“Riley’s a good match for Sophie,” Spencer said. “I saw them together in Florida and they definitely clicked.” And Spencer would love to see Riley with a woman as loving as Sophie.
Yank bolted upright from his chair, faster than he’d moved in ages. He pulled Spencer’s head against his chest and kissed him square on the crown. “You are the best friend a guy could have. Lola!” he bellowed.
Spencer rolled his eyes toward the ceiling, then smoothed his hair with his hand.
“What’s wrong? Who’s sick? Do you need an ambulance?” Lola practically skidded to a halt as she ran into the room.
“Spencer said Riley’s a perfect match for Sophie. How do you like that?” Yank asked proudly.
Lola reached for a newspaper left lying on the table, rolled it and smacked Yank on the top of his head. “You screamed so loud I thought someone had a heart attack!”
“Someone nearly did. When I heard the news, I knew we had the answer to all of our problems.”
“Oh good Lord. Remind me why I married you again?”
Spencer snickered.
Yank ignored him. “Lola, baby, you eloped with me and when you did, I promised you a big old party when we returned, remember?”
She visibly inhaled, searching for a way to calm down. “And what does that have to do with Sophie and Riley? Because I know you, Yank Morgan, and you have an agenda. You always do,” she said, calmer and obviously resigned.
After years with Yank, she’d perfected dealing with him, Spencer thought. He envied them the easy give and take of their relationship. Sometimes he even wondered now that he wasn’t hiding anything, if he’d find a companion of his own.
“Once your aunt’s settled, I want you to plan our party. We can even renew our vows in front of friends and family like we talked about on the ship. Spare no expense and throw a huge bash,” he said, waving his arms in enthusiasm.
“And?” Lola prodded. “Get to the real point.”
“It’s obvious. Get Sophie involved in the planning. Give her a wedding and some romance to focus on instead of all the bad stuff happening around here. Just make Sophie itch for happily ever after. That’s not so hard, is it?”
“No, Yank. It’s not hard at all. But I don’t think Sophie’s going to appreciate being manipulated.” Lola propped her hands on her hips.
Spencer had watched the byplay without saying a word. Until now. “She’s got a point. And the girl’s smart, Yank. She’s going to know something’s up.”
“Only if Lola let’s on. Which she won’t because she doesn’t want Sophie upset. So, Lola, you have your instructions. Spencer and I will handle the rest.”
“Oh, swell. The two great minds of the Western World teaming up to matchmake. We already had a floral shop in this office and a break-in. I wonder what can happen next?”
Spencer narrowed his eyes. “Oh please don’t group me in with his shenanigans.”
Yank waved them away with a dismissive hand. “I meant
Spencer rose, his muscles suddenly stiff, his heart suddenly hurting. “I think this is where I make my exit,” he said, trying to sound light when he felt weighted down.
“Spencer, wait,” Lola said, her hand on his shoulder, stopping him from walking out. “Why can’t you make peace with Riley? Start over?”
He inhaled deeply. “Because he asked me to stay the hell away. And since I’ve never done anything he wanted during his childhood, it’s the least I can do for him now.”
Staying away from Riley had never been as easy or as simple as his son obviously believed. But doing so now that they’d had their first face-to-face confrontation, now that Spencer had seen the man Riley had become, was damn near impossible.
And he lived with regret every single day of his life.
SOPHIE CANCELED a photo shoot for a sick client. She returned some phone calls and in between she arranged a
But she couldn’t ignore the truth. And it only reminded her that she had no control over anything in her life. She headed to her private bathroom, hoping if she splashed cold water on her face she’d feel better.
After running the water for a while, she let the icy stream hit her wrists. Her body temperature cooled and she immediately felt better. She patted her face with a water-dampened towel, then rolled her neck from side to side, stretching her stiff muscles.
She wished she could visit with Annabelle to escape this nightmare, but her sister was going away for the weekend. Though she could stay at Annabelle’s house upstate anyway, she hated to run away.
Besides, Riley’s note had asked her not to make plans and she wanted to see what he had in mind for them. She still promised herself she’d keep her walls high, but she knew better than to think he’d leave her alone while she was being targeted. And, she admitted, she didn’t have the strength to turn him away just now.
She reached her arms above her head, laced her fingers together and stretched the way she’d learned in yoga class. Come to think of it, maybe going to another yoga class would calm her nerves.
She tipped her head upward and opened her eyes. What looked like the lens of a video camera stared back at her from the lighting in the ceiling.
She screamed.
RILEY HAD BEEN at the gym near Athletes Only when Yank called and left a message on his voice mail demanding Riley meet him at the office ASAP. Riley had been in Yank Morgan’s office long before he heard Sophie’s shriek. He turned and ran, reaching her office half a step before everyone else at A.O. He didn’t see her immediately and spun to find her standing inside the small bathroom.
“Who died?” Yank came to a halt behind Riley, stopping himself by grabbing onto the younger man’s shoulders.
Sophie blushed, her soft skin turning a flattering shade of pink. “Everything’s okay. I’m okay. I’m sorry I scared everyone.”
“You heard her. She’s fine. Everyone get back to work.” Yank waved his hands, shooing everyone away.
Riley waited until everyone except Yank had taken off. “What’s wrong?” he asked Sophie.
“That is wrong.” She pointed to the ceiling.
He looked up. A camera lens had been not so subtly hidden in between the overhead lighting.
“What is it? What’s up there?” Yank squinted at the ceiling.
“It looks like a camera lens. Like the ones they put in department stores,” Riley explained. “Get me a chair, will you, Sophie?”
She nodded and walked out, then returned from the other room, rolling her desk chair in front of her. “Here you go.”
She held the wheeled chair steady while he climbed up on it.
“You know that’s how I broke my hip,” Yank said.
“Leave him alone,” Sophie chided.
Riley tried not to laugh.
“All I meant was that he should be careful or else he’ll end up ass down like I did.”
Riley grinned. “Thanks for the warning.” He carefully pulled the tiny round lens, which protruded from between the light grating, expecting it to be connected by wiring. Instead the lens pulled right out in his hand.
“It’s not connected to anything.” He jumped down to the floor.
Sophie stepped closer.
Her luscious scent assaulted his senses immediately. It had been just one day since he’d seen her last, but he’d gone to sleep imagining he smelled her fragrance beside him and he’d woken up reaching for her. Now she was here, inches away.
“I don’t understand,” she murmured.
