“Hello, Miguel,” she said to her uncle and Spencer’s number-one adversary. “What brings you to this neck of the woods?” The Cambias Agency was in the Bronx, close to where former President Bill Clinton had taken his new offices shortly after leaving the White House.

“May I?” He gestured to the empty seat.

To say no would be rude. “Of course.”

He joined her, sitting directly across the small table, where his gaze lingered on hers. When she’d met him at industry events, he’d always been polite and solicitous. Even so, he made her uncomfortable. Miguel Cambias always had an agenda, which made trust something she refused to give.

“I visited your offices to show support for my colleague,” he said, obviously referring to Spencer. “The gossip about him in the paper is unfortunate.”

Sophie raised an eyebrow, wondering if he’d come to show support or to revel in his opponent’s misfortune. “I didn’t think you read Liz Smith,” she said of the well-known New York gossip columnist.

“My secretary does, as do most people who want to keep up with the pulse of this town. Besides, the story is headline news. Surely you already know that.”

She did. She’d just been hoping that he’d slip with more information, like whether his clients were calling about the news, or worse, whether Spencer’s clients were inquiring about other representation. Not wanting to let on that she was concerned, she couldn’t ask.

“Since my secretary told you where to find me, you must also know Spencer’s taken the day off. I’ll be sure to relay your concern next time I see him.”

Miguel placed his hand over hers. “This can’t be easy for you or your uncle. I know how close you all are.”

Sophie slid her hand from beneath his and waved it dismissively through the air. “It’s not a problem for us or for Athletes Only. I can assure you of that.”

He glanced over her shoulder. “I think your lunch date is here.”

He rose from his seat at the same time Sophie looked up to see Cindy standing behind her, silently waiting for an opportunity to interrupt. Sophie shot her friend a grateful look. Her timing couldn’t have been better. She had no desire to continue talking to Cambias and try to decipher his intent.

“Cindy, I’d like you to meet Miguel Cambias. Miguel, this is Cindy James. She’s a publicist at The Hot Zone,” Sophie said.

“I’m surprised we haven’t met before.” His eyes sparkled with definite interest.

“I recently moved here from L.A.” A blush spread over Cindy’s freckled cheeks.

Even to a casual observer, it was obvious the interest between these two was mutual.

“It’s wonderful to meet a coworker of Sophia’s.” Ever the gentleman, he pulled out the chair. “Especially such a beautiful one.”

Cindy took her seat but not before Cambias’s gaze raked over Cindy’s model like curves and curly red hair, which hung down to the middle of her back.

From the glimmer in his dark eyes, it appeared that Miguel liked what he saw. “May I offer a word of advice?” he shifted his attention to Sophie, his eyes gleaming with hidden knowledge that made Sophie nervous.

“Can I stop you?” she asked easily.

He laughed. “There are people who don’t take other’s sexual orientation lightly. You should have Spencer talk to his important clients before someone else does.”

His tone was friendly. His words were not. Sophie understood the hidden implication. Spencer’s nervous clients were up for grabs. She had to find the man and soon.

“I appreciate the advice.” She forced a smile.

“If I can do anything, please let me know. In case you misplaced my number-” He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a business card, handing it to Sophie. “And even if you didn’t, if your beautiful friend is interested in meeting for drinks, she can take the card instead.”

He winked at Cindy before leaving and Sophie’s friend nearly swooned. Sophie had seen Miguel have this effect on women at many charity events. The Spanish accent and his Antonio Banderas looks were enough to lure any unsuspecting female into his clutches. Which Sophie supposed might not be a bad thing for a woman who wasn’t his professional competition.

As soon as Miguel was out of earshot, Cindy leaned forward. “So? Is he one of the good guys?” Blatant curiosity shimmered on her friend’s face.

Sophie sighed. Cambias wasn’t someone Sophie would touch with a ten-foot pole, but she had an inherent bias against the man. For all she knew, outside of business the man was a saint.

“I honestly don’t know. But I do think he had an ulterior motive for coming here today.” She just wished she knew what it was.

“I’ll be careful.”

Sophie slid the business card toward Cindy, who snatched it up and placed it in her purse.

“What do you say we double-date? That way you can try and figure out what he wants,” Cindy suggested.

Sophie shook her head. “When it comes to Miguel Cambias, you’re on your own. Just don’t divulge any secrets,” Sophie said, laughing.

She wasn’t worried. Cindy’s ethics were solid and she wasn’t privy to anything on the sports-agency side of the business. Besides, Sophie had other problems to deal with. “I’m going to need you to hold down the fort for a while.”

“Where are you going to be?” Cindy asked.

“Florida.” With Riley Nash.

RILEY THREW some clothes together in a duffel bag. He grabbed the shaving kit he always kept packed, since he traveled often during the season, and tossed it in as well. Then he picked up the phone.

He wasn’t looking forward to informing his daughter he’d have to cancel their day tomorrow, but since she was in school he’d have to let his ex-wife know. Lisa would relay the message to Elizabeth about the change in plans and Riley would call her from Florida.

Lizzie, as he’d called her since she was a baby, lived with her mother and stepfather in Scarsdale, a ritzy suburb outside of New York City. Riley had chosen an apartment in Manhattan, so he could be nearby.

Lisa, Ted and Riley had managed to co-parent fairly well, at least until the teenage years had kicked in. Now they disagreed on how to handle Elizabeth, how to give her things without spoiling her and how to discipline her over her declining school grades. Add attention deficit disorder to the mix and they really had their hands full, Riley thought.

He didn’t think Elizabeth would mind him canceling since he saw her a couple of times a week and weekends when she wasn’t busy with her friends. She was probably sick of him by now, he thought with a smirk, and would be glad he’d had a change of plans.

Scratch that. Even if she was relieved that she didn’t have to hang with her father, she’d act as if she’d been slighted and wronged just so she could pick a fight and piss him off. His sweet baby had woken up one morning and morphed into the very thing a parent dreaded most: a hormonal teenage girl.

He dialed and a familiar female voice answered on the first ring. “Hello?”

“Hi, Lisa.”

“Hi, Riley,” she said. “How’s the man of leisure?”

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.