Page 48 of The Roper & the Author

Easton said nothing. Which shocked him.

Marci looked from Walker to Easton and back to Walker. She sniffled, backed away from Easton and murmured, “I think I’ll rest some more instead of exercise this morning. Excuse me.” She hurried back into her room, shutting the door firmly behind her without even glancing at Walker again.

“What happened?” Walker managed, staring at his brother for answers.

“You’re asking me what happened? What have you been doing to her?”

“Falling for her,” he admitted.

Easton glared at him. “Obviously.” He shook his head, then turned and stormed down the hall, pounding down the stairs.

Walker wanted to pound on Marci’s door and demand to know how she could kiss him like that last night and then be in Easton’s arms this morning, but he had to work this out with his brother first. It would be rough and his intense twin would be angry.

He rushed down the steps and out the door. Running around the side of the house, he saw Easton. He raced to his brother, grabbed his arm and spun him around. Easton swung at him, but in the semi-dark Walker was able to duck and the blow glanced off the side of his head.

“We need to talk this out,” Walker said, backing up and holding up his hands. He didn’t mind sparring, but throwing punches right now would accomplish nothing.

“You told me you’d watch out for her,” Easton gritted out. “I told you she was special to me.”

“She’s special tome,” Walker insisted. “She’s the one for me, Easton. I’m sorry, but I know it’s true.”

“You’re sorry? She was heartbroken when she found out you were in love with Lily two weeks ago. How could you do that to her? Do you just have to have your brother’s girls?”

“That’s not fair,” Walker countered. “I really cared about Lily, admired her, and was impressed with her. What I went through was hard and I hate to put you through the same thing.”

Easton’s brows lifted.

“The thing is, what I feel for Marci is so much more. Nobody compares to Marci. Not for me.” Was he saying this right? He’d listened to Clint and stood down, but would Easton do the same?

Easton stared at him. “I almost died yesterday. As I was lying on the rocky ground with my fire shelter over me, I was scared. I’ve never been that close to death.”

Walker’s gut churned. A shelter deployment was a last-ditch effort when all other options were exhausted, and firefighters frequently died under the thin protection. He hated that his brother had been so close to death.

“Thinking about Marci,” Easton continued, “thinking I might have a chance to be happy and committed and trusted by and with somebody like her. It got me through.” He shook his head. “And my twin brother was here making a play for my girl.”

“She’s not your girl,” Walker fired back. Then he felt awful. He held up his hands and shook his head. “I’m sorry, bro. I’m grateful you’re all right.”

“Thank you.”

Silence fell between them. Walker’s mind raced with doubts. Was Marci actually the right one for Easton and not him? Walker’s entire body rebelled at that thought. Yet Easton might have a point. He’d longed for Lily as Miles’s girl for years, then as Clint’s. Had he gone after Marci because Easton had laid claim to her? His heart rebelled at the thought. Their initial connection and earth-shaking first meeting had started him down the path, but everything about Marci had confirmed she was the woman he should pursue.

The front door opened and closed. Was Marci coming? What should they do? How could they work this out? He wanted Easton healed from Cassie leaving him. He wanted his brother happy. But he wanted Marci for himself.

Footsteps came around the house. They both straightened to face her. Walker prayed for the right words to help Marci know he wanted to be with her and not injure his brother in the process. Easton would be furious, but they were brothers. Somehow they’d work it out. All he knew was he couldn’t lose Marci. Not if she felt the same about him.

Their dad walked into the backyard. Walker’s shoulders deflated. He wanted to see Marci, but as disappointment swirledthrough him, he wondered if it was better he didn’t see her right now. Give it some time and let him and Easton sort this out.

“Oh good. I found you both.” Papa took a breath. “Marci’s grandmother turned up in a hospital in Miami a few hours ago. It took some time to get her lucid and find out her identity. She almost drowned but somehow survived.”

Walker was relieved Marci’s Abuelita had survived, but what had she gone through?

“Any injuries?” Easton asked.

“Not anything they’ve determined. She was drugged up. Her bloodstream is still processing the Rohypnol. It appears they dumped her in the water and left her for dead. Some fishermen found her before dawn, floating on a life preserver.”

“That’s awful, but at least they didn’t shoot her,” Walker said.

“For sure. I need you boys to fly with Marci to Miami and watch over her. Aiden will have a chartered jet waiting in Kalispell and some of his people helping the police patrol the hospital and help with security when Marci and her grandmother go home, but he’s short on help with everyone trying to track Benjamin Oliver and Wilhelm Frederick down. He needs you.”

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