Hot Item (Hot Zone 3)

Yank settled himself into the chair. He seemed more agile now than immediately after he’d broken his hip, but he was still more fragile than he had been before. Not that he’d admit it and not that Spencer would mention the fact. Yank was too damn proud for his own good.

“Are you feeling okay?” Spencer asked.

Yank slowly straightened in his seat. “I’m just fine.”

“Good. So we’re still on schedule for this weekend?” Spencer and Yank had planned on keeping John Cashman too busy to think about Miguel Cambias on this weekend before the draft. They’d wine him, dine him, arrange interviews for him and they’d be by his side all the way, giving him no time to fall under their opponent’s spell.

“We’re on, all right, but with everything that’s happened around here, I’m worried ’bout leaving Sophie alone.”

Spencer nodded in understanding. He’d thought about the same thing. “Send her to Annabelle’s for the weekend.”

“Annie’s going with Vaughn to speak at a college in Massachusetts.”

“Can Lola watch over her?”

Yank snickered. “Like Sophie would accept a babysitter? Besides I already suggested it, and Lola wants to do it, but her aunt’s in the hospital and she’s going to oversee her care until she moves to a rehab center.”

Spencer rubbed his palms against his eyes. “When did getting one damn guy through the draft become so difficult?”

“Since dirtbags like Cambias began sneaking around.”

“Well, we’ll show Cashman our proposal this weekend. I’ve got a draft of a five-year plan that includes salary and savings. He also needs to hire a financial advisor, because if he lets his father run his income the way he’s been running his life, chances are it’ll all go on moonshine before his first season’s out,” Spencer said, reciting what he’d been thinking since his last meeting with Cashman.

“That’s what happens when a kid’s mama dies too young. He ends up relying on the adult influence in his life and copying their habits, for better or for worse.” Yank’s eyes glazed over as he obviously withdrew into himself.

“You’re talking about you and the girls, aren’t you?” Spencer had been Yank’s closest friend since before he’d become their guardian. He’d seen what a solid job Yank had done with the “little women” as he’d called them. Spencer had also seen his friend struggle within himself to come to terms with the commitment. Yank couldn’t turn the girls out, but being responsible for them had scared him to death. So he’d pushed Lola away instead.

Heaven only knows why Lola had remained by his side all these years, but she had. Until she’d finally given him an ultimatum and even then Yank Morgan hadn’t come around and admitted he both needed and loved her. At least not right away. Yank wasn’t known as a stubborn bastard for no good reason, Spencer thought.

He met his friend’s gaze.

Yank scrubbed his hand over his unshaven face. “You’re lookin’ at me like you have me all figured out.”

Spencer grinned. “You think I don’t?”

“That still don’t change the fact that I’m worried about Sophie and not just because she needs someone to watch out for her.”

“Yank,” Spencer said, a clear warning in his tone. The other man had already caused Sophie enough trouble.

“I owe it to her to see she finds the right match.”

His tone was insistent and Spencer knew better than to think he’d talk him out of it. Still, he gave it one last shot. “I suppose it would be too much to hope that you’ve learned your lesson after your last attempt at matchmaking?”

“I haven’t decided yet,” Yank muttered.

Spencer figured it was only a matter of time before Yank came up with another crazy plan and he steeled himself for what lay ahead. He silently promised he’d guide Yank so he caused the least amount of damage to the niece he loved. Well, Spencer thought, at least he now had a focus beyond self-pity.

Yank frowned. “Don’t tell me you didn’t do the same thing when you hooked me up with Riley all those years ago. You looked out for your kid same as I want to look out for mine.”

Well, there he had it. The means to guide Yank and help Sophie. He’d be no better than Yank if he acted on the idea spinning around in his mind, but he couldn’t stop the words from flowing. Even if he knew he’d regret the admission to Yank.

“Riley’s a good match for Sophie,” Spencer said. “I saw them together in Florida and they definitely clicked.” And Spencer would love to see Riley with a woman as loving as Sophie.

Yank bolted upright from his chair, faster than he’d moved in ages. He pulled Spencer’s head against his chest and kissed him square on the crown. “You are the best friend a guy could have. Lola!” he bellowed.

Spencer rolled his eyes toward the ceiling, then smoothed his hair with his hand.

“What’s wrong? Who’s sick? Do you need an ambulance?” Lola practically skidded to a halt as she ran into the room.