“I understand what you meant.” He laughed and leaned forward in his seat. “And if you’d just relax around me, I won’t even ask why you haven’t returned any of my calls.”
Her cheeks grew uncomfortably hot. “I needed to distance my work and my personal relationships.”
“Which I might have understood if you’d called me back and explained. Or if you’d told me you were working at the Hot Zone to begin with.” He gestured to the waiter, who began to unwrap, uncork and pour the champagne.
“The subject of where I was working never came up. But I admit not returning your phone calls was a little cowardly of me. I’m sorry.”
“And I’m sorry about the reporters and the articles in today’s paper.” His normally easygoing smile disappeared, replaced by obvious regret. “I have no idea how they zeroed in on us after New Year’s and I certainly never thought they’d make us newsworthy. I took a private booth back here, so hopefully we’re safe from prying eyes.”
His cell phone buzzed suddenly, shaking on the table and breaking the connection subtly flowing between them. Although he’d set the phone to vibrate, the intrusion was just as noticeable.
Shooting her an apologetic glance, he picked up the phone. This time, however, his tone was different, brittle even. “Bad time. I’m busy. I’ll call you later.” He disconnected the call and placed the phone back on the table.
She met his gaze. “Your brother.”
He nodded. “You’re astute.”
“I just remembered what you told me the other night. Where does he live?”
“Nowhere permanent. Right now he’s staying with a friend not too far from here.”
“So all three of you are in the city.”
He nodded. “We love our mother, but distance seems to work best for all of us,” he said, laughing.
“Speaking of your mother, I suppose she’s going to call next?” she asked.
He groaned. “Probably, but I’d rather not think about her right now. So back to New Year’s…I’m sorry for the press showing up like that. If I’d known, I’d have taken you out the back or used my car so they never would have gotten a shot of you in the first place.”
“Apparently I need to get used to the New York media. According to the rest of the office, the articles about us did you a favor by directing everybody’s attention to your personal life instead of your career.” She raised an eyebrow, curious about his view on their joint minutes of fame.
He burst out laughing, a response she didn’t expect.
“That’s rich,” he said. “Eight months ago, those same Hot Zone people wanted my personal life out of the papers. Now they’re applauding the coverage.” Without warning, he reached over and placed his hand over hers.
The heat was immediate and intense.
“But you don’t deserve the publicity.” His voice grew low and husky. “So I am sorry.”
“I thought, as a publicist, I’d be remaining behind the scenes. But it’s fine. Really.” She waved away his apology, trying to act in control and, oh, so nonchalant over the incident, which at the moment affected her less than the man himself.
Ever since their first meeting, it didn’t take more than a touch to remind her of how easily he could seduce her with a look, a glance or a simple gesture. She’d never had such an immediate connection with a man before and she didn’t know how to ignore the sparks that sizzled between them now.
“Okay, then, it looks as if once again we’re starting over,” he said, pleased. He lifted his hand off of hers and raised his glass.
Relieved he wasn’t touching her anymore and disappointed at the same time, she lifted her glass.
“To us,” he said simply.
Unable and unwilling to argue, she repeated his words. “To us.”
She took a polite sip and placed the champagne back on the table. They looked through the menu, then listened to the daily specials. She ordered a mixed green salad and rainbow trout, he chose oysters on the half shell and prime sirloin steak.
She studied him as he spoke to the waiter. Roper was a man comfortable in his own skin and too handsome in his tan-and-white-striped dress shirt, opened at the throat. He might be suffering personally and professionally, but he hid it well. She guessed his years of dealing with the press had given him a thick skin. Personally, she’d never had one herself. She wasn’t surprised he’d ordered steak and opted not to read too much into his choice of appetizer, assuring herself it was only
After the waiter walked away, she folded her hands and decided to hit on the reason for their lunch. “I understand you need my services to clear out the clutter in your life so that you can better focus on your career.”
He tipped his head and nodded. “That’s one way of putting it.”
Micki had told her she’d be his handler, but somehow she didn’t think he’d appreciate the term, which implied he needed babying. “Well, you’ll be happy to know I’ve given your situation some thought already.”
It helped that she’d spent New Year’s with him and seen his family dynamics firsthand. The phone calls today had merely cemented her earlier impression. Taking her secretary’s advice, she pulled a notepad and pen from her large handbag. “Let’s start by listing the things or people in your life causing you to get sidetracked. If we tackle and eliminate them one by one, that will leave your mind clear for baseball.”
Roper raised an eyebrow, amused by her suggestion. “You think you can take on my family and eliminate their issues?”
“If they’re the sole source of your distraction, I know I can.” Her eyes were on fire with determination.
He pictured Amy, petite in stature but not personality, dealing with his larger-than-life, never-take-no-for-an- answer mother, and he glanced heavenward for strength.
“You start talking. Tell me more about each family member and their main problem, why they need your attention constantly each day. I’ll take notes and put together a plan.” She raised her pen, ready to write.
No sooner had he chuckled than his cell phone vibrated once more. He glanced at the number, shot Amy a you-were-right look, and felt more certain than ever that not only was Amy outnumbered, but she’d be outmaneuvered in a matter of days.
He spoke quickly, then disconnected the call.
“Third call in…” She looked at her watch. “Ten minutes. No wonder you can’t find time to get healthy. You’re mentally and physically drained by the forces around you.”
“
She held out her hand. “Give it over.”
“What?” He hadn’t a clue what she was talking about.
“Hand the cell phone over. And the BlackBerry.”
“It’s a Treo and you may not have either one,” he said, shocked by her gall.
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.
