Page 33 of The Roper & the Author

“Chévere,” she cried out.

He laughed. He found himself doing that a lot around her. She made him feel so many things—happiness, light, importance, desire. He should stop those thoughts.

They walked on one of the many wide trails, taking a shortcut to his cabin.

“This ranch is incredible,” Marci said, glancing around. “It’s this slice of beautiful heaven but also like a maze. I’d get lost if you weren’t with me.”

“Guess you have to stay with me.”

“Guess so.” She winked and he tripped on … something. Catching himself, he straightened and knew his face was probably red. “You all right?” she asked.

“Roots,” he muttered. As a pro roper, usually his balance was unrivaled. He could ride standing on a horse. He cleared his throat. “The easiest way to find your bearings is remember the mountains are to the east. Even in the densest part of the forest, you can see the peaks.”

“Okay, the mountains I am yearning to climb that remind me of the solid and strong Walker are to the east.”

He swallowed and studied her. Solid and strong were good, but did she want exciting and alluring like Easton? “The entrance and main house are on the west side of our property,” he continued.

“Mama’s loving home filled with delicious food to the west.”

He grinned. She was adorable, and a lot of other positive descriptors. “The lake is north.”

“My ice bath where myvaquero guapoholds me in the cold water, north.”

He chuckled even as fire filled him.Hewas her vaquero guapo. Not Easton.

“What’s south?”

“A whole lot of trees and fence line and some grazing pastures for the horses and bulls.”

“Okay, we need to talk about the bulls. They are terrifying looking.”

“Stay away from them. Their pens are secure.” The thought of this angel getting close to one of the bulls twisted his gut.

“And to think Easton rides those beasts. Very brave.”

They entered the clearing that housed his cabin, so thankfully he didn’t have to respond. Easton was brave and enticing to every woman Walker had ever met. Just as he feared, he was steady and strong, but not brave and exciting.

He glanced askance at Marci as she stopped and bounced on her heels, clasping her hands together and looking at his cabin and truck with wide-eyed wonder.

“This isfuera de serie,” she exclaimed.

Walker grinned at her exuberance. “I’m not certain what that means.”

“Off the charts. Oh my. I love this cabin and that truck. It all just … fits you so perfectly and is just as ideal as you are. You have to give me the tour, and then would it be asking far too much for me to come write on that perfect front porch tomorrow? Can you even imagine the inspiration that would flow?” She met his gaze and bit her lip.

Walker needed to give her inspiration, loads of it, in the form of kisses that would be ‘off the charts’. He needed to have her teach him how to say that in Spanish.

“Gracias,” is what he managed to get out, and about the extent of his Spanish knowledge. They’d had some ranch hands from Mexico when he and Easton were teenagers. Easton learned a lot of Spanish, most of it swear words that Mama didn’t approve of. Easton could make Marci laugh with his Spanish. Dang.

“Of course you’d be welcome to write here. Easton will be home tomorrow.” Easton would be home, and Marci would be very busy with Easton monopolizing every minute of her time.

Walker yanked his hat off and shoved his hand through his hair. Maybe he should kiss her and pray it would give him an advantage over his brother. And make him the biggest backstabbing jerk on the planet.

“That’ll be fun,” she said as if she didn’t realize Easton being home meant the end of their time together, or maybe she did.

“Okay, first of all, the truck.” Her eyes sparkled. “That is the perfect truck formi vaquero guapo. Tell me all about it.”

Walker swallowed and put his hat back on, hoping to shadow his face and hide how deeply she affected him. Her handsome cowboy. He wanted to be hers and he loved when she threw in Spanish terms. “It’s a Ford F-350,” he managed, grateful he hadn’t parked it back in the garage yesterday. “Diesel. Great for towing.” He lifted his hands. “I’m not sure what you want me to say about the truck.”

---