Roper held back his laughter because he could see how obviously stressed Amy was. But the women, with their bright red lipstick, overdyed hair and deep circles of rouge on their cheeks, looked more like Kewpie dolls than terrorists. And Roper thought the way they each argued their point was hilarious.

“Of course we don’t look old to you,” Rose said, ignoring Amy’s request. “You see us all the time.” Rose then took Roper off guard by walking up to him. “You’re a young, handsome man. Do I look old to you?” She nudged him with her elbow and batted her thick eyelashes.

“No, ma’am,” he said, holding back a chuckle. “You’re beautiful.”

Amy shot him a warning look that clearly said don’t humor them. He couldn’t help it, they were so cute.

“Why, thank you,” Rose said. “You see, Darla?”

“What about me? Do I look old?” Darla asked him, pushing her sister out of the way.

Roper grinned. “You’re absolutely breathtaking, too,” he told her.

Pleased, both women relaxed and smiled. “So anyway,” Rose continued, “someone yells, ‘The old lady has a bomb!’ And all hell broke loose. That man who brought you in here had been sitting in front of us and he turned around and practically dove over the seat. The rest of the passengers went into utter panic.”

“There was nearly a stampede thanks to that crazy woman,” Darla said, nodding.

Amy raised an eyebrow. “You think she was the crazy woman?” she asked.

Both relatives ignored her. “Next thing you know, they evacuate the plane and corral everyone into one area, except for us. They brought us in here. Apparently they had to check all the carry-on bags underneath the plane to make sure they didn’t miss something in security the first time around. They thought we were planning to blow up the airport!”

“They can’t be too careful these days,” Roper said seriously.

Rose and Darla nodded. “We understand. If only that woman hadn’t made a scene, nobody would have been detained.”

“And you don’t think you had anything to do with that little scene?” Amy perched her hands on her hips and confronted her family.

Roper thought they blushed, though it was hard to tell beneath the heavy rouge.

“It was a misunderstanding,” Darla said. “Not that your uncle Spencer thought so. He was furious, but he promised us you’d be here to handle things.”

“Of course she’s here. My beautiful, smart girl always rescues us,” Rose said, pulling Amy into a hug. “I’ve missed you.”

Amy hugged her mother back. “I missed you, too.” She turned to her aunt. “You, too,” she said, wrapping her arms around the other woman, as well.

For all her frustration, Amy obviously genuinely adored the women in her family.

Roper watched the byplay with interest. This was the only real firsthand glimpse he’d gotten into Amy’s family and background, and a few things jumped out at him immediately. Her home situation wasn’t much different from his. Her mother and aunt created situations and she rescued them on command.

It didn’t take a psychologist to figure out that Amy dove into handling his family so methodically not because she was used to handling her own, but because she couldn’t control them. In managing Roper’s family issues, she’d been able to take charge in a way she hadn’t been able to with her own family. She saw herself in Roper, and when Roper fell back into old habits, she’d backed away.

He’d gotten some insight into Amy’s emotions. But he hadn’t gotten enough. With her mother here, he hoped to gain even more.

“Mom, you really should have told me you were coming for a visit,” Amy said.

“And ruin the surprise? What fun would that be?”

“None at all,” Amy muttered. “So how do we get you two out of here?”

Rose seated herself in a metal chair. “The grumpy air marshal said he’d be back. He had to confer with his colleagues.”

“Do you think they’ll do a background check like they do on the TV show COPS?” Aunt Darla asked, walking to the small window and glancing out.

“Oh, Lord.” Amy chose the nearest chair and lowered herself into it.

Roper gave Amy’s shoulder a squeeze. “Why don’t I go outside and see what I can find out.”

Amy glanced up. “I’d appreciate it.”

“Not so fast,” Rose said. “Amy introduced you and we know you’re a professional ballplayer, but she didn’t say what your relationship is. What are your intentions? Because when you come to help rescue a woman’s relatives from the hoosegow, then you must have some personal interest, yes?”

“Remember, my sister is like a professional lie detector,” Darla said. “If you’re not telling the truth, she’ll sniff it out.”

“Oh, for God’s sake, leave him alone,” Amy said. “Roper, please go find out when I can take them home,” she said, pleading with him.

Because her mother and aunt were wackier than his family, he took pity on her and agreed. “Okay. When I get back, we can discuss your questions,” he promised the women.

They reluctantly agreed.

So Roper headed out of the room to get Amy’s mother and aunt sprung. Afterward, he thought, the real fun could begin.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

HER FAMILY WAS FREE. Amy sensed Roper had signed a few autographs and promised tickets to Renegades games in order to hasten the release process. He hadn’t said, but the people who’d eventually released her mother and aunt had been huge fans, shaking Roper’s hand and thanking him. He refused to say for what.

TSA and Homeland Security actually did perform a background check on the women and discovered their penchant for getting into ridiculous trouble back in Florida. It was soon obvious terrorism wasn’t an issue. Insanity was, though, Amy thought wryly. But since the incident had been more of a misunderstanding than any kind of practical joke, the women were released into the general population of New York-complete with a behavioral warning for the future.

Amy was exhausted.

“So what are we doing tonight?” Aunt Darla asked, from her seat in the back of Roper’s car.

Amy closed her eyes and groaned. But at least they hadn’t started asking Roper questions about his intentions again.

“I need to make some calls and find you two a hotel. I’m afraid my apartment is too small,” Amy explained. “By the time I get you settled, it’ll be too late to do anything tonight.” Amy turned around in time to see her mother wink at her aunt. “What was that wink for?” Amy asked.

“You can go home and sleep. Darla and I want to hit one of the clubs,” her mother said.

“Oh, no.”

“Ladies, I think I have a solution,” Roper said. “Do you want to hear it?” he asked Amy.

She leaned her head back and nodded. “Yes, please.” She owed him more than she could say for just being here.

“Instead of a hotel, why don’t your mother and aunt share my guest room? It has two double beds and they’ll have their own bathroom. And I’ll be there to keep them company.”

Meaning he’d make sure they didn’t get into trouble by sneaking out at night.

The rest of the thought went unsaid, but it was glaringly obvious. “I couldn’t impose like that,” Amy said. No matter how good a solution he provided. Nobody should be subjected to dealing with her family twenty-four/seven.

“We’d love to!” Rose and Darla said at the same time, ignoring Amy as usual. “That’s just so kind of you. We won’t be any trouble.”

“Are your fingers crossed behind your back?” Roper asked, laughing.

“You have a season to get ready for, remember? You can’t afford any distractions,” Amy said, her heart beating out a panicked rhythm.

Not only did Roper need to focus on his career, Amy didn’t want her family getting close to the man she was trying to avoid.

“My family is a distraction for me. Your family is not,” he assured her.

“You see? We’re not a distraction.”

Amy didn’t turn around to see which one of her relatives spoke. They sounded alike and she didn’t much care.

He leaned closer, never taking his eyes from the road. “It’s different when nobody’s pulling your emotional strings,” he said softly, so only she could hear. “I can handle them and still keep all my appointments.” Roper reached out and placed his hand on her thigh.

She knew he meant to reassure her but he aroused her instead. Talk about pushing emotional buttons, this man had hers down pat.

“It’s still an imposition.”

“Not when I offer freely. Besides, they want to stay with me.”

“We do,” the two chimed in from the backseat.

Amy groaned. “It looks as if I’m outnumbered.”

“Wait until I call home and tell everyone we’re staying with the famous John Roper. You know many of our residents are originally from New York. They still follow the Renegades and you’re big news,” Darla said.

“I didn’t think you knew who I was when Amy introduced me,” Roper said, glancing at them from the rearview mirror.

Rose laughed. “Well, we didn’t want to embarrass you. We do have some sense of decorum. We know how to behave around a celebrity. Besides, who knows if the room was bugged.”

“Oh, give me a break,” Amy said. They’d obviously been watching too much television without her there to set up activities.

“We’re almost at my apartment,” Roper said.

“Good! Thank you so much for your generosity,” Rose said. “We won’t tell a single soul about your engagement to my daughter until you’re ready to announce it publicly.”

“What engagement?” Amy practically shrieked.

“The one Roper promised the guard would be happening soon, of course,” her mother said, confident she had the whole situation figured out.

“Roper?” Amy asked, her head pounding hard.

He shook his head and grinned. “I promised to speak at his son’s graduation.”