One she hadn’t been able to verbally reciprocate even though she knew without a doubt, she felt it deep in her heart. How could she not love a man who was so kind and generous, thoughtful and caring? Not just to his family but to her, as well. He’d made her wish for a day in the snow come true in a way that went beyond special. He could have just taken her outside. Instead he’d planned a fantasy afternoon.

But that was the problem. No matter what they both felt in here, she thought, her hand rising to her chest, it had been a moment out of time. Real life meant obligations he couldn’t extricate himself from and cameras that followed him everywhere he went.

That was a life of his choosing. Not hers.

Frustrated with her train of thought, she tossed her pen down onto her desk. Obviously she couldn’t concentrate on work. A glance at her watch told her it was late in the afternoon. She’d had it for today. With nothing pressing keeping her at the office, she decided to head home.

She began packing her bag, taking select things to review with her when she heard a knock at her door. “Come in,” she called, hoping nobody had an assignment that would keep her in the office later. She was more exhausted than she’d realized.

She glanced up at the same time her visitor strode inside. “Roper,” she said, surprised to see him. Her stomach flipped, nerves fluttering inside her.

“Hey, there,” he said casually. As if nothing important had happened the last time they’d met.

I love you. She considered that important.

He looked healthy and well. She knew from Micki and Yank that, despite his family obligations, he had been focusing on his recovery. Though he’d miss the beginning of spring training, the doctors were hopeful for a full recovery. But also according to Yank and Micki, his family still pulled his strings.

And he still let them.

“Let me guess. You just happened to be in the neighborhood. Visiting Yank or Micki?” She gripped the handle of her tote bag hard, yet strove for normalcy in her voice. Like in the deodorant commercial, she wouldn’t let him see her sweat.

“Nope.” He shut the door behind him. “I’m here to see you.”

“Oh.” Her mouth grew dry. “I was just leaving for the day.”

“Then I can walk you out.”

She shrugged. “That’s fine.”

He helped her on with her coat and they started for the door. “You look good,” he said.

Such a simple compliment and yet she grew warm all over. “Same for you. I hear your therapy is going well,” she said.

“I’m trying. The shoulder’s getting stronger. It helps that I’ve lowered my expectations of trying to be back in time for spring training. I find I’m more focused.”

They rode down the elevator and walked onto the street. “I was going to take a cab, but it’s a little warmer today so I think I’ll walk a bit,” she said.

“Sounds good. I’ll join you.”

They walked in silence, but the comfortable feeling they’d found at the lodge was gone. “How’s your family?” she finally asked when she couldn’t stand the stiff silence between them any longer.

“Good, actually.” He perked up at the question. “I’m glad you asked. It ties into the reason I wanted to talk to you. My mother has her hands full with Harrison and-”

The sudden singing noise from her cell phone interrupted him. She dug into her jacket pocket and pulled out her phone. “Sorry,” she said, glancing down and seeing a 718 phone number she didn’t recognize.

“Hello?”

“Amy, it’s Uncle Spencer,” his warm voice said.

“Hi, Uncle Spencer,” she said, more for Roper’s benefit so he’d know who was on the phone. “What’s up?” she asked.

Roper shoved his hands into his jacket pockets and waited patiently.

Her uncle went on to explain the reason for his call and a familiar panic settled deep in her bones. “Mom is where?” Amy yelled.

A young couple passing by her on the street turned and stared.

Roper immediately huddled near her side, placing a hand on her shoulder. She appreciated the support.

God, this couldn’t be happening. Not when she’d just carved out a perfectly sane, normal life for herself. She shut her eyes for a brief moment before she pulled herself together.

“I’ll be right there,” she told her uncle, ending the call. Then she turned to Roper. “My mom and my aunt are being held by security at JFK Airport.”

She stepped off the sidewalk and into the street, glancing around for a free taxi cab to take her to meet them.

Roper grasped her hand. “I have my car in the lot downstairs. I’ll drive you. It’ll be cheaper and quicker. Come.”

She drew a deep breath and met his gaze. “Thank you,” she said, grateful for his unquestioning support.

He steered her back toward the Hot Zone offices and to the elevator leading to the underground parking garage.

“I didn’t even know my mother was coming to town. Apparently they wanted to surprise me.” And she hadn’t seen it coming, Amy thought. “Uncle Spencer has a meeting he can’t miss, so it’s up to me to get them out.”

“And we will,” Roper assured her.

Amy was sure they would. As good as her mother and aunt were at getting into trouble, they were equally adept at talking themselves out of it. Or letting Amy do it for them. And to think, she’d been so anxious to start her new life, she’d let her mother remain in Florida unsupervised. She’d underestimated the older woman yet again.

Roper handed his ticket to the attendant and within minutes they were in his car and on their way. Amy finally started breathing again.

“I almost took the Porsche but I knew with all the stop and go traffic, there’d be no point. It was a good thing, too. At least I can fit them in the backseat.”

She nodded, grateful. Even in the midst of her panic, she could see how quickly, calmly and efficiently he’d taken charge. What a guy.

“Why are they being held by security?” he asked.

“Uncle Spencer didn’t give me a straight answer, which isn’t surprising given my mother and aunt. I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough.”

There was some traffic, but it moved at a decent pace and soon they’d pulled into the airport.

“I’ll drop you off, park and meet you in there,” he said, easing the car to the curb in front of the terminal.

She bit down on her lip. “You can drop me off and leave. I’m sure you have somewhere more important to be and-”

He placed his hand on hers, his touch doing more to calm her than anything could. “Nothing is more important than helping you through this,” he assured her.

Strong and capable. Roper had to be the perfect man.

For the first time, she could understand firsthand how and why his family had come to rely on him for everything. She couldn’t allow herself to do the same, especially since she’d faulted him for responding to them on cue.

“Really, I’ll be fine. I can take them home with me in a cab and-”

“I will be inside in five minutes. You’ll get to them sooner if you stop arguing and go,” he said, giving her a gentle yet firm push.

She inclined her head. Then, knowing she should just turn and head inside, she acted on impulse and placed a thank-you kiss on his cheek.

At least she meant for it to be on his cheek. But the scoundrel anticipated her move and with a quick shift of his head, he caused her lips to land squarely on his.

She didn’t pull away. Instead she leaned in closer. Her eyes closed, and for a sweet short time, she was back at the lodge, where real life couldn’t intrude. His lips parted, and his tongue swept over her lips, her teeth and then tangled with hers. Warmth eased from the pit of her stomach, shooting outward, overwhelming her senses…until a car honked, startling them and breaking the intimacy of the moment.

Flustered, she gathered her bag and darted out of the car.

ROPER MANAGED TO PARK and catch up with Amy before she was allowed in to see her relatives. A stiff man in a suit, who turned out to be the federal marshal on the plane, escorted Amy and Roper to the area where Darla and Rose were being held. The marshal explained that he worked with TSA, a component of the Department of Homeland Security and they were trying to assess whether Darla and Rose were terrorist risks.

More like attention seekers, Roper knew.

First, Amy introduced Roper to her family and they shook his hand, but they were too impatient to tell their story to spend time on pleasantries.

“So we were talking about how what happened with my luggage reminded us of the movie Meet the Parents,” Amy’s mother, Rose, said.

“And I said it wasn’t Meet the Parents, it was the second one, Meet the Fockers,” Darla said.

“It was Meet the Parents and the stewardess-”

“They’re called flight attendants now,” Darla interrupted her sister.

Rose rolled her eyes. “The flight attendant had taken my carry-on and gave it to the handlers to put it in the cargo area. I forgot, and when the plane landed in New York, I opened the top compartment to take out my luggage and Darla reminded me that my bag wasn’t there. So I said, I thought it was stupid. I could so have fit it on top.”

“But the flight attendant wouldn’t even let her try,” Darla said. “So we were reminded of Meet the Fockers.”

“Meet the Parents,” Rose interrupted. “And I said, in a complete and perfect impersonation of Ben Stiller, It’s not like there’s a bomb in it.”

Darla and Rose both spoke with animation, hands waving in the air. “Then some woman obviously misunderstood us and yelled, ‘that old lady said she has a bomb.’ Do I look old to you?” Rose asked Amy.

“No, Mom,” Amy said through gritted teeth. “Go on with the story.”