Page 31 of The Roper & the Author

“Sure.” She smiled. “Hopefully we won’t drip dirty lake water in her kitchen.”

“There are towels in the mudroom.”

She kept up with his long legs and speed walk, wondering why he wouldn’t share more about his oldest brothers’ saga with their ladies. So intriguing. Walker didn’t seem the type to hide things from her, but what did she know?

She felt like she knew him so well, but he hadn’t responded to some of her leading statements. If one of her heroines had said ‘tremendous’ to the hero not having a girlfriend, the hero would’ve said or done something about it, maybe even stopped and kissed the heroine in this scenic and romantic forest.

Was she only fantasizing about Walker and thinking they were meant to be? If he didn’t feel the same, it didn’t matter much what she thought.

Chapter

Ten

Walker stewedabout Marci saying it was ‘tremendo’,which he was ninety-nine percent meant tremendous about Easton not having a girlfriend, and then the reminder of Clint and Lily and Miles and Eva. Thinking about his brothers’ convoluted stories to finding their right one made him wonder what he was doing with Marci. He was going to damage his twin brother if he didn’t get some distance. He was falling hard and fast for Marci. Holding her close in the water had been a slice of heaven. He’d only forced himself to let her go because she was obviously freezing. Not for a moment had he thought about Easton.

They made it back to the main house and ate breakfast with Mama and Papa and then he excused himself to go train with his horses for roping. After training, he was hot and sweaty and ready to shower. There was no more news from Aiden and nothing from Easton either. As he came out of the shower, he saw a text from Papa asking him to check the fence line. There was also a text from Easton saying he planned to be home late tonight and thanking him for watching over Marci.

Guilt swirled through him. He slowly made his way out of his room. Should he knock on Marci’s door or leave her here with Mama? She’d be fine writing her books, maybe. But he was her protector. He needed to stay by her side, and they had planned on a hike.

Before he could second guess himself, he rapped on her door. A moment later, she flung it open. She was in a T-shirt and jeans. The way those jeans fit was almost as appealing as the smile on her gorgeous face and the scent of coconut that swirled in the air.

“What’s the plan now,mi vaquero guapo?”

How could he not smile back at her? How could he not make a plan with her when she was so irresistible?

Easton coming home tonight was good. He’d talk to his twin and beg him to understand that Marci was perfect for Walker; he knew it deep down. What if Easton still felt the same? Could he compete with and possibly injure his closest brother and best friend? Especially when Easton had never healed from Cassie. Yet giving Easton a chance with Marci felt like casting pearls before swine. Not that his brother was swine, but he hadn’t proven he could be loyal to a woman in ten years. What if Walker stepped back, Easton won Marci’s heart, and then he broke it?

“What does that mean?” he asked.

“My handsome cowboy.” Her cheeks tinged red, but she held eye contact.

Walker’s own eyes widened. If only he could be hers. “I need to go ride the fence line and check it,” he said quickly, noticing her sparkling mahogany brown eyes dimmed a bit at him not responding to her alluring line. If he responded, he’d pin her against the wall and kiss her until she knew he was hers.

“Can I come with you?”

He regarded her. She’d be safe here, but … “Sure. You are my responsibility, after all,” he said, smiling and hoping it sounded teasing, not lame.

“Si.” But she sounded disappointed in his response. “Let me grab my shoes.”

He paced as he waited, stewing about Easton and how to make Marci his without hurting his brother. He felt deep in his soul that Marci was meant to be his, but that was her choice. He knew as soon as Easton got here, his brother would do everything in his power to influence that choice in his direction.

“Let’s do this,” Marci called out, her bright smile in place.

He put his hand on the small of her back, earning a bigger smile from her. Every touch, smile, and word felt so right.

They walked out of the house and into the barn. He hadn’t found her a hat and boots yet. Dang.

“Do you want to ride on your own today?” he asked as they approached the horse’s stalls.

“No,por favor,” she said quietly.

“Bueno,” he returned, grateful he at least knew how to say ‘good’.

She rewarded him with a brilliant smile. His heart took off. She wanted to ride with him. They’d be extra close. Again. He was crossing so many lines he didn’t know where to stop, and he didn’t want to.

He hurried to saddle Johnny Boy and before long they were riding double through the ranch yard. He wrapped his left arm tight around her waist, his hand across her abdomen. His right hand held the reins. Marci was pressed in tight against him in the saddle, her coconut scent messing with his mind in the best possible way.

He’d loved horses, riding, and roping his entire life, but even his most exciting events, adventures with his brothers, and wins at rodeos couldn’t compare to the thrill of having Marci close while slowly walking the horse.