She yawned. “By the looks I was getting when I zipped up the tent, I may have started a war.”

His low rumble was even better with his arms around her. Easton could have started the whole kissing thing again. River was totally on board for that. Instead, he wanted to look at her feet.

It was River’s fault, really. Mentioning to Easton about Jessie’s feet had triggered a desire in him to poke and prod at all her extremities, which was far less sexy than it could have been, given different circumstances. It was hard to flirt, so they talked instead. Easton was much better at kissing than small talk, but River appreciated his strong hands massaging her feet so pleasantly.

“So you’ve never seen one of my movies.”

Easton pulled River’s foot into his lap. “You sound relieved.”

“Well, let’s say it’s nice meeting someone who doesn’t connect me to my roles.”

“I’m not a big movie guy,” Easton admitted, rolling down her sock. “All your toes look good. Can you feel my fingers?”

He squeezed each of her toes one by one. Nodding, River yelped when he ran a fingernail playfully along the underside of her arch, tickling her. “Hey.”

“You’re ticklish.”

“I’m too ticklish. As in don’t do it, or risk the consequences. I’m not responsible for any flailing that may or may not occur. I once accidentally tossed a boyfriend who thought it was funny to tickle me headfirst through a desk drawer.”

“Ouch.”

“I flail,” River reminded him because she could see his thumb twitch. “Don’t do it.”

“You realize it only makes it more tempting, right?”

“You’re kind of an adrenaline junkie, aren’t you?”

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.”