Page 23 of The Roper & the Author

She couldn’t think of anything right now. That in and of itself shocked her. She always had some idea, scene, or inspiration brewing in her mind.

Walker Coleville pushed out any thoughts except him.

Chapter

Eight

Walker wasready to burst with conflicting emotions by the time dinner finished and he and Marci helped his mama and papa clean up and then they went into the security center next to the home office to wait for news from Aiden. It was almost eight p.m. their time, which meant almost ten in Florida. The instructions from the perps should be coming in and Autumn would act on them.

He wanted Marci’s grandmother safe and the men apprehended. He wanted Wilhelm Frederick and Benjamin Oliver captured. He wanted Marci never to leave his side. He wanted her to be his, not Easton’s.

He’d been angry at Clint when Lily stayed with his sheriff brother as a fake fiancé protection detail. Now he was getting a taste of his own medicine. Clint had felt torn apart trying to keep himself from kissing and loving Lily because of his loyalty to Walker.

Now the situation was flip flopped and Walker was the one fighting his longing for Marci because of Easton. He needed to apologize to Clint, find Easton and tell him he couldn’t resistMarci for one more moment, and then kiss Marci until she had to leave him. Could they set up plans to date long distance?

He shook his head at himself. They weren’t dating. At all. Easton thought Marci was his special someone. Walker felt the same. If Marci could truly be Easton’s ‘one’ and help him heal from ten years of heartache, Walker was being a jerk, but if Marci was truly Walker’s right fit, he couldn’t back down. Not this time.

She’d probably be returning to Florida tonight or in the morning. What a mess.

Marci reached over and clasped his hand.

Everything settled and there wasn’t a concern or worry in Walker’s mind. Of course Marci was meant to be his. Of course she wouldn’t leave him. If she had to go back to her Florida home, she’d come back for him. He’d go visit the beautiful beach for her.

Walker intertwined their fingers and rubbed his thumb along the back of her soft hand. She smiled tremulously up at him. He raised their clasped hands and pressed a kiss to the back of hers. His own breathing shortened and warmth filled him. Her mouth softened, and if his dad hadn’t been sitting next to them, he would’ve kissed her. This was hardly the time.

“Abuelita will be fine,” he said softly. “Autumn is incredible. I’ve heard about her taking down multiple men at once.”

She nodded, but her mouth wasn’t soft any longer. “Is Autumn after you?”

“Pardon me?”

His dad darted a glance at him and then focused on the computer monitors that showed multiple camera angles of the ranch.

“Autumn, the female bodyguard who’s impersonating me,” she clarified. “Mama Millie said something about her being after her boy.”

“Oh.” Walker chuckled and exchanged a look with his dad. He well remembered that uncomfortable scene when Miles and Eva had been talking to Autumn and Easton started flirting with her over video chat. Mama had not been happy with Autumn’s innuendos. Mama always loved and welcomed everyone, but Walker hoped for Autumn’s sake she never came to the ranch.

“No, Autumn’s after Easton.” He studied her carefully. Would that upset her?

“Everymujeris after Easton,” she said.

“For sure,” he agreed, wishing he could read her. Was she after Easton? Every woman included her, correct? Dang.

Papa’s phone rang.

Aiden.

“Hello.” He pushed the speaker button.

“Jared.” Aiden’s charming lilt came over the phone. “I have some … interesting updates.”

“What’s happened?” Papa asked.

“Abuelita?” Marci begged to know.

“Marci, I’m afraid we have nothing on Abuelita yet. A boat came up to the dock. A man climbed out, took the suitcase from Autumn, and jumped back onto the boat without a word. The suitcase has a tracker and some of the bundles of money have trackers hidden in them. Autumn also discreetly slid a tracker into the man’s pocket, more to throw him off and think that’s the only tracker. We have a team on a cabin cruiser following the trackers. The one Autumn placed and the suitcase tracker got dumped in the ocean fairly quick. The other three are leading them south toward Cuba, but neither our boat nor the boat they’re pursuing has enough gas to make it to Cuba. I had other boats waiting but we sent them back to add extra fuel. They’re now en route, but who knows if they’ll reach them in time. Sorry I don’t have better news.”

“At least Autumn got a tracker on him to distract him. That was quick thinking,” his dad said.

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