He didn’t take offense. She’d never recognized that he worked out as hard on the off season, if not harder, never taking good health or good shape for granted. “I’m fine but I have to take an unexpected business trip.”
Lisa didn’t know Spencer Atkins was his father and if he hadn’t revealed the secret during their brief marriage, he sure as hell wasn’t about to spill his guts now. “Can you tell Lizzie I’m sorry and I’ll make it up to her?”
“You can tell her yourself since she’s home with a stomach virus. We would’ve called you today and canceled anyway. She’s going to need to rest tomorrow, too. Hang on. Elizabeth,” she screamed, probably over the blare of music from his daughter’s bedroom. “Your father’s on the phone.”
“Hello?” a miserable-sounding Elizabeth said after picking up another receiver.
“Hi, Lizzie baby, how are you doing?”
She groaned. “I’ve been barfing my guts up all morning,” she said on a whine.
“Aww, jeez. I’m sorry. But I’m sure you’ll be back to your old self in no time.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, at least I don’t feel as bad telling you I have to be out of town this weekend.”
“But…but…” A huge pause followed. “You said we could have PF Chang’s. You promised!”
He couldn’t help it. He burst out laughing. “Honey, if you could eat Chinese food anytime soon, I’d make a point to stay home. Don’t pick a fight just to have an argument. I’ll take you out for dinner as soon as I get back. I promise. I’ll even bring you back a surprise.”
She remained silent, a deliberate, guilt-inducing silence.
“I’ll call you and see how you’re feeling, okay?” Not expecting a reply, he added, “Be good and remember when you start to eat, do it in small doses and do it smart.”
More silence followed. The kid had made guilt into an art form, Riley thought. “Feel better, baby.”
“I’m not a baby,” she muttered.
Maybe not but he’d gotten a reply out of her, which had been his goal. He chuckled and heard the click in his ear, indicating she’d hung up.
“You spoil her,” Lisa said just as he’d been about to put down the phone.
“I didn’t realize you’d stayed on the extension.”
“Let’s just say I was curious how you’d handle her.”
A quick glance at the clock told him he had to get moving or risk missing his flight, but he couldn’t let this pass. “I don’t need you eavesdropping on me,” he said through gritted teeth.
“If you upset her, she’s just going to take it out on Ted and me,” she said.
Ted had been Elizabeth’s stepfather for the last seven years. For someone who wasn’t interested in sports, he was a nice enough guy. Unfortunately he also had a kid from a prior marriage and he was much stricter than Riley. He didn’t approve of the gifts and extras Riley bought his daughter, which probably explained Lisa’s listening in. But it didn’t excuse it.
“I’ve got to run, but do me a favor? Have some faith in me or soon we’ll be at each other’s throats.”
Lisa cleared her throat. “I’m sorry I listened in. But-”
“I’ve got to go.”
“Just one more quick thing. Do
He rolled his eyes. “Bye.” He chose to ignore her warning. Elizabeth was his daughter and he’d buy her anything he damn well pleased.
CHAPTER THREE
SOPHIE’S HEAD POUNDED as she exited the cab at the airport. The pain in her temple had nothing to do with Spencer and everything to do with her traveling companion.
She had enough on her mind without having to deal with the constant distraction Riley would provide and she’d called him in a last-minute attempt to discourage him from joining her, but the man insisted on being there the minute she found his father. Assuming she even tracked Spencer down. Sophie had her doubts.
She’d tossed and turned all night, sleepless over the thought of being so close to Riley on the flight and on their trip. She was too attracted to him for it to be healthy, Sophie thought.
As the middle sibling, she created her own sense of order and followed a path she herself dictated. She could attract a man’s attention and hold it, but she’d only do that for the right sort of man. A man she could understand and control. Accountants, executives, people who understood schedules and did the expected. Riley was the lone bullet in Russian roulette. She never knew when to expect him to hit or what would happen when he did.
She glanced at her watch once more. Just because she didn’t see him now didn’t mean he wasn’t here. They’d agreed to meet at the gate. Sophie passed through security quickly and easily. She had the routine down pat. She wore slip-on shoes, no belt or heavy jewelry that might beep when she passed through the metal detectors and slow her trip. Before she even neared the scanners she methodically pulled out her laptop and cell phone, then slipped off her jacket as well.
She settled into a chair by the gate an hour prior to takeoff just as the airlines always instructed. By the time they called for first-class preboarding, Riley still hadn’t arrived. Sophie’s stomach cramped.
Frustrated and annoyed by his lack of consideration, she gathered her things and settled into her seat on the plane. Telling herself she didn’t care that he’d stood her up, she pulled out her travel-size pillow and placed it behind her head, settling in for the two and a half hour flight.
Seconds before the cabin doors closed, Riley made his entrance. Oblivious to how late he was, he strode onto the plane. As if on cue, a female flight attendant ushered him to his seat as if he was a visiting dignitary. The rest of the women attendants then fawned over the handsome football star, asking for his autograph and fluffing his pillow and covering his legs with a blanket. Even the pilots took time out of the cockpit to meet him.
Riley Nash didn’t have to worry about following the rules other people lived by, and with each favor bestowed upon him, Sophie would bet he lost more of the manners and sense of courtesy others deserved. All he had to do was charm everyone around him and all was forgiven.
She couldn’t forget that easily. All this scene did was reinforce what Sophie already knew: a man like Riley flirted as easily as a candy man bestowed treats to children. All the times he’d sought Sophie out at the office, it had been to feed his ego, not because he had some kind of interest in her. And she admitted to herself now, that had been the little hope she’d held on to deep in her heart. That the great Riley Nash had some secret crush on her the same way she had on him.
Fat chance. His flirting with the flight attendants showed her that all the times he’d come on to her, it’d been an act. Just Riley Nash, football star, looking for more attention. Well, he wouldn’t receive any more special treatment from her, she decided, and after takeoff, Sophie buried herself in a book and outwardly ignored her traveling companion.
Inwardly, she was completely aware of him. Once again, it didn’t matter that her emotions were bruised or that her mind warned her to steer clear. Every feminine instinct she possessed was on high alert. Riley’s body was big and snug in the next seat and his arm constantly brushed against hers, disturbing her peace. More than once she glanced over to see if he’d noticed the sparks and heat she felt so strongly. Not a flicker of emotion showed in his expression. There was not a hint of a reaction to touching her, damn the man.
And she damned herself for wanting anything from him at all. She shut her book and closed her eyes but the simmering awareness remained, made more potent by his alluring cologne. She sighed and shifted in her seat, trying to get more comfortable.
“Can I get you anything to drink?” a female voice asked.
The flight attendant’s question was a welcome distraction. “Red wine, please,” she said.
“Another Scotch, thanks.” Riley winked at the woman who flushed pink.
“Be right back,” she promised, placing a hand on his shoulder and letting it linger before striding down the aisle.
