Hot Item (Hot Zone 3)

“Oh gross,” he muttered.

“Anyway, she was skinny-dipping and Rose got upset and went in after her to pull her out. She claimed all she really wanted to do was get her sister wrapped in a towel and sobered up.”

“But?”

“But when she jumped in after her, her bathing-suit top fell off and that’s when the cops arrived and arrested them for indecent exposure,” Sophie finally finished, and opened her eyes to see how Riley had taken the news.

Not well if his flushed cheeks were any indication. “And the Florida cops have never heard of issuing a warning to a bunch of stupid people?” he asked.

Sophie winced. She’d thought the same thing. “Apparently it wasn’t the first time.” Before he could work himself up further, she reached for his hand. “I’ve got to go bail them out. Amy can’t do it because she’s laid up with a migraine and can’t move. Why don’t you wait here—”

Riley groaned. “I’m coming with you,” he said, obviously resigned to his fate.

RILEY HAD SEEN his share of precincts. He’d bailed high-school and college buddies out of county jails after juvenile pranks and drunken brawls. But he’d never had to rescue a relative from their own blatant stupidity.

A relative he couldn’t afford to claim as his, yet he also couldn’t ignore the sense of responsibility he felt for the older women. Blood was one hell of a motivator, he thought as he entered the police station with Sophie by his side.

Sophie. Now there was another complication in his life. He’d hoped having sex with her would finally get her out of his system. After all, that was the way it usually worked. Sex, some good times, some more sex and Riley and his woman of the moment went their separate ways. Once his marriage had ended, he’d never had the desire to stay in a long-term relationship and he’d never thought to give another one a try.

Thanks to a few psych classes in college and a couple of sessions with a shrink, he also knew why. Spencer had rejected him despite his best efforts to prove himself and as a result, deep down, the great Riley Nash believed he wasn’t worthy of love and acceptance.

“What can I do for you folks?” the desk sergeant asked as they approached.

“We’d like to post bail,” Sophie said.

“For Darla Atkins and her sister, Rose.” Riley realized they didn’t know what last name Rose went by.

The burly man behind the metal desk leaned back in his chair. “A dollar short and a few minutes late,” he said, laughing. “Somebody beat you to it.”

“Who?” Sophie asked.

But even before he turned around, Riley already knew. His stomach clenched and nausea washed over him, but he straightened his shoulders as he turned to see his father.

“The ladies should be out in a few minutes,” the man behind the desk said. “You realize we had to teach them a lesson, Mr. Atkins.”

Spencer nodded. “Just don’t count on it sticking, Joe.”

“You’ve got your hands full with those two,” the younger man conceded, then turned his attention back to the ringing phone and the paperwork on his desk.

Riley stared at Spencer, acutely aware of Sophie standing behind him. After days of worry, he had no doubt she wanted to hug Spencer and then give him hell for causing her such concern. Instead she stood back, giving him time and space with his old man.

He turned to him now. Instead of demanding answers to a litany of questions as he’d always imagined he’d wish to do, Riley found he just wanted to speak his mind and get the hell out. “So tell me how it is you sort out your priorities,” Riley said, speaking without polite preliminaries. “You’ve always ignored me, but how the hell do you justify taking off on your business and leaving Sophie to handle your mess?”

Riley held up a hand to forestall Spencer from answering before he finished. “Yet you show up now to bail your rowdy sisters out of jail as if you haven’t been MIA for days?” Riley shook his head in disgust.

Spencer bowed his head. “I don’t expect you to understand.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his expensive trousers.

“Riley, let’s give him a chance to explain,” Sophie said, softly. She reached out and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Too bad he was past being comforted.

“You and I have a lot to talk about,” Spencer said to Riley. “Too much to cover right now.”

Riley stared into hazel eyes so like his own they unnerved him. “Don’t worry. I don’t expect anything from you. Not anymore. So give whatever time you have right now to Sophie. Just one favor though.” He forced out the word for his mother and stepfather’s sake.

“Anything.”

Riley scowled, but stepped closer so no one would hear. “Since you never bothered to claim or acknowledge me when I needed you to, don’t bother doing it now. My mother, father and his campaign will thank you.”