Hot Item (Hot Zone 3)

Annabelle rolled her eyes. “Oh, don’t boost his ego. He already thinks he’s the stud of the night.” But it was obvious by the way she devoured her husband with her eyes that Annabelle agreed with Sophie’s assessment.

Vaughn tipped his head to one side. “You mean I’m not?”

Sophie chuckled once more. “Where’s my sweet little niece?” she asked.

“You didn’t really think I’d turn down a kid-free night out on the town, did you?” Annabelle asked, grinning.

Sophie shook her head. “No, you’re a normal mother who needs a break.”

“But who’s called home every hour on the hour,” Vaughn said.

Annabelle shrugged off her husband’s words. “Like you’re any better? The sitter told me you’ve been calling in between my check-ins.”

He flushed guiltily.

“Hi, guys.” Micki joined them, rescuing Vaughn from further embarrassment. “What are you doing huddling in a corner? We should be mingling!”

“My wife, the people person.” Micki’s husband, Damian, stepped up behind her and slid his arms around her waist, pulling her close.

Vaughn glanced at the two. “Newlyweds,” he said, and groaned.

“Don’t tell me you have a problem with public displays of affection?” Micki teased as her brother-in-law absently rubbed his own wife’s back with one hand.

“None at all when I’m the one involved. It’s watching other people do it that turns my stomach.” Vaughn laughed.

Damian glanced at the women in the family, his attention lingering for a moment on each. “You ladies are looking gorgeous tonight.” He nodded approvingly, his stare settling on Sophie. “You’re looking particularly hot.”

“Oh, brother.” Micki laughed.

So did Sophie. “You always forget there’s no more need to charm me, Fuller. I finally decided I like you even if you are a ballplayer.”

Micki patted her husband’s arm. “He can’t help himself. He sees a beautiful woman and he has to react.”

Damian shook his head. “Not since I met you, babe.” He pulled Micki tighter against him.

Sophie sighed and tried not to focus on the fact that she was the odd woman out in this sea of couples. They only needed Uncle Yank and Lola to make the unit complete, but those two were due to have their own special entrance in a few minutes.

Looking past her sisters, she scanned the room and she caught sight of Riley. Even surrounded by other men in formal attire, Riley Nash stood out. He was devastatingly handsome in a tuxedo—as well as out of it, as she remembered all too well.

He appeared happy and relaxed, flanked on one side by his daughter, Lizzie, and on the other by his father. His real father. Riley and Spencer appeared to be having a civil conversation near the bar. An actual smile lifted Riley’s lips into his trademark heart-stopping grin.

She felt her stomach flip, unnerved at seeing him for the first time since their conversation in his apartment. She recalled that moment as more like a monologue than a conversation, and she still hadn’t mentally recovered from all he’d had to say to her that night.

Yet here he was, apparently over the scandal of his real parent being revealed, and making inroads with the man, whom he’d sworn he would keep at arm’s length. My, how things had changed, she thought. Riley was clearly giving Spencer a chance.

Something she hadn’t been willing to do for Riley, himself. He’d said that she was so afraid of the things she couldn’t control that she would risk walking away from him first, before he walked away or left her. When she’d run away, she’d backed up his claim. By being here tonight and socializing with Spencer, Riley was, in sports terms, one-upping her.

He was showing her up by be

ing brave. He was the ultimate risk taker and the one person Sophie couldn’t predict or control. Just like she couldn’t control her love for him, and that love still surrounded her, making the air she breathed so heavy and thick that she couldn’t inhale easily.

She needed space, not just from Riley but from the happy couples surrounding her. “Excuse me,” she said to her sisters, who were already involved in other conversations.

Sophie lifted the hem of her dress and headed for the ladies’ room located outside the ballroom doors. No sooner had she entered the empty powder-room area and begun to rummage through her purse for lip gloss, than the door opened wide and someone stepped through.

Sophie glanced into the mirror and saw Riley’s daughter staring back. “Hi, Lizzie,” Sophie said immediately, hoping to break the ice that had still remained between them since last time they were together.

“Hi.” A tentative smile curled the girl’s lips, surprising Sophie.