Amy glanced across the room and her gaze met Roper’s. He held the stare for a long moment before he winked and turned his attention back to whatever Mike was saying.
They hadn’t had a real conversation since the car ride up here one week ago. Her cold had sidelined her, but watching him now, maybe it was for the best. He’d had a chance to come to grips with what she’d done and why. He’d needed to be here and he understood that now.
Amy refocused on Hannah, realizing Roper’s emotional health depended on everyone’s discretion, but apparently Hannah felt the same way. “I believe you’ll keep his location secret.”
“I will. We’re in seclusion, too.” Hannah leaned closer. “You care about him, don’t you?”
“Of course I do. He’s my client and this is my first big assignment. I can’t afford to have him dissatisfied with the end result.”
Hannah rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t talking about liking him as a client. I saw the way you were looking at him. Not just now, which was pretty intense, but earlier at the pool. You didn’t like finding him hanging out with me.”
“I…” Amy opened her mouth, then shut it again. She thought about denying the other woman’s words but what was the point. “Was it that obvious?” Amy asked.
Hannah nodded. “I’m afraid so.”
“It wasn’t personal.” Amy raised her hands to her hot cheeks, embarrassed at being found out. And here she thought she’d managed to seem professional.
“I know that.” Hannah waved a hand, dismissing Amy’s concerns.
“Want to know how I know? I mean, can I share a secret so you’ll understand?”
“Absolutely,” Amy said.
“I figured it out because I have the same problem with Mike.” She tipped her head toward the drummer, who still stood talking to Roper.
“I’m head over heels,” she said with a sigh. “We spend so much time together on the road, we know each other really well. I know he finds me attractive. I see how he looks at me, but he won’t act on it.”
“Why not?” Amy shot a covert look at the big man who looked as if he could handle himself with this or any woman.
“He says he doesn’t want to screw with the chemistry of the band if something goes wrong. But that isn’t it.” Hannah shook her hair out of her face. “It’s the age thing. There’s ten years between us. That’s an issue for him, not me. Age and Big Mama.”
“Who?” Amy tried not to laugh at the name.
“My mother,” Hannah said, wrinkling her nose. “And the band’s manager I was telling you about earlier. I think Mike’s afraid of her,”
Hannah whispered. “Not that he’d ever admit it.”
Amy understood Hannah’s situation. She wouldn’t exactly say she was head over heels for Roper, at least, not yet, but the damn attraction was there and strong. But she didn’t want it to interfere with her doing her job. She didn’t want her private life to become public, either. Still, she couldn’t deny how much she desired him or the fact that the feelings weren’t going away.
Maybe she just ought to sleep with him, get it out of her system and be done with it, she thought wryly.
And then she wondered why not.
Although the idea had come to her suddenly, the yearning between them had been building since they’d met at the wedding and the feeling had only grown stronger since they’d begun working together. She swallowed hard and glanced his way. She took in his strong presence, his sexy body, his handsome face, and suddenly she couldn’t think of anything else.
“What do you think?” Hannah asked her, drawing Amy’s attention back to their conversation.
“About what?” She’d obviously missed everything the other woman had just said.
Hannah rolled her eyes, obviously realizing what Amy was preoccupied with. “I said I was thinking of just seducing Mike. Slipping into his bed and daring him to throw me out.” She laughed, but Amy could see Hannah was serious.
“Not a bad idea,” Amy said, wondering if she could pull off such a stunt herself.
“That’s what I’ve been telling myself. We’re here, we’re alone except for the twins—but they don’t care about anything except their music—
and there’s no Big Mama to interrupt.” Hannah’s eyes flashed with anticipation.
“I like it,” Amy said, her mind already wondering how she’d manage it herself.
“As for Big Mama, I’ve thought about hiring another manager and cutting out the nepotism, but she really means well. She’s pushed and pushed and helped us get where we are. But honestly, she needs to back off sometimes. And if things work out between me and Mike, her interference would be a make-or-break point between us.” Hannah nodded decisively.
Amy knew Hannah meant what she was saying, but as she knew from watching Roper deal with his family, it was one thing to talk a tough game, another to execute it against a well-meaning but interfering parent. “You need to be blunt and tell her to let you live your life.”
Hannah sighed. “She thinks it’s her job to direct my life. Tell me, is it possible to prevent a steamroller from doing its job?”
“I wish I knew,” Amy said, thinking of Cassandra Lee.
Amy had spoken with Micki earlier and Cassandra had given her hell for sequestering her son and refusing to discuss his whereabouts. Micki had assured Cassandra that Roper was fine and taking care of himself for a change. She’d offered the woman anything she needed from advice to reservations. She just wouldn’t give Cassandra the one thing she wanted. Her son’s current address.
Amy looked into Hannah’s eyes and said, “Just remember it’s your life. If you don’t take control of it, everyone else will.”
“Sound advice,” Roper said, coming up behind them.
“It is. It just isn’t easy,” Hannah murmured. “I should go talk to Mike. We’re supposed to go over some things for this summer’s upcoming concert. We’ll talk later,” she said to Amy.
Hannah worked her way over to her band and, with great finesse and a lot of sex appeal that included swaying hips and a full pout, managed to extricate Mike from the rest of the guys.
Impressive, Amy thought.
And when Roper strode over and cornered her, she hoped she had the nerve to act as boldly as Hannah had. What a difference a week made. Now Roper glanced at Amy with a devilish grin, all evidence of his anger at being tricked gone. So when he turned his sex appeal her way, it wasn’t hard to believe in herself and her ability to act on her feelings.
Because Amy was finished fighting the attraction between them.
ROPER STUDIED AMY, HER
tight jeans and sexy loose-fitting top, and realized she fit right in here. The woman who’d been uncomfortable earlier in her one-piece bathing suit was gone. In her place was the siren who called to him day and night, in his dreams and when they were wide-awake. Like now.
She shoved her hands into her pants pockets. “So have you calmed down?” she asked.
As if he hadn’t had a reason to be upset with her, he thought wryly.
He wasn’t fooled by her attempt to put the onus on him. But he didn’t mind it, either.
He leaned against the wall, just plain enjoying her. “You mean, have I forgiven you for dragging me up here against my will?” He was teasing. He just wasn’t sure whether or not she knew it yet.
She stepped closer until they were inches apart. Her scent, strawberry shampoo and pure woman, overtook his thoughts and all he could concentrate on was taking her in his arms and kissing her senseless—with no cell phone, Treo or family member interrupting them.
“I was looking out for you.” She met his gaze with those huge brown eyes that broke down his defenses.
Not that he had any left when it came to her. “I know that now.”
He treated her to a slow, easy, genuine smile meant to relax her and put all conflict behind them for good.
She released a puff of air, her relief that he was no longer angry evident. “So what made you come around and finally understand?”
“You did.” A stray curl fell onto her forehead and he plucked it off with one hand, allowing himself the pleasure of smoothing his palm down her head in a gentle caress. “Deep in your heart, you aren’t a manipulative sneaky person. Some time up here alone, no one to bother me, a workout and a whirlpool, and I relaxed enough to remember that.”
“Wow. You’re complimenting me.” The corner of her lips turned up in a cheeky grin. “Not only have you forgiven me but you’re pretty mellow.”
“And you seem to be enjoying yourself, too. You must be pretty relaxed yourself.”
“I wasn’t, but I am now,” she said.
He hoped the reason was his forgiveness, but he couldn’t be sure and raised an eyebrow in question. “And what’s so special about now?”
“Your calmer attitude, for one thing.”
“And the other thing?” he asked.
She shrugged, her attitude playful. “Isn’t a girl allowed to have secrets?” She bit down on her lower lip.
His gaze followed the movement, his gaze drawn to her sensual mouth. So she was playing coy. Miss All Business was suddenly flirting, he thought, amused. Hmm. Well, he couldn’t say he minded.
She was one of the perks of being here. “I took a walk earlier and discovered an amazing place. Want to see?” he asked.
She glanced over at their hostess, who appeared pretty tied up with her drummer. “I don’t think they’ll miss us,” she said, a mischievous glint in her eye.
“Come.” He took her hand and together they walked through the lodge’s main lobby where people wandered, some alone, some in small groups, while others gathered around the big-screen television at the bar.
“Do you want to stop first and have a drink?” He gestured to two empty stools in a private area.
She shook her head. “I’d rather have all my faculties tonight.
Nothing to drink. But thanks, anyway.”
He inclined his head and kept walking. Normally he’d think her unwillingness to indulge in alcohol was her way of reminding him they were only business associates, but something was different about her tonight. It wasn’t just her light mood or her teasing. It was
her.
She hadn’t removed her hand from his grasp and there was a sudden confidence emanating from her he hadn’t seen since meeting her at the wedding. Whatever had brought on the change, he was thankful for it.
And he had the sudden hope that her unwillingness to drink had more to do with her desire to remember each and every minute between them.
He led her past the gift and sundry shop to a point beyond the restaurants. While working off his frustration earlier, he’d come upon a solarium that was being cleaned. He let himself inside and found himself viewing a winter wonderland beyond the glass. It was a place he’d spent a quiet, contemplative hour.
The door was closed and he knocked once. When no one answered, he pushed it open and led her inside. Instead of turning on the lights, he kept the room dark, and when the door slammed shut behind them, he quietly turned the lock, giving them complete privacy.
“What is this place?” she asked.
“A sunroom,” he said. “I asked Lisa and she said it’s usually only open during the summer. But when I walked by, a crew was dusting and I peeked inside.” He’d looked out the wall-to-wall windows at the snowy landscape beyond and immediately knew he wanted to share the sight with Amy.
She strode to the windows and stared outside. Instead of looking at the scenery, he watched her. Eyes wide, she stared at the frosty view, lit up by outdoor lights and the ski trails in the distance.
“Wow. It’s beautiful,” she said in awe. “I’ve never seen snow like this before. I mean, I’ve seen the dirty slush in the city this winter but nothing like this.”
He hadn’t realized what she’d missed growing up in Florida. “Then I’m going to have to get you outside to experience the snow for real while we’re here.”
“Ooh, I’d love that.” Her voice dropped to a deeper husky sound that resonated inside him.
He stepped behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and looking out from over her shoulder. White snow covered the bare branches and stars filled the night sky. Without even realizing it, he eased himself forward so his body pressed more fully against her back.
His hands splayed across her stomach, and of its own volition, his penis grew hard and aching. It thrust against his jeans and pressed insistently against her rear end.
She sucked in a deep breath, but she didn’t protest or try to escape his hold. Obviously much had changed and he wasn’t about to question why.
He rested his chin on her shoulder. “It’s beautiful,” he said, turning his head slightly and nuzzling his lips against her neck.
“Mmm. Growing up in Florida, I always thought I had it all. Sunshine and beaches, warm weather. But now I know what I was missing. Will you really go outside with me? I want to touch the snow and feel it between my fingertips,” she said, her excitement rising.
He was rising, as well.
“I want to make a snow angel like I’ve seen on TV,” she continued.
Her enthusiasm was contagious, and he felt as if he were experiencing the same surge of emotions as Amy—all for the first time.
“I’ll take you anywhere you want to go,” he promised her.
She tipped her head backward. “I believe you,” she whispered.
She stared out the windows some more while he continued to nuzzle her neck with his lips, which quickly turned to suckling her soft skin. He couldn’t get enough of her taste, her scent, all of her.
He slipped his hands into the waistband of her jeans. She didn’t object, so he let his fingertips dip lower until he passed the low band on her panties and brushed the soft hair beneath.
She sucked in a shallow breath, and at the moment, he let his waist jerk forward, seeking relief he knew he wouldn’t find just yet. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy and he intended for her to do just that.
In the silken silence that surrounded them, he unbuttoned her jeans and lowered the zipper, never once turning her to face him.
“John?” she asked, her voice uncertain.
“We’re alone,” he reassured her. “I locked the door. Besides, no one comes back here. And with the thick trees out there, no one can see in.
It’s just us,” he promised her. “Isn’t that what you wanted for me?
Peace and quiet? Time to focus on what’s important?”