As he turned his attention to her other foot, Easton pulled her other sock off. “I like to think of it as taking well-considered and appropriate risks. If I ever end up going to climb Everest, I’m not going barefoot with my crampons between my teeth.”

“Are you actually going to go to Nepal?”

He was quiet for a moment. “I want to. But I’m not sure if it’s fair.”

“How so?”

“My dad wanted to summit so badly. My mom used to say that Everest was the other woman in his life. All he could do was think of her.”

“What did your dad say?”

“He said that when he was with Everest, all he could do was think about my mom.”

River sighed playfully. “That sounds like a man. Never knowing what he wants.”

“I think he wanted them both.” Easton focused on her foot. “Your pinky toe is cold. Can you feel this?” He squeezed her toe.

“Yeah, but not quite as much as the other ones. Am I getting frostbite?”

“Not necessarily, but we’ll need to keep an eye on it.”

“Are you going to check everyone’s feet?” she asked, unable to keep the flirtation out of her voice. “Or only mine?”

“I’m checking everyone but Ben,” Easton murmured. “But I probably won’t like theirs as much as yours.”

“You said probably.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“I heard a probably.”

Wrapping his hand around her toes, Easton began to rub her feet in a brisk motion to warm them. “Anyhow, I’ve been dreaming about Everest since before I was old enough to understand what I was dreaming of,” he admitted.

“What does your dad say?”

“I’ve never brought it up. Didn’t seem right to remind him, knowing he can’t go with me.”

Leaning forward, River gave Easton an impulsive hug. His hug in return was strong and warm and very easy to get lost in. Eventually, he pulled away, if only to tap a finger to her foot.

“How’s the toe feel?”

“Nice and toasty. You should charge for your services.”

“I thought I already was.” Rolling her sock back up her foot, Easton gave her a heated look that she was starting to recognize.

River nudged his forearm with her sock-covered toes, then playfully pressed against his stomach with her heel. Wrapping his hands around her calves, Easton gently tugged her closer until her knees were hooked over his own and their faces were only a few inches apart.

“If you’re charging for extra,” River said, “I should warn you that this excursion is on a very tight budget.”

Sliding his fingers through her hair, Easton shook his head. “Trust me, you couldn’t afford this even if you were a big budget film.”

“Oh, really? Someone has a high opinion of themselves.” River enjoyed it immensely when he drew her in for a long, slow kiss.

“I have a very strong sense of my own self-worth.”