Page 25 of The Roper & the Author

What was she hesitating to tell him? She studied him as if debating something. He waited, hoping she trusted him enough to share.

“My parents and little brother, Jace, were killed in a head-on collision ten years ago.” She rushed out the words as if saying them quickly would make it less painful.

“Oh, Marci.” His stomach lurched.

Her Abuelita was truly all she had left, and she wasn’t wrong in worrying that those men could’ve already killed her or would kill her now they had the money.

Walker stepped close and opened his arms, hoping he didn’t look like a cheeseball and hoping she needed and wanted comfort.

She let out a cry and flung herself against him.

Walker wrapped her up tight and held her cradled against his chest. Her head fit perfectly in the crook of his neck. She wrapped her arms around his lower back and clung to him. She smelled of sweet, intoxicating coconut.

Holding her felt better than she smelled. Was it helping her?

After a few quiet minutes, she glanced up at him. Her eyes were still bright but a little more settled. “Gracias,” she said softly.

“Anytime.” He meant it.

She smiled, and a ray of sunshine burst through the dark night. “I’m sorry to be a downer. Stressing about Abuelita, telling you about my parents and brother’s deaths.”

“You’re not a downer. You’re as positive as anyone I’ve ever been around, with more reason to be a downer. You’re incredible, Marci.”

“Thank you.”

They stood close, but then she stepped back and released him. He studied her for a moment. “That’s why you frowned when I hugged Mama in the kitchen.”

“Pardon me?”

“You lost your parents. Did it make you feel sad to see me hugging my mama?”

“Oh, no. No, not at all. I loved that. I wanted to melt into a puddle of gooey emotion. I thought about how my cowboy hero in my new book is going to hug his mama, bend low and kiss her cheek, just like you did. It was perfect.”

He wanted to be her cowboy hero. Was that how she saw him? “Why did you frown, then?”

“Oh … um … Well, look at the time. Let’s get some rest.Buenas noches.”

He moved closer, not ready to say goodnight. “Why did you frown?”

“Just focused on that hero.”

“Are you always focused on your writing?”

“Yes, always.” Her smile was tight. “I’d better get in my room and type away. I’ve got all the great material from the horseback ride.” Her gaze on his suddenly made him warm and made him think he did have a chance to steal her heart before Easton returned. What kind of awful brother was he turning out to be? Instead of keeping her safe for Easton, he wanted to steal her away.

“And then all the horrific emotions about Abuelita and why they took the money but didn’t touch Autumn.” Marci swallowed and then said, “Hmm. I’ll have to riddle out what I would have happen in a novel with the villain.” She pushed her door open and walked inside. “Goodnight. Thank you.”

“De nada.” He tried the little bit of Spanish he remembered, hoping for a smile. She rewarded him with one. “Do you want to work out in the morning again?”

“Yes, please. I’ll try to go to bed earlier.”

“We can lift at seven instead of six.” He’d do all the chores first so he could focus on her for the rest of the day.

“Wonderful. That’ll help. Thank you for everything.”

He tipped his head to her, and she shut the door. He studied it for a minute, wondering what he’d done wrong. Was it remembering her parents’ and brother’s deaths, worrying about her grandma, or something else that had pulled her out of that hug? He should be grateful as she was helping him keep his word to Easton, but he felt sick inside instead.

Pulling his phone out, he typed in her name on a Google search. A smiling photo of her came up along with her website and different reviews and links to find her books. He looked over her website, noting how professional it was. She was an acclaimed success. Did a cowboy from Montana stand a chance with her?

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