Page 12 of The Roper & the Author

“Today we’ll remedy that,” Easton said.

He finally released her as they reached a large room at the back of the barn. He flipped a light switch and illuminated the open space. She looked around and saw different machines with cables, a load of dumbbells and bars and round plates that had numbers on them as well as racks and benches. There was also a sparring ring set up.

“This is legit,” she cried out.

“For sure.” Easton grinned at her. “Now you’re picking up the lingo.”

“Yeah,hombre.” She did a little shimmy dance. Both men stared at her and she felt ... appealing. That look in Walker’s eyes made her heart thump out of beat.

“Okay, pretty lady,” Easton said. “What do you want us to teach you?”

“How to box?” she asked, looking from Easton to Walker.

The brothers exchanged a look and then looked back at her. “We could box later,” Walker said evenly. “Do you want to lift weights with us first? Or I could go on a run with you if you’d prefer.”

Alone with Walker on a run. She wanted to sign up for that, right now.

“Let’s lift first,” Easton said. “Then we can all go on a run. Then we can spar for her.”

“Bossy, bossy,” Marci teased. “Let me guess. Easton is the older twin.”

“That’s right.” Easton grinned as if she’d complimented him. “The alpha male for certain.”

Walker didn’t say anything, simply waited for her reaction. She clapped her hands and said, “That is exactly right. I have figured you two out. Easton is the alpha male for sure—a dominant, natural leader, confident, in charge.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” Easton flexed his muscles and postured.

Walker ran his hand through his hair and then folded his mouthwatering arms across his chest.

“And Walker is the sigma,” Marci cried out. It fit so perfectly.

“The sigma?” Walker asked quietly.

“Easton knows. It’s a huge teenage term right now. The sigma is similar to the alpha but much, much better.” She nodded, hoping she didn’t offend Easton, but Walker was better in every way, at least for her. Walker’s blue eyes were warm and full of her.

“What?” Easton shook his head. “That’s not right.”

“Oh, for sure. Do your research. I just put this in a book and Google agrees with me. The sigma is strong, successful, and independent. He doesn’t need validation from anyone and doesn’t need to posture or show off. He’s confident and more than enough just being himself.”

Walker’s slow smile grew on his face. His blue gaze shot heat through her, and her pulse took off.

“Sigma.” Easton rolled his eyes. “Let’s get working out. We’re on back and biceps today.”

“All right, let’s do it.” She had offended Easton. Dang. She never wanted to offend anyone, especially the twin of the most perfect man in existence. Yet Walker needed to know how extraordinary he was.

Marci stayed as close as she could to Walker as the men instructed her and thoughtfully interrupted their own workouts to help her time and again. They tried to find hand weights light enough for her to use, but she couldn’t even ‘curl’ the twenty-five pounders, their lightest dumbbells. They mostly had her use resistance bands and the cable machine. She was exhausted after half an hour of trying to keep up with them and their big muscles. Her favorite part was watching Walker as he lifted the weights. Heavy, heavy weights that made his muscles pop.

“Oy, those muscles areglorioso,” she told him far too many times.

Usually it was Easton who would respond, “I know,” and flex for her. Then she’d laugh and they’d all get back to work.

It was the most fun working out she’d ever had. As a bonus, she learned some new exercises and gained a better understanding of weightlifting that would be helpful to incorporate in her novels. She usually Googled a strength training workout if she needed one for a book and then promptlyforgot it. Most of her research was that way, in her brain and then out, but it lodged there when she participated in an activity.

Abuelita was right that she needed to get out more and especially date more. If only Walker didn’t live across the country. Would she see him again after Abuelita was safe and the bad guys were captured? That made her shoulders sag a bit.

“Keep that back straight,” Walker cautioned as he used one side of the cable machine and she used the other for … oh yes, upright rows, Easton had called them.

“Can you help me do that?” she asked, wanting to feel his touch again. It was odd that Easton had touched her almost too often this morning, but Walker had kept his distance. She needed to figure out how one of her heroines would show the more reticent cowboy twin that she was very, very interested. Real life romance wasn’t quite as smooth or easy as bringing love to life through her keyboard, but it was a million times more exciting.

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