Hot Property (Hot Zone 4)

“What’s it?” Annabelle leaned forward in her seat.

Amy bit down on her bottom lip, wondering if her idea was pushing it. “Well, I realize Roper’s family issues can’t be solved overnight, but spring training is around the corner. He’s got to do something—and I just realized taking him out of town is the key. Getting him away from his family to a place where he can work out, where he can do his physical therapy and focus solely on getting his game back is exactly what he needs.” She glanced at the woman across from her. “What do you think?”

“I think it’s brilliant. Of course, who knows how Roper will feel, but he’s dedicated enough to his career to like the notion.” Annabelle nodded. “Yep, the more I think about it, the better I like it. And I have the perfect place for him to escape to.”

Amy grabbed her pen and a fresh piece of paper. “Where?”

“Vaughn’s place in Greenlawn,” she said of her husband’s lodge.

Amy had heard about the Upstate New York retreat from her uncle Spencer. Next to his wife and daughter, the place was Vaughn’s pride and joy. “Tell me some more.”

“Well, during the summer it’s a camp for underprivileged kids, but during the winter it serves as a retreat. The price tag is high, but that’s because he wants to attract a clientele who will help him fund the summer camp for the kids.”

“That’s such a wonderful thing,” Amy said.

“That’s Vaughn. He just gets what these kids need.” Annabelle’s pride in her husband was unmistakable as her blue eyes softened. “But for guests like Roper, there are rooms and suites. Each has a fireplace. There are a variety of restaurants for meals, room service for privacy and a state-of-the-art gym. And it’s about an hour and a half from the city, which can be a hassle if you need a physical therapist to travel there, but since Vaughn’s football buddies make use of the place, we’ve managed to locate a really good P.T. nearby. I’m telling you, it has everything you need.”

Amy’s mind was reeling with the possibilities. “It sounds as if it does.”

“The best part is the people who can afford it understand the idea of privacy. Nobody will bother Roper at all.” Annabelle spoke with animation in her voice, her hands waving in the air as her excitement grew.

“Will it be booked now? It is a winter resort….”

Annabelle shook her head. “Yes and no. Yes, it’s booked, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for Roper. The Hot Zone reserves a suite each year for clients or family members who need the break. No one’s using it now that I know of.”

Wow. Roper could escape, and while he was preparing mentally and physically for the season, Amy could help him with anything his family needed here in the city. She liked the idea. A lot.

After jotting down the name of the lodge and its location, Amy glanced up. “Sounds perfect. The only question is whether I can convince Roper to leave without telling his family exactly where he’s going.” And seeing how Cassandra had reacted when he’d ignored a phone call, Amy knew she could be courting disaster. “There’s another issue, too.” A big one, Amy thought.

“What is it? I’m sure we can figure out a solution.”

“Money. Although Roper doesn’t discuss it much, Yank told me to keep his expenses low because his family isn’t only soaking up his time, they’re a drain on his cash flow, as well. He’s hardly broke, but what’s liquid goes fast. And if his rehab doesn’t go

as planned, he’ll take a big hit. I don’t know if he’ll agree to spend money on the lodge when he has a gorgeous Manhattan apartment sitting empty.”

“Hmm.” Annabelle’s forehead wrinkled in thought. “Well, the Hot Zone has already paid for the season. And he is our client…” she said. “Don’t worry. I’ll clear it with Uncle Yank.”

Annabelle rose and Amy stood to walk her out. “Thanks for stopping by. Talking to you helped me flesh some things out,” Amy said.

Annabelle grinned. “My pleasure. That’s what we do around here, help one another any way we can. Remember that and feel free to knock on my door anytime.”

“I’ll do that,” Amy said.

Annabelle paused. “You work on Roper and let me know when he wants to go.”

Amy nodded. She couldn’t possibly commit to a time frame yet. Coming up with the idea had been the easy part. Convincing Roper to take her up on spending the rest of his off-season at Vaughn’s lodge in Greenlawn would be her greatest challenge.

CHAPTER SEVEN

THE REST OF THE DAY PASSED quickly and too soon, and Amy had to head home and get ready for her dinner with Roper. He picked her up as planned and drove her in his Porsche to a small restaurant called Leto’s in Little Italy.

He’d taken over an entire restaurant where his friend was the owner and chef, ensuring their privacy. When she’d questioned the expense, he’d assured her his friend owed him a favor. Then he’d gone on to regale her with amusing tales of his baseball exploits and time on the road. She’d engaged him with her crazier stories about the residents at her mother’s retirement community and the fun she’d had trying to keep them out of jail.

Roper at his most charming left Amy without any defenses to resist. Nobody had ever gone to such lengths to impress her before. It wasn’t the fact that he’d arranged to shut down an entire restaurant that struck a chord with her, but the fact that he cared enough about her desire for privacy to bother. She forgot her resolve to keep her distance. During dinner, he covered her hand with his and she let him, enjoying the contact. She promised herself she’d turn the discussion to business and her idea for him to go into seclusion, but instead, she let herself be swept away by his charm, and not once did the subject of work come up.

In short, she allowed the impulsive part of her nature, the part she’d inherited from her mother and her aunt, to overrule her common sense. Amy didn’t like denying herself the things she enjoyed, and though she’d spent years in Florida smothering those yearnings, it had been easy when she was away from people her own age, away from temptation.

And John Roper was a temptation she couldn’t ignore.