Hot Item

CHAPTER TWO

AT SOPHIE’S OBVIOUS attempt to feign composure and pretend his hiring her didn’t send her into a tailspin, Riley bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing aloud.

She folded the check in half. “You could have just trusted me instead of insisting we enter into some ridiculous employment contract.” Her tone held a trace of hurt over his lack of faith.

Maybe she had a point. Hiring her probably made little sense, but he hadn’t been able to think of another way to guarantee his secret remained private.

“I don’t know you well enough to trust you, but we could remedy that,” he said in a deliberately suggestive tone, his words meant to explain as well as to tease.

Whenever he stopped by The Hot Zone offices, he could never resist coming to see the blue-eyed blonde. He enjoyed their sparring and liked trying to figure her out. Sophie Jordan presented an intriguing mess of contradictions, her inherent control and conservative facade so at odds with the simmering heat he saw in her eyes.

He inhaled deeply. As usual her luscious scent evoked images of hot bodies in tangled sheets.

“So now that I represent you, what comes next?” she asked warily.

He understood her discomfort. He and Sophie shared an unusual relationship that consisted mostly of a sexual dynamic neither understood.

For Riley, Sophie was the antithesis of every woman he was normally drawn to. Riley liked his women real. He enjoyed tousled hair he could mess up with his hands and he preferred to see a woman’s cleavage, not guess at what her breasts looked like beneath a prim silk blouse. His agent’s niece might be a knockout in the classical sense, but with her hair pulled into a tight knot and her prissy suit, she wasn’t his type. Yet she never failed to brighten his day.

He couldn’t say he did the same for her. Sophie had a distinct inability to deal with the sexual tension between them. Two minutes in his presence and she’d lose her composure, changing from Grace Kelly cool to downright flustered. A pink flush tinged her cheeks whenever he was near.

Today, however, she seemed more tense than usual and something suddenly urged him to be sensitive to what was going on in that head of hers and respect the boundaries she’d raised. Another anomaly, Riley thought. He always respected women but when it came to Sophie, he wondered what she was thinking.

Feeling.

Desiring.

He inhaled deeply. Unbidden, he was treated to visions of eating strawberries and champagne directly off her porcelain skin. His groin tightened with a hard-on he hadn’t felt the likes of in years. Not a good way to respect her feelings, Riley thought.

She picked up the pen he’d discarded and began to tap it against the desk. “Okay, if you aren’t going to explain, I have a few things to say first. And now that you’ve hired me, I have the right to speak my mind.”

“Lack of a professional relationship has never stopped you before,” he reminded her with a wink.

Her cheeks burned brighter. “But now I have the satisfaction of knowing you’re paying me to tell you the way things are going to be.” A Cheshire-cat grin tilted her lips as she enjoyed what she perceived as the upper hand.

She’d soon learn he rarely gave up control. Doing things his way was the only means of assuring himself that nobody would hurt him the same way his real father had.

“So what’s going on in there?” He lightly tapped her head.

She swallowed hard. “I’ve known Spencer practically my whole life and he’s never mentioned having a son. Never mind one who’s the top quarterback in the NFL.”

He folded his arms across his chest. He hated the subject, never mind that he’d opened this Pandora’s box. “So?”

“So considering the news currently circulating, forgive me if I question your story, as well as your motives for wanting to see Spencer.”

He wasn’t surprised she had the guts to stand up to him. After all, she was one of the top publicists in a male-dominated market.

He raised an eyebrow. “The man was just outed. Do you really think I’d pick this particular time to announce my relationship to Atkins unless it was true?”

She paused, then slowly nodded, acknowledging his point.

Although she accepted his argument, he couldn’t ignore how she’d leaped to Spencer’s defense. “So what are you? Atkins’s protector?”

She squared her shoulders. “Don’t underestimate me because I’m a woman, Nash. We’re like family around here. What affects one of us affects us all.”

How nice that Atkins had family here when he’d so deliberately ignored his own. Her words shouldn’t have hurt but they did. They sliced like a knife inside Riley’s chest. Unfortunately they didn’t diminish the need for him to talk to the old man.

Since the Atkins and Hot Zone merger, Riley had done all his agency business over the phone. He hadn’t wanted to risk running into his father. Now that was exactly what he wished to do.

He needed to reach Atkins and ensure the man’s silence, as he’d promised his mother when she’d called in a panic earlier. Which meant he also needed Sophie and whatever connections she had.

He had no choice but to spill his guts. “Whether or not he’s ever acknowledged the fact, I am Spencer Atkins’s son. Actually, I’m just another of his dirty little secrets, but this secret affects more than just him. I need to talk to him as soon as possible.”

Sophie’s expression softened. “I would tell him if I could. Unfortunately, Spencer has been out of touch for three days. And while we’re sharing secrets, I should add if we don’t get in touch with him soon, the agency will lose the first-round pick in the football draft.” She expelled a frustrated breath. “So can you help me?”

Apparently she needed him, too, putting them on more equal ground. The notion eased the vise squeezing his chest. “I haven’t been in contact with Spencer in the past few days, either.” He deliberately left out his lack of a relationship with the older man up until now. “But I can make some calls and see if anyone in my family has any ideas about where he might go.” Starting with his mother, Riley thought. It may have been years since she and Spencer had spoken, but maybe she remembered some relatives or someplace he liked to hide out.

“Feel free.” Sophie gestured to the phone on her desk.

He strode over and sat down. A howl sounded loud and shrill in his ears at the same time he jumped off something warm and soft. He glanced down. A white curly-haired mutt glared at him from Sophie’s desk chair.

Sophie laughed, a light, carefree sound, so opposite from her normally uptight voice he was astounded. It made him want to see her loosen up in every way.

“Something funny?” he asked.

She shook her head. “I just didn’t realize Noodle had switched seats.”

“Better to sit on the dog than on dog-”

She cleared her throat, cutting him off.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to offend your delicate sensibilities.” This time he chuckled. “How do I get an outside line? Need to dial nine?”

She shook her head. “Just pick up the phone and press any free line.”

Resigned, Riley dialed his mother and had mixed feelings when she wasn’t home to take his call. On the one hand he was grateful he wouldn’t have to upset her by discussing Spencer again, and on the other hand he was aggravated he’d have to spend more time on this search.

“Hi, Frannie. Come on in.” Sophie’s voice interrupted his thoughts as an older woman with gray hair walked into the room, a piece of paper in hand.

“Spencer has two sisters and a niece who live in Florida,” the other woman said.

Sophie nodded. She knew he had family in Fort Lauderdale.

“He’s always calling them and sometimes he goes there to visit. Number’s on the paper here.” Frannie waved the yellow sheath in her hand. “He also owns a time-share in Aruba but it’s rented now, so I can’t see him going there. Then again if we knew whether or not he took his passport…”

Sophie shook her head. “No way of knowing that. Let’s start with family.” She glanced at Riley through half-lowered lashes.

“Oh my! I didn’t realize you had company. I should have knocked.”

“That’s okay. This is an emergency. Besides, Mr. Nash is a client of Uncle Yank’s.” She paused. “He’s also a client of mine and we can trust him.”

Frannie smiled. “Okay then. I’ll be at my desk if you need me, though I have to warn you about something.”

Sophie raised an eyebrow.

“Spencer’s sisters are eccentric, to quote his words.”

“Whatever that means, but I’ll keep it in mind. Thanks.”

“They’re also not answering the phone and there’s no machine to record a message. Oh, and John Cashman called. Again.”

“This isn’t happening.” With a groan, Sophie flung herself into the nearest chair, more flustered than he’d ever seen before. “Maybe Spencer’s sisters are on vacation, but that doesn’t mean Spencer couldn’t be there anyway and not taking calls.”

Frannie shook her head. “They don’t travel. Like I said, eccentric. But you’re right. That doesn’t rule out the possibility that Spencer went to his sisters’ until the heat here in New York dies down.”

So he had run off, Riley thought. He didn’t blame the man for wanting to avoid the scandal, but he hated to think his father was a coward.

“Frannie, do you have an address for his sisters?” Sophie asked.

She nodded. “On the paper.” She handed Sophie the page. “Just buzz me if you need me.”

“Will do and thanks again,” Sophie said, gratitude evident in her tone.

Once the other woman had let herself out and shut the door, Sophie glanced at the paper before turning to Riley. Her eyes seemed wider, a mixture of concern and hope in their blue depths.

“If Spencer’s sisters don’t answer the phone, it looks like I’m headed for Fort Lauderdale. I need to talk to Spencer in person and figure out a game plan.”

Her intentions were too vague, Riley thought. He glanced at the ceiling, avoiding her gaze while he took time to think. If he let her go to Florida alone and she didn’t find Spencer, no harm done. If she did find the old man, Riley needed to know whether she would convince Atkins to spill his guts to the media in a sympathy play. If so, he might reveal more than the truth about his sexual orientation, and that might include Riley’s parentage.

“Once you find Spencer, all you want is for him to get in touch with his clients?” Riley asked.

“In part. I want to save the potential clients and calm his current ones.”

Apparently the frenzy surrounding this story went deep. They didn’t have time for a long conversation on how other athletes were handling the news, but Riley was curious. Personally, he had no problem with anyone’s sexual orientation. He just wished it wasn’t his biological father who’d come out. During his stepfather’s election year, no less.

Sophie had begun pacing the floor of her office. He glanced at her face and realized she was counting her steps. “Why the hell are you doing that?”

“Twenty-four, twenty-five.” She stopped at a closed door. “Routine gives me comfort,” she explained.

Anal and compulsive, he thought, and didn’t have to wonder how she’d handle his fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants approach to life. Not well.

“Will you let me know how you make out in the Sunshine State?” he asked.

She nodded. “Not a problem.” She rubbed her hands together in anticipation. “I can’t wait to do some damage control. I need him to issue a statement in response to all this media coverage. In my experience it’s always better to have a client’s version of events sent out to the media first, forcing other people to respond. In this case we can’t do that, but if he replies with the truth before the reporters start digging and speculating, his reputation will come out stronger in the end.”

“Whoa.” She hadn’t mentioned a press release earlier.

Ignoring him, she strode to the desk and began punching in the numbers on the page Frannie had given her. She waited, phone hugged tight against her ear as the phone rang and rang on the other end.

She hung up the receiver and shot him a frustrated glance. “I need to book a flight for tomorrow morning. At least I’ll feel I’m doing something.”

Riley closed his eyes tight, his choices narrowing. If Sophie convinced Spencer to issue an honest statement and he revealed his connection to Riley, all hell could break loose in the conservative red state of Mississippi. After all, she’d said it was better to trump the media before they dug up the dirt and Spencer might choose to do just that.

He had to be by her side when she found his old man.

Once again she picked up the phone, this time hitting the intercom button. “Frannie, book me a seat on the first flight to Fort Lauderdale tomorrow morning.”

He rubbed his hands over his burning eyes before focusing on Sophie. She looked as upset as he felt at the moment.

He could only imagine how she’d take his next announcement. “Make that two seats,” he said loud enough for the woman on the other end of the speaker phone to hear.

BY LUNCHTIME, Sophie still hadn’t reached Spencer’s sisters by phone. She desperately needed air. It wasn’t enough that Spencer was missing and her world was collapsing in chaos, but she had Riley Nash joining in her search. She didn’t know how she’d focus on finding Spencer with the biggest distraction of all hanging around. The sexiest distraction.

She headed for the nearest café around the corner from the office where Cindy James, a friend and publicist at The Hot Zone, was supposed to meet her. It was a blessedly warm day for March in New York City and she was glad they’d chosen someplace with outdoor tables where she could enjoy the fresh air. Sophie ordered a Diet Coke while she waited and then breathed in deeply, allowing herself the illusion that all was well.

“Hello, Sophia,” a masculine voice said with a hint of a Spanish accent.

One that would be sexy if not for the man who possessed the self-assured tone. She eyed the handsome Dominican man, with his designer suit and too-welcoming smile, warily.

“Hello, Miguel,” she said to her uncle and Spencer’s number-one adversary. “What brings you to this neck of the woods?” The Cambias Agency was in the Bronx, close to where former President Bill Clinton had taken his new offices shortly after leaving the White House.

“May I?” He gestured to the empty seat.

To say no would be rude. “Of course.”

He joined her, sitting directly across the small table, where his gaze lingered on hers. When she’d met him at industry events, he’d always been polite and solicitous. Even so, he made her uncomfortable. Miguel Cambias always had an agenda, which made trust something she refused to give.

“I visited your offices to show support for my colleague,” he said, obviously referring to Spencer. “The gossip about him in the paper is unfortunate.”

Sophie raised an eyebrow, wondering if he’d come to show support or to revel in his opponent’s misfortune. “I didn’t think you read Liz Smith,” she said of the well-known New York gossip columnist.

“My secretary does, as do most people who want to keep up with the pulse of this town. Besides, the story is headline news. Surely you already know that.”

She did. She’d just been hoping that he’d slip with more information, like whether his clients were calling about the news, or worse, whether Spencer’s clients were inquiring about other representation. Not wanting to let on that she was concerned, she couldn’t ask.

“Since my secretary told you where to find me, you must also know Spencer’s taken the day off. I’ll be sure to relay your concern next time I see him.”

Miguel placed his hand over hers. “This can’t be easy for you or your uncle. I know how close you all are.”

Sophie slid her hand from beneath his and waved it dismissively through the air. “It’s not a problem for us or for Athletes Only. I can assure you of that.”

He glanced over her shoulder. “I think your lunch date is here.”

He rose from his seat at the same time Sophie looked up to see Cindy standing behind her, silently waiting for an opportunity to interrupt. Sophie shot her friend a grateful look. Her timing couldn’t have been better. She had no desire to continue talking to Cambias and try to decipher his intent.

“Cindy, I’d like you to meet Miguel Cambias. Miguel, this is Cindy James. She’s a publicist at The Hot Zone,” Sophie said.

“I’m surprised we haven’t met before.” His eyes sparkled with definite interest.

“I recently moved here from L.A.” A blush spread over Cindy’s freckled cheeks.

Even to a casual observer, it was obvious the interest between these two was mutual.

“It’s wonderful to meet a coworker of Sophia’s.” Ever the gentleman, he pulled out the chair. “Especially such a beautiful one.”

Cindy took her seat but not before Cambias’s gaze raked over Cindy’s model like curves and curly red hair, which hung down to the middle of her back.

From the glimmer in his dark eyes, it appeared that Miguel liked what he saw. “May I offer a word of advice?” he shifted his attention to Sophie, his eyes gleaming with hidden knowledge that made Sophie nervous.

“Can I stop you?” she asked easily.

He laughed. “There are people who don’t take other’s sexual orientation lightly. You should have Spencer talk to his important clients before someone else does.”

His tone was friendly. His words were not. Sophie understood the hidden implication. Spencer’s nervous clients were up for grabs. She had to find the man and soon.

“I appreciate the advice.” She forced a smile.

“If I can do anything, please let me know. In case you misplaced my number-” He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a business card, handing it to Sophie. “And even if you didn’t, if your beautiful friend is interested in meeting for drinks, she can take the card instead.”

He winked at Cindy before leaving and Sophie’s friend nearly swooned. Sophie had seen Miguel have this effect on women at many charity events. The Spanish accent and his Antonio Banderas looks were enough to lure any unsuspecting female into his clutches. Which Sophie supposed might not be a bad thing for a woman who wasn’t his professional competition.

As soon as Miguel was out of earshot, Cindy leaned forward. “So? Is he one of the good guys?” Blatant curiosity shimmered on her friend’s face.

Sophie sighed. Cambias wasn’t someone Sophie would touch with a ten-foot pole, but she had an inherent bias against the man. For all she knew, outside of business the man was a saint.

“I honestly don’t know. But I do think he had an ulterior motive for coming here today.” She just wished she knew what it was.

“I’ll be careful.”

Sophie slid the business card toward Cindy, who snatched it up and placed it in her purse.

“What do you say we double-date? That way you can try and figure out what he wants,” Cindy suggested.

Sophie shook her head. “When it comes to Miguel Cambias, you’re on your own. Just don’t divulge any secrets,” Sophie said, laughing.

She wasn’t worried. Cindy’s ethics were solid and she wasn’t privy to anything on the sports-agency side of the business. Besides, Sophie had other problems to deal with. “I’m going to need you to hold down the fort for a while.”

“Where are you going to be?” Cindy asked.

“Florida.” With Riley Nash.

RILEY THREW some clothes together in a duffel bag. He grabbed the shaving kit he always kept packed, since he traveled often during the season, and tossed it in as well. Then he picked up the phone.

He wasn’t looking forward to informing his daughter he’d have to cancel their day tomorrow, but since she was in school he’d have to let his ex-wife know. Lisa would relay the message to Elizabeth about the change in plans and Riley would call her from Florida.

Lizzie, as he’d called her since she was a baby, lived with her mother and stepfather in Scarsdale, a ritzy suburb outside of New York City. Riley had chosen an apartment in Manhattan, so he could be nearby.

Lisa, Ted and Riley had managed to co-parent fairly well, at least until the teenage years had kicked in. Now they disagreed on how to handle Elizabeth, how to give her things without spoiling her and how to discipline her over her declining school grades. Add attention deficit disorder to the mix and they really had their hands full, Riley thought.

He didn’t think Elizabeth would mind him canceling since he saw her a couple of times a week and weekends when she wasn’t busy with her friends. She was probably sick of him by now, he thought with a smirk, and would be glad he’d had a change of plans.

Scratch that. Even if she was relieved that she didn’t have to hang with her father, she’d act as if she’d been slighted and wronged just so she could pick a fight and piss him off. His sweet baby had woken up one morning and morphed into the very thing a parent dreaded most: a hormonal teenage girl.

He dialed and a familiar female voice answered on the first ring. “Hello?”

“Hi, Lisa.”

“Hi, Riley,” she said. “How’s the man of leisure?”

He didn’t take offense. She’d never recognized that he worked out as hard on the off season, if not harder, never taking good health or good shape for granted. “I’m fine but I have to take an unexpected business trip.”

Lisa didn’t know Spencer Atkins was his father and if he hadn’t revealed the secret during their brief marriage, he sure as hell wasn’t about to spill his guts now. “Can you tell Lizzie I’m sorry and I’ll make it up to her?”

“You can tell her yourself since she’s home with a stomach virus. We would’ve called you today and canceled anyway. She’s going to need to rest tomorrow, too. Hang on. Elizabeth,” she screamed, probably over the blare of music from his daughter’s bedroom. “Your father’s on the phone.”

“Hello?” a miserable-sounding Elizabeth said after picking up another receiver.

“Hi, Lizzie baby, how are you doing?”

She groaned. “I’ve been barfing my guts up all morning,” she said on a whine.

“Aww, jeez. I’m sorry. But I’m sure you’ll be back to your old self in no time.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, at least I don’t feel as bad telling you I have to be out of town this weekend.”

“But…but…” A huge pause followed. “You said we could have PF Chang’s. You promised!”

He couldn’t help it. He burst out laughing. “Honey, if you could eat Chinese food anytime soon, I’d make a point to stay home. Don’t pick a fight just to have an argument. I’ll take you out for dinner as soon as I get back. I promise. I’ll even bring you back a surprise.”

She remained silent, a deliberate, guilt-inducing silence.

“I’ll call you and see how you’re feeling, okay?” Not expecting a reply, he added, “Be good and remember when you start to eat, do it in small doses and do it smart.”

More silence followed. The kid had made guilt into an art form, Riley thought. “Feel better, baby.”

“I’m not a baby,” she muttered.

Maybe not but he’d gotten a reply out of her, which had been his goal. He chuckled and heard the click in his ear, indicating she’d hung up.

“You spoil her,” Lisa said just as he’d been about to put down the phone.

“I didn’t realize you’d stayed on the extension.”

“Let’s just say I was curious how you’d handle her.”

A quick glance at the clock told him he had to get moving or risk missing his flight, but he couldn’t let this pass. “I don’t need you eavesdropping on me,” he said through gritted teeth.

“If you upset her, she’s just going to take it out on Ted and me,” she said.

Ted had been Elizabeth’s stepfather for the last seven years. For someone who wasn’t interested in sports, he was a nice enough guy. Unfortunately he also had a kid from a prior marriage and he was much stricter than Riley. He didn’t approve of the gifts and extras Riley bought his daughter, which probably explained Lisa’s listening in. But it didn’t excuse it.

“I’ve got to run, but do me a favor? Have some faith in me or soon we’ll be at each other’s throats.”

Lisa cleared her throat. “I’m sorry I listened in. But-”

“I’ve got to go.”

“Just one more quick thing. Do not bring her home any expensive gifts from this trip,” Lisa said.

He rolled his eyes. “Bye.” He chose to ignore her warning. Elizabeth was his daughter and he’d buy her anything he damn well pleased.