Hot Property (Hot Zone 4)

She withdrew her hand. “Fine. Then shut them off. Vibrate’s not cutting it. You’re at a business lunch and common courtesy dictates you keep your mind on business.”

He grinned, finally getting it. “Aah, it’s my attention you want,” he said in a cocky tone. “I can assure you that even if I answer the phone, my thoughts are solely on you, babe.”

She rolled her eyes. “Did you forget why we’re here? To organize your life. To make sure you learn how to compartmentalize and make baseball your priority again. So it’s your choice. Shut them off or hand them over,” she insisted, not backing down.

Roper glanced at Amy’s fiery brown eyes and determined expression and realized she was deadly serious. Who knew the woman was a ballbuster?

Who knew he’d like that in a woman?

The last female who’d demanded that he put her first had been pushing for a ring. And since he’d been as interested in a commitment with her as he’d been in the blond highlights his hairdresser had been trying to talk him into, he’d bought her a diamond bracelet goodbye gift and broken things off.

“Well? Choose one or I’m walking away from this assignment.” And in case he wasn’t sure she meant business, she turned and reached for her purse hanging from the back of her chair.

Damn, she was cute when she was being bossy.

He shocked himself by turning both his phone and Treo off, pushing them to the side of the table and focusing completely, solely on her. “I’m all yours.”

“Good. That’s how it should be.” She swallowed hard, obviously not as at ease around him as she wanted him to believe.

Their attraction was something neither could ignore. He could let her have the upper hand when it came to their professional relationship, but he had no doubt that sexually, he was in control.

And he intended to make use of the upper hand. When the time was right.

“Let’s hear your game plan.”

The waitress served their appetizers, and while they ate, she outlined her goals. “You have three family members pulling you at all hours of the day. You need to set limits. But first, let’s tackle each one of them. Your mother. What is the main reason she’s been calling you?” Amy asked. She put a forkful of salad into her mouth, then licked a crumble of blue cheese off her bottom lip with her tongue, wreaking havoc with his attention.

He stared at her moist lips, moving as she delicately chewed her food.

She met his gaze. Obviously embarrassed, she cleared her throat. “Your mother?” she reminded him.

“Right.” He paused to suck an oyster from its shell. The food might be considered an aphrodisiac, but Amy supplied all the arousal power he needed. “Other than asking me to lend Ben money?” Which he was sure she would have done again on the phone today if he’d given her more time. “My mother needs a job of her own. Her lifestyle is killing my bank account. And she’s bored. She misses acting, not that she’s willing to admit as much.”

“Hollywood won’t hire her because of all the roles she already turned down over the years?” Amy guessed.

He laughed. “Hell, no. Harrison Smith—he’s a big-time director—sent her a script for a television pilot over three months ago that was tailor-made for her. He even offered her more money than she deserves at this point in her career.”

He shook his head in disbelief. “She said no, but apparently he’s waiting for her to change her mind. For some reason, the man only wants Cassandra Lee for the role and has been pursuing her relentlessly.”

Amy nodded in understanding. “That’s because she’s good,” Amy said. “What will it take to convince her?”

He shrugged. “She won’t change her mind. First, she thinks television is beneath her. But more important, my mother refuses to play the role of a grandmother, no matter how elegant, dignified or perfect the role may be. She thinks spending thousands in plastic surgery and Botox justify her desire to be cast as an ingenue.” He shook his head in disgust and frustration. “Sad thing is, she’s been saying it to herself for so long, she believes it.”

He glanced at Amy, looking for a glimmer of understanding. Heaven only knew why he needed it from her when he’d never wanted it from anyone else. At least she was too busy jotting down notes to realize.

“So tell me more about your brother.”

The busboy had cleared their plates, and the waitress set their lunches in front of them. Talking about his family had killed his appetite. “Ben needs a job and a life.”

“I’ve been there,” she said with more compassion than he’d afforded his brother lately. “I lived at home for so long it became too comfortable. Maybe that’s what’s going on with Ben. He just needs the right incentive to get him moving again.”

Roper had thought the same thing.

“Does he have any job options? I don’t mean investments, but legitimate employment opportunities that you know of?”

Roper took a long sip of water. “His head is so far in the clouds, he wouldn’t know an opportunity if it was handed to him. I’ve offered to make some calls and see if there are any openings as a high school baseball coach in a decent community. He’s good enough to teach, he just wasn’t solid enough to play pro. Ben won’t even consider it.”

“When he runs out of money, he’ll have no choice. Why don’t you give me some leads and I’ll see what I can come up with for him.”