Their faith in her filled River’s heart with warmth.

“It’ll make a fun story, sleeping in our SUV.” Now Bree seemed excited. Between their matching enthusiasm, River couldn’t help but join in.

“Okay, fine. We’re still making a documentary, folks. Let’s go find a safe place for you two to get some more B-roll. I’ll get to the bottom of this permit thing.”

They piled into the car, then pulled back onto the road. They were halfway to their next filming site when suddenly River gasped. Bree braked, looking for whatever made River so horrified. “What is it?”

“Oh crap. We forgot Easton.”

• • •

He’d just been trying to be nice. In the future, Easton was going to stick with aloof, unapproachable, and downright surly.

Nice was a pain in the ass. Nice earned him a redhead with a permanent marker and a mischievous look on her face.

Don’t stop, River had written on her makeshift sign. Filming movie.

Which was how Easton Lockett, one of the most respected men in Moose Springs, found himself standing on the side of the road with a pizza box sign, telling everyone not to stop for the woman walking down the road.

If only he’d made the same choice for himself.

The absolute last person Easton wanted to see coming down the road at this moment turned around the bend, the heavy off-road tires of her sleek black Jeep slapping the pavement. There was nowhere to hide. And knowing his sister, there was nowhere he could hide to keep her from finding him in a pride-compromising position.

With a groan of dismay, Easton waggled the sign at her as she slowed down, then pulled off the side of the road behind his truck.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“I’ve been thinking the same thing for the last hour,” Easton replied, bemused.

Ashtyn Lockett had been a thorn in Easton’s side since the day she was born fifteen seconds before him. At some point since he’d seen her yesterday, she’d decided to dye her pixie cut a vibrant aquamarine with pink tips. Next week, it would be something different but equally bold.

She must’ve been taking the day off by the water, because only half of the piercings she normally sported jewelry in were filled. Her nose piercing and eyebrow were adorned, but the multiple holes in her ears were piercing free. Unlike River, his twin was dressed for the weather. A ribbed tank top showing the extensive and expensive tattoos on her arms. Shorts and sandals with bright nail polish from her morning pedicure. Even brighter colors on her fingernails.

Easton had spent a lot of his life glaring over his sister’s head at the guys who were interested in her, but there really was no need. Ash had never needed anyone to protect her. She was perfectly capable of handling her business all on her own.

“What the hell are you doing?” Brown eyes the exact same color as Easton’s eyes widened.