Hot Item (Hot Zone 3)

“Women.” Damian Fuller gestured to the two blondes making a spectacle of themselves.

Riley nodded. “I’m—”

“Riley Nash, NY Giants. I think I’ve heard of you.” Damian laughed.

Riley nodded. “Same here, Fuller. Good to meet you in person.” He shook the other man’s hand.

Damian studied Riley for a moment, not hard to do when the sisters were preoccupied with each other. “Mind if I give you a piece of advice?”

Riley shru

gged. “Can’t hurt.”

“The first thing is, don’t bother trying to step in between the sisters. Not now. Not ever.”

Riley raised an eyebrow. “In other words, grab my bag and call it a night?”

Damian nodded. “Sophie’s tough because she’s had to be. Middle-sister syndrome along with the same fear they all share of losing someone they fall in love with.” The other man slapped Riley on the back.

“Hey, it’s not like she’s professed her love to me,” Riley clarified.

Damian shrugged. “You’re obviously in deep with her and the only way to deal is to give her enough space to realize what she’s missing. Otherwise she’ll keep pushing you away and never be forced to look at herself in the mirror.”

Riley hefted his bag off the conveyor. “Did you become a shrink since retiring?”

“Nah. I just became part of the Jordan family. A guy learns about all the sisters real quick that way. And speaking of being part of the family—” Damian led Riley a short distance away from where Sophie and Micki were chatting, completely oblivious to the men.

“Yeah?” he asked, anxious to get home.

“Sophie’s my sister-in-law and that makes her family. So if you aren’t serious, get the hell out and don’t come back. Because if I see you again, I’m going to assume you mean business.”

Riley rolled his stiff shoulders back, stretching his tight muscles. “In other words, hurt her and I answer to you?”

“Something like that.”

Considering the shape he was currently in, Riley wasn’t worried. Not to mention the fact that he and Damian were in complete agreement where Sophie was concerned. “I only want her happiness,” he felt compelled to tell Sophie’s brother-in-law.

“Good. Then I won’t have to kick your ass,” Damian said, laughing.

Riley grinned. “No, but if you wouldn’t mind knocking some sense into your sister-in-law, I’d be mighty obliged,” he said in a thick Mississippi drawl.

Then, without saying goodbye to Sophie or Micki, he tossed his duffel over his shoulder and left the airport. Leaving Sophie on her own as she obviously desired.

Besides, if Damian was wrong and his absence didn’t make Sophie’s heart grow fonder, Riley would just turn around and kick the other man’s ass.

A FEW DAYS AFTER Sophie’s return, the partners gathered in the boardroom. Uncle Yank glanced around, and obviously satisfied, began to call their meeting to order. “The weekly meeting of The Hot Zone—”

Spencer cleared his throat loudly.

Uncle Yank frowned but got the message and started over. “The weekly meeting of Athletes Only and The Hot Zone will now come to order.” Uncle Yank rapped his gavel, given to him by Judge Judy, on the table with such glee that Sophie jumped in her seat.

He lived for this gig, Sophie thought.

“The secretary should note that all partners are present and accounted for.” His gaze settled on Lola, who sat next to him, doodling but not taking notes.

“I said, the secretary should note that all partners are present and accounted for.” He nudged his wife with his elbow. “Lola, honey, you’re the secretary. That means you take the notes.”

“That’s what I’m doing. Or don’t you hear my pen moving on the paper? I thought you told me that when the sight goes, the other senses get heightened?” Lola asked too sweetly.