Carly Phillips - Hot Property

“Um…How comfortable?” her aunt asked.

Amy narrowed her gaze. “Why?”

“We’re having dinner company,” her mother said.

“Who?” Amy asked warily. If they’d invited Roper over, she was going to throttle them for interfering.

“While we were cooking for you, your phone rang and we answered. It was a gentleman who said he wanted to know your side of the story regarding those pictures on the Internet,” her mother said.

“And so you just had to invite him over?” Amy asked, appalled, but not all that surprised.

“Well, of course!” Her aunt waved a spoon in emphasis. “You know how polite we are. Besides, the gentleman explained that you’d need someone on your side and he was the best person for the job.”

Amy rubbed her burning eyes. “Does this gentleman have a name?”

“Frank Buckley from eSports,” her mother said. “Amy, be a dear and get the wine that’s been chilling in the refrigerator?”

Amy glanced at the ceiling and counted to ten and back again but there was no getting away from the truth. Roper had been right. She’d helped him get his life together, but she hadn’t been able to do the same for herself. And as a result, she was here with her mother and her aunt, about to discuss pornographic pictures of herself with the reporter who hated Roper the most.

She had to take control and she had to do it now. Before her new life here in New York shattered beyond recognition.

“Listen, we need to talk.”

Her mother nodded. “And we will. But first, you might as well change clothes. Our guest won’t be here until seven and it’s only three-thirty now. Why don’t you get comfortable. You’ll be able to change back into a nice, unwrinkled, presentable outfit later.”

Amy sighed. “I’ll worry about how I’m going to deal with Buckley later. First we’re going to talk. The three of us, so sit. Please.” She gestured to the small set of couches.

Her mother and aunt gave each other concerned glances before settling themselves on the cushions.

Amy sat down between them. “You both know how much I love you, right?”

“We love you, too,” they said at the same time.

Amy swallowed hard. “What I’m going to say isn’t easy, but it has to be said.” She rubbed her hands against her pants, nerves setting in. These two women meant the world to her. They’d raised her, they adored her, and she felt the same way about them.

They also caused more trouble than two five-feet-one-inch women should be able to. She adored them for their quirkiness, but she needed them to keep their antics in Florida. Far from Amy-except for planned vacations.

“I’m glad you came to visit because I really missed you both.”

“We’re glad, too. It’s been fun,” her aunt Darla said.

“What’s wrong? You seem sad.” Her mother put her hand on Amy’s shoulder.

Rose had always understood her daughter and it was no different now. Unfortunately for Amy, she was about to break her mother’s heart. “Mom, in case you don’t realize it, my life’s a little hectic at the moment.”

“Which is why it’s good your aunt and I are here, right?” Her mother looked at her with her big, imploring eyes.

Amy drew a deep breath. It was now or never, she thought. She might not have been able to fight for her relationship with Roper-something she’d yet had time to analyze. But suddenly she was ready to fight for herself and her future.

She leaned forward. “It’s not so good that you’re here right now, Mom.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, hurt in her voice.

“I came to New York to grow up,” she said, looking toward the bookshelves she’d put her favorite things upon. “I thought I was doing that, but it turns out I was just running away from things,” she said, more to herself than to them.

“I don’t understand,” her mother said. “Darla, do you understand what Amy is saying?”

Her aunt shook her head. “No, but I think she does and that’s what matters.”

“I left Florida to get a life. Instead, I’ve still been running away from one,” she said, coming to the realization as she spoke.

She’d put miles between herself and her family. But it wasn’t them she was running from-it was herself. It was time to stop. To deal with her past and embrace her future, one that, she hoped, included Roper.

“All I ever wanted was for you and dad to be proud of me,” Amy said, taking her first step.

“I am. And he would be. Just look at you, my beautiful girl.”

Amy smiled. “I love you for saying that, but don’t you think that this mess with the photographers, the naked pictures…” She shook her head. “He’d be appalled.”

“At the people who did it to you, yes. But not at you! He admired people with spunk. Why do you think he married me? I was the same crazy woman at eighteen that I am now. And I refuse to discuss my age, so don’t ask.”

Aunt Darla opened her mouth but Rose shot her a look that clearly said “Don’t you dare.”

Her sister shut it without speaking.

Amy laughed.

“Amy, you’ve got the best of both of us-my crazy side and your father’s sensibility. He adored you and thought you could do no wrong, no matter what you did with your life.” Then she chuckled. “Although I must say, it’s a good thing those pictures aren’t really of you. That I don’t think he could have handled.”

Amy glanced at her mother and her heart was filled with gratitude.

As she looked at the mother she’d always loved and the aunt who’d always been there for her, too, Amy came to yet another epiphany. It wasn’t so bad to be like the two women sitting here.

She was glad her mother said her father would have approved of her choices. But in reality she’d already come to the conclusion, as she sat here with her mother and aunt, that it didn’t matter as long as she herself approved of her choices.

In moderation, what was wrong with having fun? Unlike her relatives, Amy knew where and when to behave. So she’d made love with Roper in front of a set of windows-in a locked room facing a wintry landscape where it had been very unlikely they’d have been caught.

And if they’d been photographed? Could it be any worse than the doctored pictures on the Internet now? Amy shook her head and laughed, feeling lighter than she had in ages. She wrapped her hands around her knees, rocked back and forth and thought of all the ways she’d tried to run from Roper. All the excuses she’d made.

And that’s what they were.

Excuses.

After being fired from her first job, she’d retreated home to lick her wounds-and she’d stayed there. It had been easy and fun and she never had had to worry about what people would think. Her job at the retirement community, by definition, allowed for the eccentric behavior of those around her.

Her move to New York had been more overwhelming than she’d expected, and she’d been running from her fear-fear of not being able to make it here-without knowing it. Not until Roper had pointed it out today. And even then, she’d refused to admit he was right.

“What’s so funny?” her mother asked. “First you weren’t happy we’re here and now you’re laughing.”

“I think I’m just realizing what a fool I’ve been.” About so many things.

“So is it good we’re here? Or not so good we’re here?” Aunt Darla asked.

Amy bit down on the inside of her cheek. “It’s good you’re here now…”

“But?” her mother asked.

“But next time can we schedule a visit so I can take some legitimate time off?” And give her time to plan some activities that would keep them busy and out of trouble.

“We can do that,” her mother said, nodding.