Hot Item (Hot Zone 3)

“So tell me about your PR agency,” he said when they’d moved on to just sipping their coffee.

She enjoyed talking about her job, which inevitably entailed discussing her family, and she dove into the subject. “My uncle started a sports agency called The Hot Zone years ago, way before my sisters and I came to live with him.”

“I’m sorry about your parents,” he said somberly. “Riley’s told me your history.”

“Thank you,” she murmured.

She was used to the comment. It was the revelation that Riley had informed the senator about her family that surprised Sophie. Had Riley passed on the information in preparation for her visit here—or for other, more personal reasons? Did he want his stepfather to know about Sophie as a person Riley cared for? she wondered.

She shivered and paused for a large sip of her hot coffee.

Senator Nash nodded, encouraging her to continue when she was ready.

“Anyway, after Annabelle—the oldest sister—graduated from business school, she suggested the idea of starting up a PR firm as a subsidiary of the sports agency. Uncle Yank loved the notion. He saw it as a way of continuing to care for his athletes once their playing days came to an end.”

“In what way?” he asked.

Sophie sensed true interest, not forced conversation, so she indulged in a longer explanation. “If a client signs with both Uncle Yank as his agent and The Hot Zone PR firm, we can negotiate not only big-money endorsements while an athlete is in their prime, but also lay the groundwork in preparation for the future. Whether they’re injured a year into a big-money contract and need a source of income, or whether they play out a successful career, we can help them plan for both.”

“Very interesting,” he said, nodding.

Sophie blushed. “I’m sorry. I tend to get carried away when I start talking about something I’m interested in.”

“No need to apologize. Riley has said he finds your knowledge on all subjects fascinating and I tend to agree.”

She glanced into her now-empty cup. No way would she explain the need that drove her to overlearn about everything. Her control issues were too personal.

“So do you have anything to do with the agency side of the business or are you exclusively involved in PR?” he asked.

“I do PR for the most part, but we have a weekly meeting of partners only, so everyone’s up to speed on the key clients and issues. That way nobody’s ever left high and dry in an emergency,” she said, proud of the system they’d made work over the years.

He leaned back in his chair and nodded approvingly. “Although I’m in politics, I do consider myself business savvy and I think that’s a smart way to run things. So you’re close with Spencer Atkins?”

Sophie suspected Riley’s stepfather had been gradually leading to this moment. By questioning her about her business, he’d been able to work his way around to Spencer without being obvious. Well, without being too obvious. She was definitely onto him.

She glanced down, uncomfortable with the subject of Riley’s real father, while buying herself time to think.

“Riley told me he’s trusted you with the information,” the senator said. Reaching out, he patted Sophie’s hand. “If my son trusts you, so do I. I’m sure you realize how sensitive this is. Mississippi isn’t known as part of the Bible Belt for no reason.”

Now Sophie really was uncomfortable. “Senator—”

“Please call me Harlan.”

Either he was as honest and good as Riley believed or he was the ultimate politician. She wanted to believe the former and operated under the assumption that she could trust his word. “Harlan, Spencer’s been like a part of my family for as long as I can remember.”

“So you knew about his…” He loosened his tie and cleared his throat.

“Sexual orientation?” She shook her head. “No, I didn’t. No one in my family knew. But he’s entitled to his privacy,” she said defensively.

“No one agrees more than I do. It’s a shame the way someone chose to repeat what they’d discovered. Whoever it was probably made a huge amount of cash by revealing the truth.”

Sophie frowned. “As much as I know that’s the way of the world, it makes me sick.”

“I know. Now my biggest concern is keeping the news quiet.”

She toyed with the napkin in her lap. Finally she glanced up, deciding to jump into the conversation all the way. “I understand how sensitive a subject gay rights is, but why would your constituents hold Spencer’s affiliation against you? You aren’t even related by blood!” Sophie hated how bigoted individuals could affect so many innocent people’s lives.

The senator rose and paced the floor. “I married the man’s wife when she was pregnant with his child. I raised the man’s son. The implication will be that I condone his lifestyle.”