The kitchen was cooler than River was used to, or maybe the excitement and nerves of the climb were starting to hit her. Either way, he noticed the tiny shiver that went through her.

“You want some coffee?”

River always wanted some coffee. That was a given. She also wanted a blanket, so she went into the living room closet where Easton had told her extra blankets were available. She could hear Easton tinkering with the coffeepot in the kitchen as she checked on her friends.

Jessie had passed out in the recliner, out like a light. Cuddled up on the couch, Bree was almost there herself. Taking a moment to tuck a blanket around each of them, River took the last blanket—a well-loved and well-worn quilt—and returned to the kitchen. Easton had started a pot of coffee and set two mugs on the counter.

“Caffeine at night? You live a risky life, Easton Lockett.”

His warm, deep chuckle was even better than the blanket she’d pulled around her shoulders. “It’s decaf,” he said. “Either way, that doesn’t hit me as hard as it does some people.”

“High tolerance?”

“I think there’s more of me to caffeinate than most.” The pot finished dripping, so Easton handed her a cup. “Creamer and sweetener are on the counter.”

River fixed her coffee, then settled back down at the kitchen table. “You used a real coffeepot. I haven’t seen one of those in years. No coffee pods for you?”

“Nope. Those things are wasteful. Bad for the environment. That sort of thing bothers us up here.”

Sighing in contentment at her drink, River tucked her legs beneath her, curling up as much as she could on a hard kitchen chair. “Thanks for the coffee. And for taking us in. We’re a motley crew, aren’t we?”

“It’s fine. Though I’m kind of surprised I have to take you in.” After adding creamer to his own mug, he joined her at the table. “Are you going to tell me why you were sleeping in your car instead of staying in the resort?”

“We…sort of got kicked out.” At the growing smirk on his face, River pushed on defensively. “Hey, it wasn’t my fault. There was a black bear right outside the lobby. Do you know how often you get something like that? Of course, we had to film it. That’s a given.”

“Which makes the resort look like they aren’t safe.” Easton smiled so wide, she could finally see his white teeth. “Literally the one place in this whole town that would have welcomed you, and you turn them against you.”

“You’re enjoying this far too much.”

“Seems risky though, knowing you didn’t have permits. There’s some heavy fines for those kinds of shenanigans.”