“Not really. We knew each other back in the day. So what?”
“So the man remembers what your favorite dessert is. That’s not something a woman takes lightly,” Amy finally spoke, telling Roper his observation was on target.
Cassandra waved her hand in the air. “He has a good memory.”
“Okay, Cassie, whatever you say.” Ben finished off his drink.
Roper would never give Ben credit, but his brother had a point. Nobody had ever called his mother by such an intimate shortening of her name. Never.
His mother flushed deep.
This meal was actually turning out to be fun, as well as enlightening, Roper thought. “Okay, you two obviously had a fling and he’s obviously interested again. That’s not a big deal. He seems like a decent-enough guy. So the real issue is why you’re fighting him so hard.”
“That’s obvious,” Amy said when his mother remained silent. “It’s because he’s so intense. The man has the looks of Sean Connery, the charisma of Jack Nicholson and the persistence of a pit bull. Overwhelming.” She fanned herself with her hand.
Cassandra met Amy’s gaze and an unfathomable understanding flashed between the two women. Something Roper didn’t for the life of him understand. “Females,” he muttered.
“Just cut your mother some slack,” Amy said, placing her hand on his arm. “It’s obvious she needs time to adjust to Harrison’s pursuit.”
“Exactly,” his mother said, folding her arms across her chest. “Cut me some slack, John.” She turned to her other son. “You, too, Benjamin. Stop enjoying this so much. You’re both encouraging Harrison. And that is something I do not need, want or appreciate.”
Roper saw his opportunity and grabbed it. “If I back off, will you consider the role Harrison is offering?” He believed in a good quid pro quo and he’d just offered his mother a very fair exchange.
She opened her mouth to answer just as Harrison returned.
Taking pity on her, Roper didn’t push her to decide now. But he’d definitely be discussing it with her again later.
“I’m sorry about that,” Harrison said, taking his seat once more.
“Is everything okay with your daughter?” Amy asked.
He nodded. “She’s in the middle of an ugly divorce and she needed my opinion on something.”
“I’m sorry,” Cassandra said. “That can’t be easy for her.” Her compassionate tone took Roper off guard.
“It isn’t. She’s an MBA and earns more than her husband, whom she supported while he tried to make a living screenwriting. Now he’s asking for a divorce, alimony, full custody and child support. The man isn’t worthy of my daughter,” he said, fired up on his child’s behalf. He cleared his throat. “But thank you for caring.” Harrison placed his hand over Cassandra’s, sending her into another frenzy of unsettled movement.
It was all Roper could do not to laugh, watching his normally composed mother fidget and fuss under a man’s attention.
Half an hour later, they’d finished coffee and dessert. When Roper asked for a check, he discovered that while taking his phone call, Harrison had apparently also made arrangements to pay the entire bill. Roper thanked the man. He wasn’t all that bothered, since he had the definite feeling there would be plenty of opportunities for Roper to return the favor.
Harrison didn’t strike him as a man who gave up easily.
They made their way to the street. Roper held on to Amy’s hand, not wanting her to hail a cab and disappear before he had a chance to talk to her alone.
But he managed to catch up to his brother when they reached the sidewalk. “Hang out for a few minutes, I want to discuss something important with you, okay?” he asked.
Ben didn’t reply.
“It’s good news for you, so chill,” Roper muttered.
“Thank you for a lovely dinner,” Amy said to the director, probably to distract everyone’s attention from Roper and Ben.
“My pleasure. I’ve been wanting to meet the people who are close to Cassie. Perhaps next time Sabrina and Kevin can join us, as well,” he said.
“Sabrina will definitely want to check things out for herself,” Ben said.
Cassandra flipped her pashmina scarf around her shoulders. “I think Harrison will be back in L.A. long before we can arrange everyone’s schedules,” she said.