Hot Item (Hot Zone 3)

He hated to do this to her, but he had no choice. “Sophie?”

“Yes?”

“I have no freaking clue what you’re trying to tell me. Okay, I take that back. I have an idea, but if I’m wrong, I don’t think I could handle it.” It being having his heart squashed by her again. He didn’t see a reason to define it graphically for her.

He stopped in his tracks in the middle of the dance floor. He already held her hands in his and he brought them up to his chest, near his heart. “I get all the why’s about how you’re feeling. Now you have to tell me what you’re feeling. You have to say it and mean it.”

Her eyes opened wide and she nodded.

He took a risk and continued. “Fear’s okay. I’m afraid before every game I play. Just don’t tell anyone,” he said, forcing a laugh when he felt anything but lighthearted. “So fear’s okay, but giving in to it isn’t.” He squeezed her hands tighter, hoping to instill her with the courage he already sensed she possessed.

“My family isn’t enough for me anymore. They’re married and happy and settled…and I’m not.” She bit down on her glossed lips. “My sisters faced their fear of losing someone they loved and took the ultimate risk. What I’m saying is, I’m ready to take that risk, too.”

He gave her an encouraging nod. Meanwhile his heart pounded hard in his chest and a pain gnawed at his gut while he waited. For her.

Slowly, she pulled her hands out of his and cupped her palms around his face. “I know I’ve put you through hell and that you’ve been a major grump, to use Lizzie’s words.” A smile tugged at her lips. “And I’m sorry for that. But I can’t fit you into any mold and that scares me.”

“You can’t control me by reading a book. You can’t guarantee that I won’t get sick or injured or worse one day. Life is a risk.”

She nodded. “I realize that now. And I want to take that risk with you because I love you.”

“Say that again,” he said, the pain in his chest and stomach slowly easing.

“I love you,” she said on a hoarse whisper. “And I want to spend my life with you.”

He knew the courage she’d needed to take this step and he planned to make sure she never regretted it. He reacted on instinct, picking her up and twirling her around.

“Now I’m going to make you a promise you can count on, because it’s within my control,” he said, letting her down onto her feet.

“What’s that?” she asked, grinning from ear to ear. Obviously she approved of his reaction.

“I will never leave you and I will never consciously do anything to hurt you.”

Sophie nodded, her throat full, unable to believe this rebel man was hers and hers alone. “I’m sorry it took me so long to come around.”

“Who am I to criticize someone doing something their own way?” he asked, laughing.

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nbsp; “Hey, I found this girlie hangin’ around outside.” Uncle Yank strode up to them, Lizzie in tow. “I know she belongs to you,” he said, poking Riley in the chest. “What kind of parent leaves his kid alone while he hits on a woman in the other room?”

Lizzie’s eyes grew wider. “Is that what you were doing?” she asked.

Sophie rolled her eyes. “Uncle Yank—” Not in front of the child, she almost said before catching herself and shutting up.

Riley grasped Sophie’s hand in his. “Let me handle him.”

“By all means.” Smiling, Sophie stepped back so the two men could tangle.

Riley looked at Lizzie and winked before turning to the older man. “Yank, you’ve been my agent for my entire career and we’ve always gotten along well,” Riley began.

Uncle Yank raised one bushy eyebrow. “Your point?” he asked gruffly, still in protective guardian mode.

“I’m hoping we can get along equally well if you’re my uncle-in-law,” Riley said.

The older man’s mouth opened then shut again. Apparently he’d rendered Yank Morgan speechless—not an easy feat. Considering Sophie was stunned at the comment herself, she could understand her uncle’s reaction.

“In-law?” Sophie asked, wanting to make sure she understood exactly what Riley was saying.