Confused, Easton turned around to find their gear pile had grown while his back was turned. Not a little. A lot.

River followed his gaze. “From the expression I think is on your face beneath all the bristly parts, I feel like you’re not happy.”

No, he definitely wasn’t. Easton couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this ticked off at a client.

“We did a gear check, River.” He glared down at the offending pile. “This wasn’t part of it.”

“You didn’t expect a camera crew filming an ascent of a mountain not to bring their filming equipment, did you?”

“You didn’t expect to sneak all this filming equipment into your packs without my knowing, did you?”

Easton never had to close his eyes and count to ten twice in one day. So far, it hadn’t worked for him, and he was rather disillusioned with the whole process. When his eyes opened again, he was as frustrated as he’d been before he’d counted, only now he had a pair of bright blue eyes narrowed at him.

“You did not take another time out.”

Teeth grinding, Easton heard his jaw creak.

“Listen here, big guy. These are my people, and I’m not going to let you belittle them. We might not look like much, but we are more than capable of accomplishing this. Including carrying our equipment.”

Inhaling a deep breath, Easton didn’t take a third time out. However, he did look this woman in the eyes, holding her gaze and refusing to back down.

Whisky. She reminded him of Fireball whisky…sweet and smooth but spicy and strong as hell. Trouble bottled up and far too tempting to reach for. Liable to burn him up from the inside out.

River planted her hands on her hips, considering her equipment. “We’ll leave the booms behind. And some of the lighting. The rest we can split up among us.”

“Even doing that, it’s too much weight. I can’t back down on this one, River. You have to lighten the load.”

“I can’t afford to. If we can’t film, there’s no point in going up there.”

With a curse, Easton stomped away from her. River stood her ground, waiting until he turned and came back.

“Fine. I’ll call in an extra guide to help share the load.”

When River opened her mouth to protest, Easton cut her off. “Extra guide or we’re going home. And you’re paying for him, not me. Am I making the call or not?”

Ash watched the exchange, asking, “Are they still growing on you?”

Easton didn’t dignify that with an answer. River finally nodded, so he walked away to make his call. When he returned, he met her stubborn gaze with one of his own.