Hot Item by Carly Phillips Page B

several others had been forced to work on a Saturday just to begin to deal with all that was going on and going wrong.
    “And why did I agree to watch this dog?”
    She’d just returned from a long walk with Noodle. One made longer by the dog’s desire to sniff, wander and not do business when told. She stepped off the elevator feeling out of sorts and almost out of options.
    “Ms. James?”
    “Yes?” Cindy turned to the temp who’d been working for the past couple of days.
    Even if Raine, their normal receptionist, returned from her serious bout of the flu, the office could still use the manpower Nicki Fielding provided. Cindy had no doubt Sophie would agree.
    “You have messages.” Nicki held out a stack of pink papers.
    Cindy pushed the notes into her suit jacket pocket.
    “Ms. Jordan called from Florida. I told her everything here was fine, which is true. Sort of. I mean the reporters are still hanging around,” Nicki whispered, gesturing to the group who’d perched themselves on the sofa, hoping for an interview from anyone here. “I just keep telling them ‘No Comment,’” she said, looking to Cindy for approval.
    “You’re doing great.” She smiled at the young girl.
    “I’m trying.” Her brown eyes were huge. “I don’t think Ms. Jordan thinks I’m that qualified.”
    Cindy shook her head. “It’s just crisis time around here. We’ll all come through this fine. You’re being a huge help, I promise.”
    The dog pulled on the leash and she groaned. “Go, you little pain in the—” Cindy leaned down, released the catch and the dog bolted, likely for the safety of Yank’s office, where Sophie said she could find the pooch if she went missing.
    “If you need me, I’ll be in my office returning calls.” Cindy patted the papers in her bulging pocket and walked past the reporters, head held high, looking straight ahead before they could begin to toss out questions.
    Cindy shut her door behind her, leaned against it and sighed. She couldn’t wait to hand this place back to Sophie. When she opened her eyes, she stared in shock. The most beautiful red roses sat on her desk.
    “What the…?” She bent close and sniffed the glorious petals, breathing in their floral scent. As she pulled out the card, she realized the vase wasn’t a typical glass holder from a florist but etched Baccarat crystal.
    “Red beauties for a redheaded beauty. Have dinner with me. Miguel.” Cindy read the card and shivered.
    She’d been living in New York for a little over six months and although she’d made friends, she hadn’t dated anyone special. She hadn’t met anyone who seriously interested her. Until she’d laid eyes on Miguel Cambias. His dark eyes and naturally dark skin, so different from many of the surfers and actors she’d met in California, caused goose bumps to prickle up and down her arms.
    But his business card had burned a hole in her pocket and she’d left it untouched in her desk drawer ever since. Loyalty was important to her. She’d learned it from her small band of “family” back home, a group related by love not blood.
    She worked for The Hot Zone. She enjoyed her job and she appreciated all three Jordan sisters and the family like atmosphere they brought to the firm. For Cindy, this place was similar to her father’s tiny restaurant and she didn’t want to lose the inroads she’d made.
    She slowly opened her desk drawer and stared at the business card tucked safely away. She also didn’t want to make a mistake and spend forever wondering what if. Fingering the business card, she turned it over and over in her hand. Sophie hadn’t asked her not to see Miguel. She’d just suggested Cindy be careful.
    With those words in mind, Cindy picked up the phone. After all, what harm could come from one little dinner? she wondered.

CHAPTER FOUR
    I NDIGNITY SURROUNDED Sophie. When she’d headed out of the lavatory a short while after Riley, the people seated in the immediate area had