“I appreciate her concern, but there’s nothing she can do unless she’s got a magic cure for the shoulder.”
Even Yank knew when to give a man space, and John Roper needed it more than Yank had realized. “I’ll make you a deal,” he said to the man he both liked and admired.
“What’s that?”
“Come to the party and I promise nobody will be talking business.
You could use some time to relax. No media invited. What do you say?”
Roper remained silent for too long.
Obviously the man was tense and strung tight if he couldn’t bring himself to say he’d come to a party. “When was the last time you got laid?” Yank asked, voicing the first question that came to mind.
“None of your damn business.”
Yank chuckled at the quick answer. “Then it’s been too damn long.”
Yank had seen the symptoms in other good men, as well. Men who spent too much time alone and needed a woman in their lives. Not that he’d know…No sir, but he knew Roper needed a distraction from focusing on his World Series screwup or the start of spring training in February.
Too bad Yank had already hooked up his three nieces with solid men. But just because his girls were taken didn’t mean Yank couldn’t work his magic with Roper and another woman.
But who could he find to put up with a man who liked things orderly and neat, designer and upscale? He went through the women in his office, then smacked himself for being so dense. He should have thought of the female solution to Roper’s problems sooner.
Amy Stone, the niece of his partner, Spencer Atkins. She was feisty, pretty and single, and only an idiot could have missed the sparks between Amy and Roper at Sophie’s wedding. Roper’s date had been a bimbo but not an idiot, Yank thought, recalling the drink she’d spilled down Roper’s shirt and their immediate exit right afterward. And since Amy had just moved to the city and taken a position at the Hot Zone, she didn’t know many people in town. Yes, sir, Amy was his answer.
He didn’t intend to tell Roper, though. Yank loved surprises. “Come to the party,” Yank insisted.
“You’ll leave me alone if I do?”
Yank nodded. “Scout’s honor,” he said, raising his hand.
Roper shrugged. “Okay, then. Why the hell not?”
Yank tugged on Noodle’s leash, and as they walked out the door, Yank whistled, pleased with his handiwork.
J.D. met him by the car. “Why are you in such a good mood?”
“Because I’m not a Boy Scout and I never have been,” Yank said, laughing. John Roper was about to benefit from Yank being a lying, meddling son of a bitch.
AMY LOVED FLORIDA. SHE
enjoyed the warm weather all year, the ease of never having to wear a winter jacket. It was one of the reasons she’d stayed down South instead of going away to college. She also was a person who appreciated comfortable surroundings, and her home and family in Florida represented the familiar.
Her father had died of a heart attack when she was young. But thanks to her mother and aunt, and her uncle’s frequent visits, she’d never felt alone or neglected. Still, she’d been old enough to remember her father and she’d always felt his absence in her life. While her mother was wild, spirited and free, her father had been more reserved, the epitome of good manners.
When she was a kid, she’d had some wild antics of her own, like when her father had insisted they give the puppy she’d found to the pound. Granted it was a no-kill shelter, but she’d wanted that dog, and to prove her point, she’d picketed—with signs—from the garage roof below her bedroom window. He had insisted she come down before she fell off, making his disapproval with her technique clear along with his fear for her safety. He preferred she use traditional, safe methods to make her point instead of alerting the neighbors and causing them to panic and call both him and 9-1-1.
She laughed at the memory, because it had been one of the few times she’d made use of her mother’s genes—the ones she usually kept hidden inside her. From that point on, she’d tried to please her father and rein in any wildness. Even after he was gone, Amy had never stopped trying to please him.
Being a social worker, helping out others in need, was something she knew her father would have been proud of. When she’d lost that job, thanks to one of her mother’s more outrageous stunts, she’d been devastated and she’d retreated home to lick her wounds. While there, she fell into the habit of looking out for her mother and her friends, again something her father would have approved of. She’d ended up as the social director of the seniors’ community and she had to admit the job had been a good fit for her.
But she’d spent enough time watching over her mother and she missed being with people her own age. Amy had woken up on her birthday and realized not only hadn’t she accomplished her old dreams, she’d forgotten to make new ones. Uprooting herself from the familiar was the first step in forging a new life. One that included a new career
—with the Hot Zone thanks to her uncle Spencer and the generosity of the Jordan sisters in giving her a chance.
Now, on New Year’s Eve, she stepped off the elevator at the Park Avenue offices of the Hot Zone and glanced at the guests, the male ones in particular, and an immediate feeling of déjà vu swept over her.
Just like at Sophie and Riley’s wedding, she felt out of her element.
Would she ever get used to being surrounded by buff, hot men? She hoped not, she thought, as she glanced around at her new normal.
The coat-check woman greeted her and took her jacket. A server offered her a glass of champagne, which Amy declined. She wanted a clear head for all the new faces and names she’d encounter, as well as access to her memories of those she’d already met at the wedding.
Those memories were vivid. Especially the ones of John Roper and how disappointed she’d been by his deception. Of course, maybe he’d have told her about his date given more time.
And maybe he hadn’t leaned close enough to kiss her cheek, she thought, still disappointed by the outcome. No matter how much she wanted to believe he’d been as blindsided by their attraction as she’d been, that he couldn’t help but act on it, date or no date, she knew she was deceiving herself. In all likelihood, the man was exactly what he seemed to be—a guy trying to juggle more than one woman at a time.
The man was a superstar athlete, a celebrity who was probably used to women falling at his feet. Amy had grown up listening to her uncle’s stories of his famous clients. And Amy had inadvertently played the role of doting admirer. But that wasn’t who she was. Amy wasn’t into the glitz, glamour and fame celebrity brought.
She exhaled a stream of air, annoyed at herself for giving Roper any thought at all. She forced herself to focus to the holiday decorations that lingered from Christmas and the pretty silver balls hanging from the ceiling. A professionally decorated tree sat in the corner twinkling with lights that were sure to be taken down soon after the first of the year. The decor outdid anything she, her mother and aunt back in Florida had managed to set up in the clubhouse each year.
“Amy?”
She turned at the sound of her name above the noise of the happy crowd. Sophie Jordan approached quickly, a warm smile on her face.
No matter how many times Amy saw Sophie, she was always shocked by her beauty and perfection. Tonight her honey-blond hair was pulled back in a neat knot, her face beautifully made up.
Amy hugged Sophie, the sister who was the organizer behind the Hot Zone. She had met Sophie for the first time in Florida last year.
Though Sophie wasn’t as touchy-feely as Amy, she hugged right back.
“You look happy. Marriage to my cousin must agree with you,” Amy said, taking in Sophie’s glowing face.
Sophie grinned. “Well, marriage to Riley
is
pretty darn good.”
“I just bet it is. Where is my cousin, anyway?”
“He’ll be here soon.”
“And your sisters?” Amy glanced over Sophie’s shoulder. “Are they around here somewhere?”
“Unfortunately Micki’s still on the island—her husband, Damian, owns a slice of paradise. Her daughter had a respiratory infection and Damian insisted on taking the family to a warmer climate for a little while. From what they say, it seems to be helping. But Annabelle is here working the crowd. I’m sure you’ll see her soon.”
Amy nodded. “Well, please send Micki my love.”
“I will. And you can do it yourself at the first staff meeting in a few days.”
Amy already knew she was stepping into a high-profile, high-pressure place with loyalty and dedication in spades, and she wanted to play a successful part. Nepotism might have gotten her the job, but only proving herself would keep her here. She was definitely ready for the challenge.
“Well, look who’s here!” a booming male voice said. Her uncle’s partner, Yank, pulled her into a big hug at the same time Amy caught sight of his wife, Lola, standing behind him.
Amy waved to the other woman, who smiled right back.
“Just tell me your crazy mother and aunt are still at home in Florida,” Yank said as he stepped back.
Lola groaned. “Ignore him. He’s had a drink or two and doesn’t know what he’s saying.” She smacked her husband on the shoulder.
“I’m stone-cold sober. You’ve been watering down my drinks all night.” He leaned closer to Amy. “She thinks just because I can’t see, my taste buds have gone, too.”
And he thought Amy’s relatives were crazy? She shook her head and laughed. “No problem, Lola. I’ve heard from Uncle Spencer that Yank says whatever’s on his mind.” She shot the older man a grateful look.
“Thank you for giving me a chance here,” she told him.
Yank grinned, obviously pleased. “You see? The only one who’s got a problem with me is you,” Yank said to his wife.
Sophie rolled her eyes. “Okay, you said your hellos, Uncle Yank.
How about giving me a chance to introduce Amy to some other people at the party?”
“I’d like that.” Amy rubbed her hands together.
“Why not start with someone she knows and ease her in. John Roper’s over there in the corner,” Yank said without much tact.
Amy’s stomach flipped. “Oh, I think we can skip over him,” Amy said, only partially meaning it. A traitorous part of her wanted to get a glimpse of him again.
“Nonsense. Amy wouldn’t want him to think he was avoiding her, considering he’s been eyeing
her
since she walked into the room,” Yank said.
“He has?” Amy asked, then wished she could bite her tongue and take it back. Still, she had to admit it stroked her ego to know Roper’s eyes had been on her since she’d arrived. She had to force herself not to glance at the corner and look over at
him.
Lola scowled at her husband. “Leave Amy alone,” she instructed.
“Lola’s right,” Sophie said. “But tell me something. Just how would you know where Roper is, considering you can’t see well enough to identify anyone?” Sophie perched her hands on her hips and eyed her uncle warily.
“She’s got your number, old man,” Lola said, laughing.
“Who are you calling old?” he grumbled.
Lola ignored him, meeting Sophie’s gaze instead. “Actually, Yank’s been checking up on Roper ever since he arrived. I feel like the man’s personal GPS system.”
“Speaking of guides, where is Noodle?” Sophie asked.
“One of the staff took the dog out for a walk.” Lola gestured toward the windows overlooking the city. “They’ll be back soon.”
Sophie nodded. “Gotcha. Well, I can understand your concern for Roper. We’ve all been worried about him lately. The papers have been brutal.”
Despite her better judgment, Amy’s curiosity got the better of her.
“Why? What’s going on?”
The other three stared at one another, wide-eyed and surprised.
“I guess New Yorkers forget that not everyone else’s world revolves around sports,” Sophie said, realization dawning. “You know that the Renegades made it to the World Series?”
Amy nodded. She just hadn’t kept up with the details since the opposing team hadn’t been from Florida.
“Roper went into the post season in a serious slump,” Sophie said in a low whisper. “He didn’t play well at all in the series, struck out in the clutch and injured his shoulder in an attempt to stop a home run. The team lost the series and Roper became the media scapegoat.”
“Ouch.” Poor man, she thought, then caught herself. The
poor man
didn’t need her pity, that much she knew for sure.
Despite herself, Amy’s gaze came to rest on the sexy guy who had made her pulse kick up a notch and her mouth go dry.
And he still had a female cozying up to him just like the last time.
“He doesn’t look happy,” Sophie murmured.
She was right. Despite the attention of a woman who appeared to be hanging on his every word, Roper appeared dazed and bored.
“How odd,” Lola said. “Normally Roper loves every bit of attention he can get, female or otherwise.”
Amy pursed her lips and kept silent. She’d once been all too happy to shower him with that attention. Thanks to the scene made by his date at the wedding, everyone here knew it.
“Must be today’s paper that’s getting to him,” Yank said. “Lola read it to me earlier. The
News
ran a list of New Year’s resolutions. Said if Roper didn’t get a renewed dose of talent from Santa, he should resolve to take a one-way ticket to Siberia as his contribution to the team.”
“That’s awful,” Amy said, shocked by the brutal treatment despite her feelings about Roper at the moment.
“That’s New York,” Sophie replied. “Something you’ll be getting used to, I promise.”
Amy nodded. “Still, I can’t imagine being the center of such negative press day in and day out.”
Yank shrugged. “In this city, it comes with the territory. The bigger the contracts, the worse the scrutiny and the higher the expectations.
Let’s go save him,” Yank said. He practically gave Amy a shove forward, calling Roper’s name at the same time.
So much for steering clear of him, Amy thought. And one glance his way had her wondering why she wanted to.
“I’m sorry,” Sophie whispered, catching up with her.
“Not a problem,” Amy said with a forced smile as they walked forward.