Hot Property

think I’m going to faint.” Sophie waved a hand in front of her face, mocking him and chuckling at the same time.

“Did you hear that, John? They think you’re getting married.” The woman by his side, a different woman from the last one Amy had seen him with, laughed in real amusement.

When she turned around, Amy realized the other woman was much younger than she’d originally thought. Certainly younger than Amy and definitely younger than John Roper.

“John’s not my fiance, he’s my brother,” the other woman explained.

Amy let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. She wanted to dismiss the wave of relief washing over her, but she couldn’t. Roper wasn’t getting married and she could breathe again. Obviously, despite her frustration with him over their first meeting, the attraction was still there, strong as ever.

“Ah, now that makes more sense.” Sophie nodded in understanding. “I couldn’t see you taking yourself off the market, and I definitely couldn’t see the papers missing out on the courtship.”

“Ha, ha,” Roper muttered.

While they were sparring, Amy took a moment to look at the younger woman with fresh eyes. With the family connection made, Amy saw the resemblance now-the sandy-blond hair, the shape and color of their green eyes and the matching dimples.

“Sabrina, meet everyone here.” Roper inclined his head towards his sibling. “Everyone, meet my sister, Sabrina.” He finished the introductions with a quick wave of his hand.

“Nice to meet you all.” Sabrina smiled, once again reinforcing the family resemblance. “I wish I could stay and hang out, but I’ve got to go find my fiance.”

“Nice to meet you,” Amy murmured, but Roper’s sister had taken off before she could hear the reply.

Sophie glanced at her watch. “I should follow her lead. Riley should have been here by now.”

“Go on. I’ll take good care of Amy while you’re gone.”

Sophie shot Amy a look of concern, but Amy didn’t want the other woman worrying about her or thinking she couldn’t handle herself with one of Hot Zone’s clients.

Amy put on her brightest smile. “Say hi to Riley and tell him I’ll catch up with him in a few minutes,” Amy said.

“Are you sure?” Sophie’s gaze bounced between Amy and Roper.

Roper pushed off from where he was leaning against the wall and rose to his full, overwhelming height.

“Don’t worry about me,” Roper said, treating Amy to a wink and a grin that caused a tingling straight down to her toes.

“I wasn’t. Amy?” Sophie asked.

“Go find my cousin and give him a kiss for me.” She dismissed the other woman’s worry with an encouraging smile.

Sophie turned to Roper. “You know that Riley will kick your ass if you misbehave, so be good to Amy. She’s new in town.”

He cocked an eyebrow, throwing a sexy look her way. “When am I ever not good?”

Which was exactly what had Amy on edge. But she was a big girl. She could handle herself, as well as John Roper.

Sophie frowned, but after a lingering glance at Amy, took off to find her husband, leaving them alone.

Roper stepped closer. And Amy knew she was in deep trouble.

CHAPTER TWO

WHEN YANK INSISTED ROPER show up at this gig, he’d agreed under duress. Now Roper realized fate wanted him here so it could present him with the one thing he needed-a distraction from his career problems, his sister’s wedding and his brother’s constant whining about a loan. Amy Stone provided that distraction. Apparently life had given him a second chance, and he decided to take this as the first positive sign in ages. Maybe things were looking up after all.

He vividly recalled the instant attraction he’d felt for Amy the first time he’d laid eyes on her. And the stirring in his body told him that much hadn’t changed. He’d gone to the wedding out of obligation, still in a funk over the blown World Series. But one look at the pretty brunette and all thoughts of his problems had fled. She’d been a breath of fresh air in his down-and-out life. He’d actually forgotten all about his date, mostly because she was simply arm candy and hadn’t meant anything to him at all. Not that that was an excuse. Although Roper liked women, all women-blond, brunette or redhead, natural or from a bottle-when he looked at Amy, the punch in the gut had been harder and more defined.

He hadn’t lost sight of the fact that he’d made an ass of himself the last time they were together and he owed her an apology for what had transpired. Now, with everyone gone, he and Amy were alone in their own corner of the party and she met his gaze head-on, not blinking or backing down.

He admired the fact that he couldn’t rattle her and refused to rush his perusal. She had tanned skin only someone from a southern state could manage, a fresh, unjaded look in her eyes, and curly hair that didn’t appear overly set with sprays or products. He could definitely get into tangling his hands in the soft brown curls.

But most of all he wanted to be with a woman who in all likelihood didn’t keep up with New York sports news and Roper’s humiliations. One who wouldn’t pity him, judge him or want something from him in any way. Of course, he was getting ahead of himself. Chances were good she hadn’t forgiven him for the scene at the wedding, and he couldn’t blame her.

“So how have you been?” he asked once they were alone, or as alone as they could be in a room full of people.

“Just fine, and you?” She folded her arms across her chest, causing her cleavage to swell above the glittery gold tank she wore beneath a white silk blouse.

He knew Amy’s movement was unintentional, and he had to admit her lack of pretense was one of the things he found most appealing about her. “I’ve been better,” he admitted, opting for honesty.

But he didn’t want to get into his recent problems. He cleared his throat and asked, “Been in town long?” Not his best line, but he wanted to change the subject.

She shook her head. “Not very.”

She wasn’t making this easy. For the first time, he was uptight around a woman and unsure of how to reach her. “So, um, when do you leave?” he asked.

She raised an eyebrow. “Anxious to get rid of me already?”

He shook his head, exhaling hard. “I’m blowing this big-time. Let’s backtrack, okay? It’s good to see you again.”

“Same here.” She immediately pursed her lips.

He’d bet she wished she could take that comment back, but he liked her refreshing honesty.

She turned, obviously scanning the crowd.

He followed her gaze but couldn’t pinpoint anyone or anything that would have distracted her. “Looking for someone?”

“As a matter of fact, I am,” she said as she pivoted back to face him. “I was trying to locate your date.”

A grin tugged at his mouth. “What makes you think I brought one?” he asked.

“Experience.”

“Touche.”

She shrugged. “I can’t imagine you spending New Year’s Eve alone.” She reached her hand out, tapping a finger against his pink Ralph Lauren dress shirt.

She was bolder than he thought she’d be, but the slight trembling of her fingers told him the movement was forced. He’d bet she didn’t want him to think he could get to her again.

Well, hell. She got to him. “You wound me,” Roper said.

“You’ll live.”

He laughed hard, something he hadn’t done in way too long. “I suppose I deserved that.”