“Are you saying I can’t pull my own weight?”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Easton took a sip of his own coffee, nodding in greeting to Ben as the other guide went past and into the tent. Then Easton dropped his voice even quieter. “Listen. Yesterday, before the call came in. And earlier, at my place.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Outside your torture barn?”

“It’s not a torture barn.”

“It really seems like a torture barn.”

Easton snorted, but she could see amusement in his eyes. “Outside my perfectly normal barn, things got a little…”

River waited for him to finish. Instead, he paused midsentence.

“What?” she asked.

“This is where you usually jump in with a clever comment. I’ve started building in breaks for you, so the conversation flows more freely.”

Sticking her tongue out at him for the second time that day didn’t make River any more mature, but it sure felt good.

“Things got heated,” River finished for him because Easton was still waiting for her. “And they were on the verge of getting a lot more heated.”

Easton gazed down at her. “Were they?”

“Weren’t they?”

“I want to make sure you and I are on the same page. And if we’re not, I won’t mind.”

That stung more than it should have. “Way to show a lady the love.”

Easton turned his head to scan the rest of the campsite. Since all three of their companions were busy eating breakfast, Easton rested a hand on her hip, then slipped an arm around her waist.

“What I’m saying is, if you want me to keep doing things like this, tell me. If you don’t, tell me. The last thing I want is to make you uncomfortable.”

“Did it ever occur to you that I’m the one making you uncomfortable?” Her fingernails traced down his breastbone.

“Different kind of uncomfortable,” Easton rumbled. Could his voice be any sexier, his mouth warm against her ear? “And all. The. Time.”

“You should have kissed me at the barn,” River told him.

“Definitely.”

Moving closer, she added, “And yesterday.”

He nodded in agreement. “Exactly what I’ve been thinking.”

River smirked at him. “Or about three seconds ago, before I smelled breakfast. Too bad, huh?”

This time, his warm laughter stole her breath away. “Terrible.” Easton’s arm lingered for a moment, strong and solid around her waist. Then he stepped back. “Guess I better work on my timing.”

“You really should.”

As she ducked back into the dining tent, River winked at him over her shoulder. “Hey, Easton. It would have been an amazing kiss. Just so you know.”

This guy was killing her, one sexy chuckle at a time. But when he was serious, it was even worse.

“Trust me,” Easton said huskily. “You don’t know what you’re missing.”

• • •