Page 29 of The Roper & the Author

“I think you’re supposed to stay in for longer than two point four seconds for cold therapy to be effective,” he said, grinning at her and squeezing her hand.

“I know,” she groaned. “I’ve utilized that torturous health trend in a few books, not personally before though. From what I read, you’re not supposed to stay in for longer than thirty seconds to a minute the first time. Google agrees with me.”

He chuckled long and low. “Google. Do you read the Bible or just Google it?”

“Ah!” She rolled onto her side and pushed at his shoulder with her free hand. “I read the Bible, thank you very much.” She made the mistake of keeping her hand on his shoulder. It was warm, firm, andmuy, muy bien. He was as rugged and stable as the mountains, but even more enticing.

He smiled at her and the moment slowed down. Birds twittered in the trees, small animals scurried around in the forest, and the water from the river rushed from the lake. Marci savored locking gazes with Walker and touching his shoulder and holding his hand. She would never move again.

“Do you want to try again?” he asked, interrupting their moment. “Thirty seconds this time?”

“You’ll have to hold me in the water to keep me from swimming out like a rocket.” She was scared to try again. That water had been so cold and heavy, surrounding her and weighing her down. But she wanted to be brave, to really live, with Walker.

“Okay.” He moistened his lips, and her body went hot all over. Would he kiss her now or when he was holding her in that freezing water? Her vote was now. The cold water would dampen the romance. “Let’s do it.” He popped up and helped her to her feet. Keeping her hand in his, he tugged her to the edge of the lake. She wasn’t ready to jump in that ice bath again, far from it. But she kept pace, not willing to pull her hand free from his.

Before she could rethink it or protest, he tugged her forward. They plunged off the ledge and into the freezing liquid. It was still a shock, but not so heavy and overwhelming. She gasped for air as her head broke the surface, but it wasn’t as awful the second time.

Walker tugged her toward the bank and then he must’ve been able to touch the bottom because he stopped, wrapped his arms around her, and held her against his chest.

Cold plunge? What cold plunge? Icy water holding her down? No way. She was warm and floating in his arms.

“How long did you say you have to stay in for therapy benefits? Ten minutes?” Walker’s blue eyes sparkled with mischief.

“No way,” she protested, struggling half-heartedly to get free. Thankfully he held her fast. She wouldn’t mind ten minutes in this sub-zero liquid if Walker was holding her the entire time.

He laughed at her struggles and reminded her, “You told me to hold you in this water. Do you want me to let you go?”

She stopped moving and stared into his blue eyes. “No,” she admitted.Never,she wanted to add.

His smile was slow, sure, and perfect. She willed him to cross the inches and kiss her. A few beats passed. He held her gaze but didn’t move to kiss her. Was she going to have to cajole him into it? Claim she needed research help? She’d rather have him make the first move.

Her body involuntarily shuddered, despite his warm flesh against her.

“Long enough,” he said. “You’re freezing.”

She was. She was used to the soft, luscious warmth of her Caribbean ocean, but Walker’s touch was hotter and more luscious and she didn’t want to lose this moment.

Walker helped her up onto the bank and they scrabbled up the incline together. They sat in the sun for a bit and then tugged on their shoes and socks. He put his shirt back on. She wished he didn’t have to.

“What’s the plan the rest of the day?” she asked as they walked to the trail and through the trees.

“You said you wanted to go on a hike. I told Papa Jared and he said he’d arrange some extra help to protect you so we could.”

“Gracias.” She clapped her hands together. “I can’t believe it. This is a dream come true.” She tilted her head, trying totake in the glory of those towering mountains. “We’ll explore the majesty of those trails, see the mountain up close and personal, conquer the peaks and look out at the valley below us like mighty explorers. Thank you, thank you!”

“My pleasure,” he said softly.

Marci’s eyes widened. She loved the way he’d said that. Would he say that when she asked him to kiss her? Would she be brave enough to ask?

They walked in silence for a few beats. She was definitely not brave enough to ask.

“Tell me about your brothers,” she requested.

“What do you want to know?” He glanced askance at her. Was the subject of his brothers not a welcome one? Their family seemed very loving, except when he and Easton had been duking it out in the barn. She was jealous of a large family. What would it be like to be a part of such a crew, loved and accepted and overwhelmed with loud, funny brothers?

“Start from the top and tell me names, occupations, married, girlfriends, personality, whatever you want to share. You can earn some extra research brownie points if you want. As much as the writer in me wants to hear about motivations and flaws, I won’t make you rat them out. Yet.” She smiled encouragingly at him. She was always on the lookout for strong male names and intriguing occupations, but she really wanted to hear about some romance in his brothers’ lives.

“Clint’s the oldest. He’s the sheriff of our county and engaged to Lily Lillywhite. They’re planning a Christmas wedding.”

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