to the bathroom,” Lizzie said, and headed for the other room.

Sophie reached into her bag and swiped some gloss over her lips. Her heart raced a mile a minute and she was uncertain as to why. Then again, all the unexpected developments tonight were enough to bring on a case of full-blown anxiety. With that in mind, she stepped back out to the ballroom, uncertain of what awaited her next.