Hot Property (Hot Zone 4)

Right now hers was in shreds.

“Uncle Yank, it’s your turn,” Sophie said, obviously having taken control of the meeting.

Amy wondered if she did the firing. The memory of losing her social-worker job was still clear in her mind.

“I don’t like none of this,” he said, shaking his head.

Here it comes, Amy thought, nausea rolling through her.

“There’s no reason for the reporter who wrote that article to give me second billing to that yahoo,” Yank grumbled, pointing at Spencer. “Athletes Only’s a Morgan Atkins production. Not vice versa.”

“Sit down and shut up,” Lola said, grabbing his arm and pulling him back into his seat. “This isn’t about you and your mammoth ego.”

“No, it’s about me and I want to apologize to all of you,” Amy said. “I know I’ve humiliated this firm by getting involved with a client. If you want to let me go, I completely understand.”

Without warning, Yank burst out laughing. “What’s to apologize for? You didn’t do anything different from any of my other girls.”

All three sisters nodded in agreement.

“Amy,” Micki said, walking over and placing an arm around Amy’s shoulder. “You didn’t cause trouble for the firm. In fact, you single-handedly changed public opinion about John Roper.”

“How so?” she asked, now thoroughly confused by their reaction.

“I’ve been trying to get Roper to act up again and take the spotlight off the World Series disaster. You did it without even trying! And the paper is right. You’re nothing like the bimbos he usually hangs out with, which lets people see him in a new light. A more respected light, even.” Micki’s grin said more than her words ever could about how she felt about the situation.

There were murmurs of agreement from around the table.

Amy narrowed her gaze, confounded by the entire morning. She didn’t understand New York celebrity at all, but she’d better get a handle on it and fast because her job depended on just that.

“Amy, your client is waiting for you in your office.”

She blinked, the pronouncement taking her off guard. “You still want me to work with Roper?”

“Of course! You’re still perfect for the job,” Micki assured her.

“Uncle Spencer?” Amy glanced at her uncle, needing his affirmation more than ever.

He nodded. “You’re our girl,” he said with confidence.

Her heart filled, thanks to their support, but pounded hard in her chest with the knowledge that she’d been firmly placed in Roper’s universe. Still, no matter how difficult she’d find keeping her distance from the man on a personal level, compartmentalizing was what she did best.

She had no doubt she could handle the job of organizing his life. She only hoped she could handle John Roper.

AFTER THE MEETING ADJOURNED, Micki followed her uncle to the break room. Refusing help, he’d had his assistant bring Noodle to him and let the dog bark and woof her way to where the food was located before Micki took charge and led them both to his office. They sat side by side on the comfortable couch he’d had since she was a little girl who’d come to live with him when her parents died. Unlike her sisters, she’d follow him around, and even insisted he bring her to work. This place had always been in her heart.

“Well, well, well,” Uncle Yank said. “Exciting morning.”

Micki nodded. “Poor Amy. She doesn’t understand New York and what it means to be an athlete here.”

Micki herself had been baptized by fire into the New York PR world. Micki felt awful about the unplanned coverage, but if Amy was going to survive here, she’d have to weather storms like this. Especially if she was going to get involved with Roper. The man was a media magnet.

Not that Micki knew the extent of their relationship. Roper hadn’t mentioned that Amy had spent the night at his place New Year’s Eve, but Micki understood why. Roper was nothing if not a gentleman.

She turned to her uncle. “Roper never mentioned the papers when he stopped by early this morning, so I’m sure he hasn’t seen the articles yet.” Because he’d been solely focused on Amy, Micki thought.

“He probably figured a bigger story would hit and make him old news before the photos were ever published,” Yank said.

“Probably.” Micki stood and paced the office, taking in the awards on the walls and photographs of her uncle and famous athletes he’d represented over the years—including one of Roper the day he’d signed his multimillion-dollar contract with the Renegades. “I feel bad that Amy’s upset, but you have to admit that the media talking about Roper’s love life and not his career is exactly what he needs right now.”