Hot Property (Hot Zone 4)

“I hear you. When I’m on the road, the thing I appreciate most is the fresh air and the wide-open spaces.”

She blinked, surprised he noticed it, too. “Really? I’d think you were a city man, Mr. Metro,” she said, laughing.

He turned toward her. “I see you’ve been reading my old press.”

She shrugged. “It’s my job to keep up on where you’ve been so I can help you with where you’re going.” In truth, she’d enjoyed digging through the old interviews and articles on Roper, learning more about his public persona and how different his personal, private one was.

“You could ask me,” he said, stepping closer. “Where you’re concerned, I’m an open book.”

She inhaled and his scent immediately replaced everything else around her. Her heart rate accelerated as she finally let herself take notice of him. His pressed khakis, the sprinkling of hair peeking out of the unbuttoned space on his shirt. The desire to back him against the wall and feel his hard body against her was almost overwhelming.

Without warning, the door behind them opened and Sabrina stepped into the hall. “John, thank God you’re here. You have to do something about Mom,” she whispered.

Amy breathed out, releasing the tension but not the desire pulsing inside her.

He closed his eyes for a brief moment, obviously composing himself before turning to face his sister. “Can anyone stop a tornado?” he asked. “How did you know I was here? I didn’t even get a chance to knock,” he said, shooting Amy a look of regret.

Why? Had he been about to act on the chemistry that drew them to each other, even when minutes before they’d been at odds on how to handle his career and family? If so, what would she have done?

Before Amy could formulate an answer that satisfied herself, Sabrina grabbed her brother’s hand and yanked him into the apartment.

With the quick instincts of a ballplayer, he encircled his arm around Amy’s wrist, so she ended up dragged along with him.

Once inside, Sabrina glanced over Roper’s shoulder at Amy. “Hi, again.” She obviously remembered Amy from the New Year’s party.

“Hi.” Amy lifted her hand in a partial wave. “I hope you don’t mind that I’m here.”

“The more backup the better,” the other woman said, sounding pained.

Having met Cassandra, Amy understood.

Apparently so did Roper, because he walked over to his sister and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Breathe in and out,” he instructed.

Sabrina shut her eyes and complied.

“Better?” he asked a few seconds later.

She nodded.

“Good. Now, let’s deal with her together. Come,” he said, in a reassuring tone.

Sabrina visibly relaxed.

Amy marveled at the calming effect Roper had on his sister, but then, when she let him, he had his own unique effect on her, as well.

They walked a few steps into the next room, where Cassandra sat beside Kevin, a pen and pad in hand. “So let’s go over your guest list,” Cassandra said.

“Hi, Mom, Kevin. How’s it going?” Roper asked, making his presence known.

“It’s going,” the other man said. With his dark hair and dark eyes, Kevin was good-looking in a studious way. His rimless, fashionable glasses added to his attractiveness.

Of course, in Amy’s eyes, he didn’t compare with her jock Roper, but she could definitely see his appeal. Her jock? She caught herself and blinked.

“Kevin, I’d like you to meet Amy Stone. Amy, my soon-to-be brother-in-law, Kevin Reynolds,” Roper said, interrupting her thoughts.

Kevin stood and shook Amy’s hand. “A pleasure to meet you. And now that you’re here to handle your mother,” he said to Roper, “I’m going to take the dog for a walk.” He paused to kiss Sabrina’s cheek before heading for the door.

Cassandra merely laughed. “You know I’ll be here to finish up later,” she said to Kevin.