Page 45 of The Roper & the Author

“You can get that. I can hurry and type some things down and then we can …” She bit her lip. “Do some more research?”

“Sounds good.” He released her.

“Yes!” She darted toward her laptop and sat down at the little desk, flipping the computer open. Glancing over at Walker, she saw him studying his phone. His forehead was creased, his lips clamped tight.

She typed as fast as she could, every detail of how he came in close, the look in his eyes, the kisses, the emotions and touches that she could remember, but it was all a fog. Too blissful. She was a wordsmith, but even she couldn’t find the words to do those kisses and their connection justice.

Glancing up at him, she realized how silly it was to waste Walker time by typing. She could write anytime; she couldn’t kiss Walker anytime. What if this was a one and done? Her heart wrenched at the thought.

Jumping up, she darted across the room. Walker looked up from his phone. His blue eyes were … conflicted.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I can type anytime. I think we should practice me losing my mind again.” She attempted her most alluring smile.

Walker blinked at her. He looked upset. He backed away instead of pulling her tight and kissing her again.

“Marci …” He swallowed and backed up another step. “I’m the one losing my mind tonight. I’m sorry. I can’t.” He brushed his hand through his hair, pivoted, and strode to the door, flinging it open.

He glanced back at her. His eyes were shadowed with regret and yearning. What was happening? Who had texted him and pulled him away from her? Things had been going so perfectly.

She reached out a hand to him, praying he’d come back and talk to her about whatever was bothering him. Then they could kiss the night away.

His jaw slackened. He rubbed at it. “I need to …” He shook his head, his blue eyes solemn. “Families are rough. Let’s … talk in the morning.”

He turned and walked through the door, pulling it closed behind him.

Marci stood there, frozen. She’d gone from heat and light to cold and darkness.

She had no idea what had gone wrong. She’d connected with Walker like a vision from heaven. And he’d chosen to walk away.

Chapter

Fourteen

Marci hardly slept.She tried to type but couldn’t think straight. She didn’t understand Walker’s abrupt departure. Who had texted him? What had gone wrong?

She stressed about her and Walker, and about Abuelita. She lay on her bed, then paced the floor, then hit her knees and prayed, then tried to lay on the bed some more.

At six a.m., she was up and in workout gear. Would Walker be ready to exercise? How many more days did she have here? Was Abuelita dead or still in those awful men’s grips?

She flung the door open. Even if Walker couldn’t lose his mind with her, she wasn’t about to give up. He was the hero she’d always longed for. Somehow, she’d trick him into practicing for more scenes. She’d be the pushiest author anybody had ever met. She was finally the heroine of her own story, and she had to get her cowboy hero to fall for her like she’d fallen for him. It was terrifying, but it had to be done. For once in her life, she wasn’t going to hide behind her computer. She was going to face real life and fight for the man she wanted. Abuelita would be so proud of her.

A shadow moved in the darkened hallway.

“Walker …” His name died on her lips. It wasn’t him. “Easton?”

“Yes. I’m back!” He hurried to her, grinning. Wrapping her up in his arms, he picked her up and spun her around. “Dang, girl. You look and smell like my version of heaven, a pina colada daquiri on a beach with the most beautiful woman by my side.”

“Oh … ha. You’re hilarious.” She laughed and as soon as he set her on her feet, she stepped back and looked over his shoulder. “Where’s Walker?”

“He got up early to do chores and let me sleep in and come wait for you. We texted about it last night. We’ll meet him at the gym.”

“Okay.” She darted a glance to the other bedroom. The door was closed, but she thought the shower was running. Why would Walker let Easton wait for her? Is that the text he had gotten? What if Walker couldn’t be with her and that was why he was so conflicted? Because he was tied to his ranch and his roping? She could travel. She would relocate here.

Once Abuelita was safe, they could work all of that out. The niggling fear that he didn’t love her and didn’t want to work it out turned her stomach. His dad had said he was getting over a heartbreak. She’d all but forgotten that. Now it hit her full force. Was she the rebound kiss and already he regretted it?

“Let’s go find him.” She had to see Walker and know if he would reject her or if together they could make all of her dreams could come true. She tried to walk around Easton, but he placed a hand on her arm. She stopped and turned toward him.

“Marci.” His blue eyes were intense. She almost backed up but stood her ground. She wasn’t afraid of life and could face it head on. With Walker by her side, she could face anything, even Abuelita’s kidnappers who wanted Marci dead.

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