Cindy wanted to trust Miguel, but how could she really know he was telling the truth?

“Cynthia?” he asked, his dark eyes meeting hers.

She was shaking as she replied. “I…I need time to think,” she said at last.

“That is too bad, because if the situation were reversed, I would believe in you. In us.” A muscle pulled at the side of his mouth, a sign he was holding back emotion.

“Miguel, please understand-”

“I understand you don’t know me as well as I thought you did. If you think I am capable of doing these things, hurting your friends…” He shook his head. “If you’ll excuse me, I have business to take care of. Legitimate business.” His voice had turned frosty, lacking the sensual warmth he normally reserved for her.

Confusion and pain overwhelmed her as she stepped back. Turning, she reached for the doorknob and let herself out. Not just out of his office, but likely out of his life.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER landing in Mississippi, Sophie checked her voice mail and discovered that she must have crossed paths with her sister, Micki, midair. Her sibling had landed in New York, home from her long honeymoon. With all the chaos at the office, Sophie had forgotten about her sibling’s return. She would call Micki later. She had other things to deal with now.

As much as Sophie appreciated Riley’s attempt to take her away from her problems, his daughter’s sullen greeting, which had been followed by a persistent scowl, told Sophie she was hardly in for an easy time this weekend. She also knew she was merely postponing dealing with whomever was tormenting her. But if it meant her uncle and Spencer could focus on the draft, she’d just have to get through this trip.

While she was here, she planned to make notes and work through who could possibly want to scare or even hurt her. As afraid as she was, Sophie was also angry that someone would try to rule her life by fear. She refused to be cowed by her so-called stalker. Like everything else, she’d deal with this by analyzing all possibilities.

Riley’s stepfather had sent a limousine to pick them up at the airport, and Sophie stared out the window, watching the passing scenery. And despite their moody teenage chaperone, Sophie couldn’t control her awareness to being so close to Riley. Every time she inhaled, his cologne teased her senses. She imagined she could feel the heat emanating from his body. But most unsettling was the indulgent, even tender way he looked at and spoke to his daughter. Sophie’s heart melted watching him play the role of father.

All of which cemented her fears of allowing herself to get too close to Riley. She’d have preferred to stay in a hotel, but Riley wouldn’t hear of it. He’d insisted that his parents had enough room for a small army and she wouldn’t be imposing.

Sophie glanced at Lizzie, who hadn’t taken her iPod headphones out of her ears since Sophie had met up with father and daughter at the airport. Sophie could hear the music blasting from across the car but doubted the teenager would appreciate a lecture on hearing loss, so she remained silent.

From the side, Lizzie looked like her father, possessing the same profile except with smaller, feminine features. She had long brown hair she’d flat-ironed straight and wore a hot-pink Juicy Couture sweat outfit, which sat low on her hips and hugged her still-developing curves.

Riley tiptoed around her mood, deferring to her rude behavior without comment. To his credit though, he didn’t try to excuse her attitude, for which Sophie was grateful. And from his unusual silence, she decided he wasn’t all that thrilled with the awkwardness hanging over them.

She hoped he’d think about doing something to deal with his daughter’s behavior. But hope was all she could do since she knew better than to criticize his parenting or step in the middle of his relationship with Lizzie. She silently promised and hoped she could keep her vow.

The car drove up to large black wrought-iron gates. The driver checked in and the massive doors slid open wide so they could drive through.

“Okay, ladies, we’re here,” Riley said as the car came to a stop.

Without waiting for the driver to hold the door, Sophie exited, stepping out into the Mississippi humidity, glad she’d opted for curls rather than any kind of sleek hairstyle that wouldn’t hold up in this weather.

Lizzie slid out from behind her and ran up the huge front lawn where a slender woman in navy slacks and a silk blouse waited on the front steps, then pulled her into a warm hug.

“Ready to meet the parents?” Riley winked at Sophie.

The gesture did little to ease the growing nerves in the pit of her stomach. “I really don’t belong here.”

He frowned. “You do, too. You’re my guest and they’re expecting you. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“Except the little fact that your daughter hates me,” she muttered as they started walking up the driveway.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, comforting her. “She doesn’t hate you. She hates sharing me.”

Sophie let out a laugh. “Pardon me for thinking there’s little difference.”

“Riley!” The woman walked down the steps and drew her son into her arms. “It’s been too long. I’ve missed you,” she said, sounding just like Sophie always imagined a mother should sound.

An unexpected swell of emotion rose in Sophie’s throat, emotion she should have been way beyond feeling. She was used to seeing little children and their mothers all over Manhattan and she’d passed the point where the sight would arouse feelings of loss and longing. She’d never watched two adults embrace and been hit with all she was still missing out on in her life. Until now.

Which said something about her connection to Riley, Sophie thought and shivered despite the sticky heat.

“You must be Sophia.” The elegant woman held out her hand and welcomed Sophie with a warm smile.

“My friends call me Sophie.”

“I’m Anne.”

Sophie inclined her head. “Thank you for having me for the weekend.”

“It’s not like you gave anyone a choice.” Lizzie stood behind her grandmother, leaning against the wooden front door, glaring at Sophie.

Sophie stiffened. She waited for someone, Riley’s mother or Riley himself, to react.

“Lizzie, go inside and let Marabel give you some milk and cookies.” Once the girl had turned and stomped inside, the older woman turned back to Sophie. “Maybe she’s tired from the trip.”

“Maybe she just has a smart mouth and I’ve had enough.” Riley walked around Sophie and up the steps to the front door. “It’s high time I had a talk with her.”

Sophie exhaled in relief.

“Riley, wait. Just give her some time to calm down. You can talk to her later,” Anne pleaded with her son.

Sophie had little doubt he’d give in, leaving her odd woman out around this family. A place she ought to remain, if she was smart.

Riley gritted his teeth at his mother’s unreasonable request. Until today, he hadn’t seen how badly behaved his daughter could actually be. Or maybe he hadn’t wanted to see. Until Lizzie had turned her anger on Sophie, Riley had been content to let her mouth off, telling himself he deserved her frustration because he no longer lived with her mother. And of course, because he was afraid of having no relationship with her, as he didn’t with Spencer Atkins.

He finally understood Sophie’s frustration with him in Florida and Lisa’s constant angst over his handling of their child. However, his mother saw Lizzie infrequently, and keeping the peace for a little while longer was a small price to pay for her happiness. Especially now, with the Spencer situation hanging over her.

He nodded, indulging his mother, but only for now. “I’ll show Sophie to her room. While she’s getting settled in, you and I can talk.”

Although he’d made peace with not finding out information about Spencer from the man himself, Riley had a lot of questions for his mother. Questions he’d waited to ask in person, so he could see her face and judge her reactions for himself.

“Anne, why don’t you show our guest to her room?” Senator Harlan Nash joined them on the front porch. “Riley and I can retire to the study and catch up.”

The senator posed his words as a suggestion, but Riley knew that tone and it indicated pure expectation. The man, in his navy power suit, white shirt and conservative red tie, was the epitome of a Washington power broker. Without a doubt, Senator Nash was on his way up in politics. Heaven help anyone who stood in his way, Riley thought.

“Still issuing commands, I see.” Riley laughed as he shook the man’s hand, then pulled him into a brief hug. “Some things never change.”

“Any reason they should?” the senator asked easily.

Riley grinned. “Not a one.” He glanced over, wondering how Sophie was handling all this family at once.

In her expression, he saw interest and understanding. He was glad. She was seeing the Nash family as they really were, and clearly she approved.

If only she felt the same about his daughter-and vice versa, he thought, frustrated. He’d just have to find the right time to bring the two women in his life together somehow.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to this lovely lady?” the senator asked.

Now there was a pleasurable task. “Senator Harlan Nash, meet Sophie Jordan.” Riley turned to Sophie. “Sophie, this is my father.”

The two shook hands and the next thing Riley knew, the senator had directed his mother and Sophie upstairs, while he closed Riley in the study with him. Unfortunately, Harlan received a phone call that took up an entire hour.

By the time Riley had finished reading the paper and decided his father being off the phone “in a minute” wasn’t happening, his mother had left the house with Sophie for a tour of the city. No sooner had Harlan exited his office than Lizzie had pleaded to be taken for ice cream, and Harlan had immediately agreed.