Chapter 15

Chapter

Fifteen

Walker hadn't been able to sleep. He couldn't get Marci out of his mind. Her laugh, her smile, her touch, her kiss. Everything about her was more than he'd ever longed for. Why couldn't she be his?

He woke early and checked his texts. He'd responded late last night to the text from Easton that had interrupted the most exquisite kisses he'd ever experienced.

He'd guiltily told his brother he'd do chores first and then meet them for workouts at six. Easton's text last night had interrupted more kissing with Lily as the guilt Clint talked about feeling set in.

Walker hurried to dress and do chores. He came back into the house at five-forty-five. All was quiet. He took a quick shower, put on workout clothes, and dropped to his knees in the closet to pray for guidance and a clear vision.

He had to get Easton alone this morning and explain that he was falling for Marci, beg his brother's forgiveness, and tell him he had to be with her. Everything about her was exactly what he'd always wanted. She made him feel special, she made him laugh, and he loved her impetuous nature and Spanish words. Their kisses last night had changed his future. He couldn't let her go. Could Easton understand? His twin would find the right one to help him heal from Cassie, but Walker was convinced it wasn't Marci.

Walker had stepped down for Clint when he saw how much Clint and Lily loved each other. Easton would do the same for him. Walker would explain that he hadn't even known what love was before Marci, that what he'd felt for Lily wasn't even on the spectrum. Easton would understand fully when he found his right one.

Please let him understand at least partially right now and listen , he prayed.

Standing, he walked through the room. He heard voices outside in the hallway. Walking to the door, he swung it wide and saw …

Easton and Marci hugging.

No!

He swallowed hard, blinked, tried to clear his vision and clear this image.

The picture was still the same. They both lifted their heads to look at him. Marci had tears sliding down her smooth cheeks, and her dark eyes looked … betrayed.

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 to me ," 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 swirled through 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."

"Okay." Walker nodded and looked to Easton.

"I'll get Marci up and Millie will send some food with you for the drive and flight," their dad said.

Walker actually smiled. "Mama does know chartered jets have food on them, right?"

Papa smiled too. Easton didn't. "Don't tell her. She'd just say it's not as good as hers."

"True."

"See you in a few minutes." Papa pivoted.

Easton walked toward the trail that led to his cabin. Walker hurried after him. He'd need to go to his own cabin and grab a suitcase and a few things then pack up some of the stuff he had at the main house.

"Easton. Can we work this out?"

Easton glanced at him. "I don't know what to do or think."

"Do I have your permission to pursue her and date her after this is over?" Walker had to ask. He had to get this settled. Marci had her free will, but if he competed with his brother, it could ruin their relationship.

"No," Easton shot at him.

Walker recoiled. He'd never gone after one of Easton's girls, and his brother had a plethora of women chasing him at all times. Why couldn't Easton back down the one time it really mattered?

Easton let out a heavy breath. "Can you back off and let things work out? Let's focus on protecting Marci."

Walker nodded to him, his heart heavy in his chest. He peeled off toward his own cabin. How would it work out? Would Marci choose Easton or would neither of them have a chance with her? Focusing on protecting Marci did have to take precedence. When would it be time for Walker to stand up and proclaim he'd fallen for her?

He feared that time might never come.