Hot Item

Until he heard someone call Sophie’s name. He turned and saw her sister Micki and her husband, retired baseball player Damian Fuller.

“I’m sure I told you I’d take you home,” Riley said before Micki reached them.

Sophie didn’t look at him. “I didn’t want to put you out so I called my sister.”

“So I see.” And he didn’t miss the irony.

When Sophie had insisted he act like Lizzie’s parent instead of her friend, Riley had used her words as an excuse to pull away. Now, when he took her advice and laid down the law with his daughter, acting like the parent Sophie had wanted him to be, she pulled away from him.

And Riley saw it as the excuse he knew it to be. Unfortunately he had no time to call Sophie on it, because Micki ran to the luggage carousel and threw her arms around Sophie, hugging her hard.

“It’s been so long!” Micki exclaimed.

Sophie hugged her sister back, laughing and grinning in a way Riley hadn’t seen-ever. This was the Sophie he’d always imagined, the warm, loving woman who had everything she wanted and needed in her life. Except, her sisters were married and Sophie was alone.

Riley was right. She needed him, too. She just didn’t know it yet.

“Two weeks and you and Damian deserved every last minute. But I am so glad you’re home.” Sophie pulled her sister tight once more.

“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 shrugged. “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.

Uh-oh. Sophie and her sisters shared amused glances. Obviously husband and wife were arguing again, which, considering the parties involved were Yank and Lola, wasn’t a great surprise, nor was it a cause for worry. It was status quo.

“You’re scribblin’ circles, honey,” he said through gritted teeth.

Lola glanced up from her paper. “I wouldn’t have thought you could see the difference, dear.”

“Oh Lord. Are we going to witness a family squabble?” Spencer asked.

Sophie chuckled. “As if you didn’t know what it was like to be a part of this clan.”

“What in the world is going on now?” Annabelle asked.

Lola placed her pen down on her pad. “I came home early yesterday and found your uncle making himself a tuna-fish sandwich.”

Everyone waited for the punch line.

“The tuna was in a Tupperware container in the fridge. I don’t need my full peepers to do that.” Yank defended himself, but the color high on his cheekbones said there was more.

“You were cutting a tomato with a serrated knife,” Lola said, her voice rising.

Yank exhaled a frustrated groan. “I’m not a child who needs his food cut up for him.”

“And I don’t intend to be married to a nine-fingered mutant pain in the ass. You push things too far, Yank Morgan. I know you. You’d cut off one finger at a time if it meant keeping your independence.” Lola gripped her pen tighter in her hand.

“I’m fine. It was just a little nick.” He held up the injured digit. His middle finger stuck straight up in the air, flipping the bird to everyone at the table.

Everyone, with the exception of Lola, snickered at the sight. The sad truth was that Lola had every right to be concerned, but as usual, Uncle Yank managed to turn the situation into a circus.

“I need the afternoon off,” Lola announced.

Spencer cleared his throat. “I don’t see a problem.”

“What for?” Yank demanded to know.

She met his gaze, a smug smile on her lips.

Sophie braced herself for whatever the other woman had in mind.

“I plan to go on over to Toys ’R’ Us. I’m going to purchase those babyproof locks so I can secure the drawers and cabinets,” she said to her husband.

“Oh no,” Micki muttered.

“Here we go,” Sophie agreed.

Uncle Yank rose from his chair. “The hell you will. You can’t lock me out of my own kitchen.”

Lola gathered her papers and stood, too. “Just watch me, you old coot. Someone has to protect you from