River was waiting for him outside her tent, watching the path she knew he’d take to get there. And because she was who she was, River was standing one extra step away from the tent, just to tease him. A stunningly beautiful smile spread on her face as she flapped her hand, showing him the dramatic dangerousness of being a couple of inches away from where he’d asked her to stay.

“Don’t worry,” River joked as Easton strode over to her. “I didn’t pee once when you were gone. Safety first.”

It took every bit of self-control he had to not crush her painfully tight against his chest.

“I’m never leaving you again.”

She wrapped her arm around his neck, drawing his face down to hers, giggling as she said, “You are so much better than a vampire.”

Yeah, he’d never understand her. That was fine. She was in his arms, which was all that mattered. When he kissed her, the fiery redhead who’d carved her way into his heart, Easton knew summiting with River would be worth every ounce of effort it had taken them to get that far.

They would do this together.

Chapter 16

   “Good morning,” River whispered against Easton’s shoulder.

Warm brown eyes blinked open, his voice husky with sleep. “I half expected to wake up with the handheld on me.”

She couldn’t resist teasing him even as she snuggled in. “Once we’re outside the tent, all bets are off.”

The snuggling was a given. At this far below zero, River would have snuggled with him even if he was a less sexy than Hagrid version of himself or smelled like Oscar the Grouch on a bad trash can day. But he wasn’t, and he didn’t, which meant the snuggling was more than satisfactory.

Especially when Easton’s version involved long, slow kisses, murmured compliments against her skin, and promises that he’d take his hair down from the bun as slowly and as often as she wanted.

Okay, maybe that last one was wishful thinking on her part, but a woman could dream.

The snuggling was great, but talking with Easton was even better. Curled up together in their tent, River basked in the comfort of his presence, the sound of Easton’s voice lulling her into a sense of peace. Funny how all it took was Easton to turn an isolated campsite into one of the most romantic experiences of her life.

At some point, she’d like to know what it felt like to cuddle with this man without fifteen layers of puffy jacket fabric between them. Memories of a certain shower had been etched into her brain. In between talking and those soft, slow kisses that promised so much more, they did manage to sleep a bit. And in waking, River knew from the brightening light outside the tent that it was time to do what they’d come all this way for.

It was time to summit Mount Veil.

“You’ve got that look.” He playfully tugged at the braid she’d secured her hair in.

“What look?”

Easton rolled, drawing her across his chest as he relaxed back into the sleeping pad. “The look that says I need to be worried.” A contented expression had crossed his face, as if he had no concerns in the world.

“Oh, you definitely need to be worried. It’s summit day.”

“Most people are fighting to get used to the air at this point.” He added teasingly, “Are you sure you didn’t down a tank of oxygen while you were up here?”

“And risk the wrath of my guide?” River winked at him. “Don’t worry. I behaved. Mostly, I interviewed myself and tried not to worry about everyone else to the point of insanity. How are Bree and Jessie? Are they going to be all right?”

“Ash contacted me and said they’re okay. Beat up and exhausted, but they’ll be fine. She’s annoyingly responsible like that.”

“Annoyingly responsible sounds like a family trait.” River sat up, resting her palms on his stomach. “Are you up for this? Because I’m ready to climb this thing.”

Wrapping his hands around her waist, Easton sat up using only his abdominal muscles, holding her in place on his lap. “Where you go, I’m following.”

“Summit or bust?” she asked, breathless with anticipation.

“Summit or bust.” Then he kissed her, a long, slow kiss that left her cold toes curling.

At this rate, they weren’t going anywhere.

“We should do this at the bottom of the mountain,” she told him after regretfully pulling away. “Or closer to the bottom of the mountain.” Another kiss had her murmuring, “Or maybe back here after we summit.”

Easton nipped her earlobe. “Are you sure you want to get to the top?”

“Definitely.” Giggling, she escaped his hold. They put on their boots, then River grabbed his hand. “Come on. We need to get going. I want to summit. I turn thirty today.”

“It’s your birthday? Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Why? Would you have gone out and gotten me a present?” River grinned at him. “Because all I see is snow and snow.”

“And rocks too,” Easton murmured against her ear, hugging her. “Happy birthday.”

River leaned into him, enjoying the heat radiating from his body. “I used to be terrified of turning thirty. I thought it would signal the official death of my career. I’d mourn, but I’m too busy doing the most awesome thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

“Peeing in negative degree windchill?”

River pressed her nose into the scruff on his throat. “Hmm. That too. Hey, Easton? Let’s go climb a mountain.”

“I’ll race you to the top.”

As they got ready for the day’s climb, Easton double-checked and triple-checked all the supplies she had packed, including making sure her carabiners were in good shape, her radio was tucked in her pack, and her transmitter was turned on.

“You’re being a worrywart,” River told him as he tossed her a protein bar.

After a considering look, he pulled out a second one and slipped it into River’s pocket.

“We’re burning calories like crazy up here,” Easton explained. “Try to eat as much as you can.”

River narrowed her eyes at him, even as she ripped open a bar and began to chew. “If I’m doubling up, so are you.”

Easton tucked a second protein bar in his own pocket without protest. “Are you always this bossy?”

“Are you?” River countered, arching an eyebrow at him before putting on her goggles.

“Only about things that matter,” he told her, moving in closer.