“Do you have any idea the kind of money we could get selling that footage for stock film?” Bree added. “We’ll cut you in, I promise.”

Groaning in exasperation, Easton closed his eyes.

“Are you counting to ten?” River sounded as suspicious as he had been. “You are not counting to ten, because I’m a grown-ass woman, dammit. You don’t get to count to ten when dealing with me.”

Easton opened one eye, then smirked at the flush of heat on her cheeks. “You’re cute when you’re riled up,” he told her in front of them because he could.

River’s jaw dropped open, then clamped shut.

Before she could decide what to say, Easton continued, “I have someone you might want to talk to. For your documentary.” Maybe this wasn’t the right thing, but as the trio turned their heads his way, Easton pushed on. “My grandma Ruby always loved this town, and she’s been here her whole life. She agreed to tell you stories, the kind of stuff most people don’t even know about. Dad was bringing her by his house for a visit today anyway. She gets bored in the nursing home.”

They all stared at him, silent.

Easton cleared his throat. “Only if you want. She agreed to talk to you, but you’ll have to ask her if she’s willing to be filmed. She’ll be at my dad’s place later.”

He’d thought maybe he’d offended them until he realized they were stunned into silence.

River’s eyes had widened. “You’re kidding me. No one will talk to us. I called around for months trying to get people to agree to interviews, and we got nowhere.”

“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.”