“Yeah, everyone’s been jerks that way.”

At Jessie’s drawled comment, the two women murmured agreement. Easton leveled a flat look them. “Those jerks are my friends and family,” he reminded them.

River’s hand touched his arm. “Sorry, Easton,” she said. “That came out wrong. It’s been tough here.”

“Yeah,” Bree echoed. “I’m sorry too.”

With a snort, Jessie sat back in his chair. “Well, I’m not sorry.”

“Really, Jessie?” Bree rolled her eyes.

“I’m not. A kid threw his gum at me yesterday. Locks like mine and gum do not mix.”

Bree kicked him in the leg, ignoring Jessie’s yelp of pain. “He let us stay in his house last night, and we’re getting an interview. Maybe even on camera, so try not to be an ass.”

“It’s part of my charm,” he assured her.

“Is it though?”

The pair began bickering, which seemed to be part of a pattern for them. Maybe River was used to it, because she seemed to tune them out completely. Instead, she squeezed his hand.

“We’ll take your lead on this, Easton. I promise.”

River looked so sweet and innocent and completely capable of not causing utter chaos in his life. Easton drained his coffee.

He’d believe that when he saw it.

Chapter 7

Seeing Easton soaking wet had officially destroyed River’s calm. All that long brown hair falling over his shoulder…all damp and Easton-y.

So Easton-y.

Even as she sat in an armchair across from his grandmother, River had to fight to keep her focus on Ruby Lou and not Easton, who was standing guard over her wheelchair, arms crossed and beard bristly. River didn’t think they’d done anything to put his back up, but it was hard to tell with him. He might have been standing there, thinking about cabbage rolls, for all she knew. Or maybe he thought they were being offensively invasive with his grandmother.

Ruby Lou was fascinating. She might have been in her nineties, but her eyes were bright and her enthusiasm contagious. And her stories hysterical. They had to take several breaks in between filming to let Ruby Lou rest her voice and to allow her to gather her thoughts. But they now had more information on the inner workings of Moose Springs than ever. The interview had gone far better than River could have hoped for. She’d never been on that side of things, having always been the one being interviewed, but the pleasure on Ruby Lou’s face at each question had been worth every second.

River definitely owed Easton big time.

Every so often, Ruby Lou would turn in her wheelchair and take Easton’s hand. Each time, he allowed himself to be patted, nudged, or moved wherever Ruby Lou decided. Stoic affection for grandmothers might be River’s new favorite thing ever.

“He’s a handsome boy, isn’t he?” Ruby Lou said, smiling at her grandson proudly.

Yes. Absolutely. The sanctity and innocence of white towels had forever been ruined.