Page 39 of The Roper & the Author

“How intriguing,” Lily said. “I’ve visited the beach but always lived in the mountains. Tell me about your island. Maybe we can go there on our honeymoon.” She winked at Clint but then cast a quick glance at Walker. He knew she didn’t want to make him feel bad.

“I’ve got the honeymoon all planned,” Clint said. “You don’t need to worry about that.”

Marci hooted as Lily grinned.

“You’ve been engaged two weeks and you’ve got the honeymoon planned?” Marci asked. “Yes! I hope my fiancé is that excited about our honeymoon.”

Walker didn’t want to hear about Clint and Lily’s honeymoon. Any man who was engaged to Marci would be more than excited about the honeymoon. He’d elope with her because he couldn’t stand the wait. His neck and cheeks got hot.

“Let’s keep going,” Marci insisted. “I’ll talk and walk.”

“You let us know if we need to slow down,” Walker said.

“You’re the best.” She ushered Clint and Lily with her hands. “Vámanos.”

Everyone smiled at that, stored their water bottles, and Clint led the way.

Marci talked about Key Largo and all the interesting things to do like biking, swimming, running, paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, and the list went on. She talked about the other islands along the Keys that led to Key West. It did indeed sound like paradise. Walker thought the mountains of Montana and his ranch were paradise. Marci had seemed enthralled with the mountains, but enough to leave her beach? It didn’t matter; Walker would never try to hold her here. Would Easton?

They made it to King’s Peak and stopped to admire the view. Marci exclaimed over and over again about the majestic beauty.

Clint put his arm around Lily and drew her into his side. Marci brushed against Walker’s arm and smiled up at him. Her chest was rising and falling quickly. He focused on her dark-brown eyes.

“This isfabuloso,” she said, gesturing to the view of the valley and town of Coleville. “I am truly on top of the world. Thank you for making this happen for me.”

“You’ll have to thank Papa.”

“I will.” She moistened her lips. “But the thank you I had in mind wouldn’t be appreciated by Papa, or Mama, for that matter.”

His eyes widened.

She wrapped her hand around his and asked in a quiet tone, “Can I give you that thank you later tonight?”

Walker was the one short of breath now. Did she mean … what he hoped she meant? He didn’t stop to think about Easton or the repercussions of kissing her at all as he said huskily, “I’ll happily accept any thank you from you.”

“Que delicioso.”

“Que bonito,” he said, staring deeply into her eyes and hoping he’d said it right. He’d Googled how to say very beautiful last night and practiced using it.

Her return smile was more breathtaking than the view.

They stood there, just staring at each other.

“We’re going to start down,” Clint said. “You take your time.” He gave Walker an approving look.

Walker’s breath caught in his throat. Would Clint approve if he knew Easton thought Marci was the girl who could heal him from Cassie leaving? Clint didn’t even know how deeply Cassie had wounded Easton, but he definitely didn’t approve of Easton’s playboy ways. If Clint knew the whole story, he’d probably ask Walker to do anything he could to help Easton heal. Including not kissing Marci tonight.

Clint had tried to be loyal to Walker through his fake engagement to Lily. He’d impressively waited and asked Walker’s permission before pursuing her.

Walker needed to talk to Easton. Soon.

His head hurt as he realized he might not be able to accept Marci’s ‘thank you’. Not until he worked things out with his brother.

“We’ll follow you,” Walker said.

Marci pulled out her phone and snapped a ton of pictures, gushing over the view and the varieties of trees and even him. He smiled for the pictures, wishing he dared ask to take photos of her.

He and Marci eventually followed behind Clint and Lily. She took his hand again. Her smaller hand felt very right clasped in his. Every moment with her, he fell harder for her. He didn’t want Easton to come home and mess everything up, steal Marci from him as Easton could easily do. He had to talk things out with his brother.

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