Hot Property (Hot Zone 4)

Sabrina managed a wave. From her pale face, she hadn’t known about their mother’s living arrangements, either. It seemed as if Cassandra was keeping up the pretense of not wanting to be with Harrison for no one’s benefit that Roper could figure, except maybe her own.

Cassandra scowled at him. “John was just about to say why he called us all together. It’s a family meeting so you might want to—”

“Stay,” Roper added before his mother could send the other man away. “And do not argue with me, Mom.”

Harrison grinned. “Thank you,” he said to Roper.

“No problem.”

Cassandra needed the older man more than she wanted to admit and Roper was glad she had him, especially since he, himself, intended to take back his own life. He was grateful and relieved he wouldn’t be leaving his mother alone to her own devices.

Cassandra folded her arms across her chest. “I wasn’t going to argue. If Harrison wants to pretend he’s part of this family, who am I to stop him?” She sniffed in her haughty way.

Harrison laughed and slung an arm around her shoulder. “Go on,” he said to Roper.

“Please,” Sabrina said.

Roper drew a deep breath. “Okay. Here goes. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been here when you all needed me. Twenty-four/seven, at your beck and call.”

“Well, I’m not sure I’d phrase it so callously,” his mother said, only to be silenced by Harrison squeezing her shoulder in warning.

“You’ve been a wonderful son,” she said, her voice sincere.

“Thank you.” He wasn’t fishing for compliments, just stating reality. “The thing is, that by doing everything you all wanted when you all wanted it, I’ve neglected my own life.”

“I can see that,” Sabrina said softly. “I have for a while. It’s just that old habits are hard to break.”

He smiled at his little sister. “Tell me about it.”

“So what are you trying to say?” Sabrina asked.

“That it’s time for you all to live your own lives.”

“As if we haven’t?” Cassandra asked.

The sad thing was that Roper knew she believed her words, which made what he had to say all the more difficult. “No, you haven’t. If I was in a meeting and one of you called, I dropped everything. If I was on a date and you needed me, I cut it short. Don’t get me wrong, I did it because I wanted to—”

“And you don’t anymore?” his mother asked, insulted.

He wanted to say no that, of course he wanted to, he just couldn’t do it anymore. But that would be a lie and he’d promised himself and Amy—even if she wasn’t aware of the promise—that he’d be completely honest. For everyone’s sake, including his mother.

“No, Mom, I don’t want to. I want to concentrate on my career. The time I spent at the lodge showed me the difference less stress could make on both my body and my mind.”

“This is all that woman’s fault.”

“That’s not fair, Mom,” Sabrina objected. “And it’s not true. Besides, I thought you liked Amy. You said she’s bright enough to hold her own with John, and she didn’t bore you like the other bimbos he’s dated.” Sabrina shot him an I’m sorry look. “No insult intended,” she said.

“None taken. And I’m glad you like Amy. Because if I have my way, she’s going to be around for a long, long time.”

Sabrina let out a whoop and ran to Roper, giving him a hug. “I hope you find the happiness we have,” she said, nodding toward Kevin.

His mother remained silent. Sulking.

And Roper wasn’t even finished yet.

“Thanks,” he said to his sister. “We’ll see. There’s a lot to work out between us.” An understatement if he ever heard one. “Still, I want to be clear on what this means to all of you.”

“Do tell,” Cassandra said, curled up in the corner of the couch, sulking like a petulant child.