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Obviously she’d hit a nerve.

“What about you? You’re the one who said he’s like family. What do you know about his sisters?”

“About as much as you.”

“In my experience, in Atkins’s world, family loyalty runs one way only.”

Sophie didn’t reply, because she wondered if Riley didn’t have a point. For all the years she and her sisters had known Spencer Atkins and for all the holidays he’d spent with her family, Sophie now understood they didn’t know the man at all.

She heard the anger in Riley’s voice and saw the rigid way he held his body as he drove. She studied his strong profile and could only imagine the tension brewing inside him.

“I guess we’re on this fishing expedition together.” She reached out and covered his fingers with hers.

He jerked in surprise but didn’t move his hand away. She didn’t have to wonder if his skin tingled as much as hers, if he was as affected as she. One glance at his lap answered that question. He wanted her, all right.

“We’re here. If you can tear your gaze away from my-”

“Okay!” She cut him off before he could phrase the words that would make her blush even more.

She scrambled out of the car and preceded him up the walk leading to a small patio home. The entire community was comprised of similarly styled houses painted in pastel pinks, yellows and blues. A warm breeze blew around her. There was a serenity to the community that Sophie wasn’t feeling at the moment and she hoped they’d find Spencer quickly so they could be on their way.

Riley jogged up beside her. “You know there’s nothing wrong with two people being attracted to one another.”

“There is when one of those people flirts with anyone in a skirt, which means the other one could be any woman for all it mattered. Oh, and especially when the two people are all wrong for one another.”

He chuckled, a masculine sound that said I know better. She hated that he found her feelings amusing.

Without warning, he tangled his fingers in her unruly, humidity-messed hair. The light tugging sensation was stimulating. She trembled despite her internal warnings to protect herself from his charm.

His lips turned upward in a grin. “You’re mistaken-not about the flirting, because I do enjoy that.”

She stiffened.

“But you’re by no means any woman. You’re unique, Sophie Jordan.” His voice deepened to a husky rasp. “And as for being wrong for each other, well, that depends whether you’re looking for sex or commitment, sweetheart.”

His words should have been like a bucket of cold water dumped over her. Instead the word sex reverberated inside her head. She also couldn’t help the pleasure she felt in knowing he’d considered her unique. When in her life had she been that?

But Riley had said she was special and at the idea of sex with him-sweaty bodies, hands everywhere and this big, gorgeous man filling her completely-she trembled all over.

Who cared if he was an athlete? Sophie thought.

She did. Or she should. Just like she should care that her business hinged on finding the man who might be inside this house. Shaking off thoughts of sex for now, she leveled Riley with what she hoped was her fiercest glare.

“Let’s see who’s home.” She strode up the steps and knocked. She’d figure out later what to do about this man who had her quivering and practically jumping him in the front yard.

Suddenly the door opened a crack. “Who’s there?” a female voice asked.

“Sophie Jordan. I-”

“Sophie Jordan who?” a female voice asked.

“Sophie Jordan, Spencer’s business partner and longtime friend.”

“Phooey. I was hoping you’d have a fun name we could play with. Like Ben.”

Sophie narrowed her gaze. “Ben? Why Ben?”

The door still didn’t open enough for her to see who was on the other side. “Because you’d say Ben who? And I’d say Ben there, done that.”

She shot Riley a glance over her shoulder and whispered, “Frannie said they were eccentric.”

Riley rolled his eyes. Just what he needed. A set of weirdo aunts in addition to a gay father who wouldn’t acknowledge his existence.

“Can we talk face-to-face?” Sophie asked. Her voice held no trace of her anxiety.

She hid her worries well, but he understood her concerns and would do his best to help ease them. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t enjoy his time with her while they were together. She was too easy to tease and, man, he enjoyed it when she blushed. All in all she was a distraction from the problems he was here to deal with and he knew he provided the same diversion for her.

Although he’d talked himself out of acting on his desire in the airplane bathroom earlier, there was no way he’d be able to keep his hands off her for long. If she looked at him with those blue eyes filled with yearning one more time, he’d say to hell with his good intentions-as long as she understood it would be just sex.

Suddenly the door opened wide, cutting off his thoughts. A woman with bright red hair, clashing hot-pink lipstick and 1970s blue eye shadow stared back and Riley had a sinking hunch he could count her among his long- lost relatives.

“Sophie, darling, I’m Darla Atkins, Spencer’s older sister. Of course you’d never know it by looking at me. Florida holds the secret to the fountain of youth. All this humidity provides moisture for the skin,” she said. “I’m so happy you’re here. Spencer has told us so much about you and your sisters.”

But from what Sophie had said, Riley knew that Spencer hadn’t told the Jordan sisters anything in return.

Darla pulled Sophie into an embrace that she welcomed awkwardly, patting the older woman on the back before stepping away and putting distance between them.

“And who is this handsome fellow?” Darla’s focus drifted past Sophie to Riley.

“Riley is-”

“Your paramour, of course! No need to explain. He’s such a handsome hunk, you’re a lucky woman, but then he’s a fortunate man to have such a beauty as you on his arm. Spencer’s filled me in on your accomplishments over the years. I know how bright you are. He’s proud of all three of you girls.” She paused, as if debating what to say next. “But he always thought you were special,” the other woman said, lowering her voice.

Riley tried not to laugh at her sudden whisper. It wasn’t as if Annabelle or Micki was anywhere near to hear the comparison.

Sophie reached out and grasped the other woman’s hand. “Thank you,” she said softly, her heart and all of her emotions bared in those two small words.

For the first time in years, he softened toward his biological father and all because of how he’d treated Sophie. Spencer’s instincts had been on target. He’d been right to single her out and give her the attention she obviously craved.

But warring with his unexpected admiration was an old childhood jealousy because Sophie and her sisters had received the love and approval Riley had always sought and failed to achieve. He forcibly reminded himself he was no longer that needy child, and it helped to ease his flash of pain.

“He’s not my paramour,” Sophie said in her haughtiest tone, her pert nose in the air.

Maybe it was her vehement denial. Or maybe it was how appalled she sounded by the notion of being linked to him, as if their recent truce and the lingering sexual tension didn’t exist. Riley’s ego, wounded first by Spencer’s lack of acknowledgment and then by Sophie’s blatant disregard, took over.

He stepped forward and slung his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. “Now, honey, didn’t we talk about you getting over this shyness? Of course we’re lovers and Ms. Atkins obviously has no issues with our relationship, so why hide it?”

Sophie turned her head to him, shooting daggers at him with her eyes. “Riley…” Her voice held a warning edge.

He raised an eyebrow, silently challenging her to deny the heat where their bodies touched and the pulse- pounding desire thrumming through them even at that moment.

Spencer’s sister, meanwhile, watched avidly.

“Ms. Atkins,” Sophie began.