Hot Item (Hot Zone 3)

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.