Graham’s raised eyebrow was more than a little skeptical.

“Dad gave his word that I’d guide the climb. I’m not embarrassing him by backing out now. Besides, after meeting her, she’s liable to head up there by herself, camera crew in tow.”

They both shared a grimace. Graham wasn’t a mountaineer, but they both knew exactly how bad of an idea that was.

Easton hadn’t been able to resist an internet search of his newest clients. He’d told himself it was for informational purposes only, but he’d found himself lingering on pictures of River taken by fans. Going into restaurants, making funny faces at her coworkers, even a few of her climbing indoor rock walls.

Her technique was good if nothing else.

Zoey returned to the kitchen, ready to go. Easton set his empty mug aside, then he tossed his keys to her.

Tilting her head to the side in confusion, Zoey lifted the truck’s keys. “I’m driving?”

“I’ll take you the long way, past some places you might want to take your tours.” Easton couldn’t resist adding, “Better to learn the backroads now. In a few months, there’s going to be several feet of snow and a lot of naked, bearded men on them.”

• • •

The top of the roadcut made a perfect place to relax for a while, taking in the town from a new point of view. Wiggling her toes in the cool morning air and munching the remains of a baggie of trail mix in her back pocket, River watched the employees of Moose Springs Resort driving to their workplace. In the distance, a partially finished luxury condominium project sat abandoned. The couple of condos that had been completed so far were as visually stunning as the Moose Springs Resort, with rich earth-toned paint palettes, lots of river rock stonework, and expensive log cabin siding. Considering the mountainside view those condos must have, River could imagine them selling easily…especially to some of the wealthier people she knew from the industry. A permanent vacation home in Moose Springs was perfect for those who loved to ski and fish or just be in this beautiful corner of the world.

Unfortunately, the project must be on a hiatus. If she squinted, River could see piles of construction material just inside the gated entry.

A familiar old truck went past with two figures inside, then a few minutes later returned, minus one occupant. The driver had good eyes. She was tucked out of the way up on her perch, but he still pulled over, walking to the base of the roadcut and peering up at her. One eyebrow rose, as if it were strange to find someone in her position.

“Why am I not surprised the person dangling dangerously over the edge is you?” Easton’s rumble sounded amused.

“I could claim that I walk on the wild side, but I really don’t want to hear Jessie snore anymore. Bree’s the dangerous one though. She almost took my eye out with her elbow.”

The eyebrow rose further. “You’re sleeping in your rental car?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, nosy, but we’re sleeping in our rental car. Haven’t you heard of the concept of a starving artist?”

“I didn’t realize film stars made a habit of going hungry,” he replied with a low chuckle. At her own raised eyebrow, Easton added, “I figured it out after I learned your name.”

River breathed out a laugh, relaxing back. “Well, I’m behind the camera now. Mostly. We’ll see if the dining options become fewer and further in between.”

Easton wasn’t the worst thing she’d ever seen in the morning. In fact, he was pretty high up on the list of the best. He’d traded the dark T-shirt of yesterday with a white cotton one stretching across his chest, snug on his forearms and loose around his muscled waist. Another pair of worn jeans and those boots that told everyone he met he worked physically for a living.

The man bun was nice and tidy. The beard made her want to run her fingers through it. But they’d only met, and, well…beard stroking seemed like the kind of thing two people did when they were better acquainted. And maybe had candles lit for beard-stroking ambiance.

“Want to join me? There’s room for two.” River patted the rock beside her.

“You make a habit of climbing roadcuts?” he asked her.

“Nope.” She shook her head. “But it was either this or commit unspeakable crimes to my DP.”

“DP?”

“Jessie. Director of photography. He who snores to the point that relatively sane women want to murder him.”

It was hard to see from way up there, but River was fairly certain one corner of the beard twitched. Kicking off his boots and peeling off his socks, Easton glanced at the roadcut above him, then chose his own handhold. She hadn’t expected him to actually join her, invitation or not.

When it came to climbing, River knew her own skills. Still…watching Easton free solo was akin to watching a Kentucky Derby winner walking through a miniature horse pen at a petting zoo.

Easton didn’t climb the rock. He flowed over it.

“Someone’s a stud,” River teased as she watched him climb, popping a peanut in her mouth. “You should charge people to watch you do that.”

Okay, so maybe she was flirting. River couldn’t help it. When his forehead turned all flushed in embarrassment and surprise, he was kind of adorable.

“I almost didn’t recognize you without a pizza box in your hand.”

“Thanks for that.” Could his rumbling voice be any sexier? Easton hoisted himself over the ledge with one hand, where River had needed two.

Settling in next to her required his hip to brush against hers, his torso angled so his broad shoulders didn’t force her into a dangerous sideways tilt. His hand was braced behind her hip, so close, all she had to do was lean a little.

Funny. She’d always liked a man with a handsome face. This man’s face was covered with at least an inch and a half of thick dark-brown beard, so there was no way to know what he looked like beneath it all.

Easton had really pretty eyes though, and when she offered him access to her trail mix bag, he accepted as if they were old friends.

As nice as his eyes were, his voice was even better.

“My sister wants to have that pizza box framed. She’s the one I was with when you paid me for my goods and services. Speaking of which…” He dug into his back pocket. “Here.”

When Easton flapped the twenty-dollar bill at her, River shook her head. “You earned that fair and square. And your sister is gorgeous.”

“She’s a brat. We’re twins.”

“You’re kidding.” River couldn’t believe it.

“Nope. Take the money back. I don’t want it.”