“If you need someone to hold your beer while you’re busy kicking professional ass, let me know.”

“I might even let you buy me a drink when I’m done taking names.”

“How do you think you came by the beer in the first place?” Easton rumbled.

“I bought it myself and bought you one too. But you can get the next round.”

Another one of those rare, broad smiles met her statement. After a moment of comfortable silence, Easton glanced at her, still working on the rope tying them together.

“You could do this, you know,” he said quietly. “You’re skilled enough. With some more experience, you could climb anything.”

From someone like him, who made a living climbing monsters, the validation meant more than River could articulate. Instead, she went up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Maybe you’ll have to pencil me in for your next adventure.”

“You always have a place with me,” Easton said quietly, holding her eyes. Then he cleared his throat, tugging on the rope between them. “We’re ready. You want to lead?”

His offer took her by surprise. Every single step of this adventure, Easton had been in the lead.

“I thought it was dangerous.”

“It is.” Nodding in agreement, Easton stepped closer, slipping his fingers inside the tether on her belt. Tugging that too, even though he’d already checked it. “But you’ve proven more than capable of handling yourself up here.”

River couldn’t help but tease him. “Says the man terrified to leave me alone. I don’t need rescuing, Easton. Except, you know…”

“That one time I rescued you?” No amount of beard could hide his smile.

“As far as I’m concerned, that never happened. What happens in the cauldron of evil stays in the cauldron of evil.”

“Really? Because I was hoping my ability not to let you plummet to your death would add to my appeal.”

“You literally could put a cereal box over your head, draw googly eyes on it, and you’d still have more than anyone’s fair share of appeal.”

Standing a little closer never hurt anyone. Camaraderie and all that. It certainly had nothing to do with the way he was looking at her…like hot chocolate on a cold winter’s day. Or a particularly good steak.

Who knew a man clipping an extra carabiner to her belt would be akin to getting roses? It was either tease him or propose. At the moment, both seemed equally good options.

“It’s hard to kiss a man with a beard. You have to go spelunking to find his mouth.”

A warm chuckle was all the response she received, but his finger tucked into her jacket pocket, tugging her closer, increasing the angle she had to tilt her head back.

“Man buns are tough too. You never know what’s beneath them. Is the bun actually an intricate comb-over?”