“You think I’m trying to make an extra buck at the town’s expense.” It wasn’t a question. Tasha leaned in, voice lowered. “I think you have a family that relies on your income.”

“Ash and Dad are doing fine.” Easton frowned at her. “Tash, do you actually believe what you put in that article?”

For once, she hesitated, glancing away. “I think social outrage sells stories.”

“At my expense? At my clients’ expenses?” He wasn’t hurt. Tasha wasn’t someone Easton had let close enough to hurt him, but he was wary.

“Like I said, it’s nothing personal.” Taking his hand, Tasha squeezed his fingers. “But if I upset you, I’m sorry.”

Easton didn’t have the willpower to be mad at many people. Grumpy, yes. Mad, no. Squeezing back, he removed his hand from hers. Fingers were much safer when wrapped around a coffee cup.

“It’s fine. You’re doing your job.”

The defensiveness in her shoulders softened. “Thanks, Easton. You know how I get when I’m onto something good. And your client is the hot button story in this town right now. Famous actress on a career slide—”

At his confused look, Tasha leaned in again. “Didn’t you know? You probably didn’t watch her films, did you? The last few have been flops. Now River’s behind the camera, here. Do you think she’s trying to make a name for herself as a filmmaker? The entertainment industry is notorious for keeping women and marginalized groups from behind the camera. Is that why she took this job?”

Just because she wasn’t trying to trick him—he hoped—didn’t mean Tasha wouldn’t print anything he accidentally let slip. Easton didn’t know a thing about his client other than her name and someone in her crew liked pineapple on their pepperoni pizza. He’d been forced to smell that particular combination in the pizza box sign long enough. But Tasha would never believe that.

Taking refuge behind the NDA was the safest bet. “Nondisclosure agreement, remember?”

Tasha snickered. “You’re immovable, aren’t you? That’s why I like you. You’ve always been a challenge. Why didn’t we ever work out?”

“We weren’t that compatible.”

That was a softer version of the truth. The thing was, Tasha wasn’t loyal. She wasn’t disloyal per se, but Easton was going to die with the name of every person he’d ever cared about etched onto his heart. The names weren’t many, but they ran deep. Not falling for Tasha was the best thing Easton had ever done for himself.

“We weren’t that incompatible,” Tasha reminded him.

Well…that was true too.

Easton was saved from having to reply by the bell jingling as a new customer hustled through the door, auburn hair loose around her shoulders.