East of Redemption (Love on the Edge #2) (29 page)

“She’ll never agree to it.” I sat in my hotel room with the Skype box open on my laptop, my producer Robert’s face filling the screen.

“You had better hope she agrees, Easton. It’s what the people want.”

“Another focus group? Seriously?”

“I had to. It was the only way to get the rest of the producers to draft another contract.”

I flung my hands in the air. “Finding King fucking Solomon’s treasure wasn’t epic enough for you?”

“We want the whole package. And each member of the focus group commented on how much they loved her. They want more of her, and the two of you together.”

“I won’t ask her to do that. She has her own life. Her own career.”

“Her ambitions aren’t far from your own. She’ll still be documenting and preserving.”

I raked my fingers through my hair.

“This is a deal breaker, Easton. If she doesn’t sign off, we don’t. It’s business, kid.”

I thought I’d be more upset over his ultimatum, but where I’d expected rage over the thought of losing my show, I found nothing but . . . indifference.

Huh.
I didn’t need it anymore. I didn’t know if I owed that to the time I’d had with Rain, or the fact that I’d brought Harrison to the surface today, or a combination of both, but the desperate need for the show to sustain my lifestyle had waned. Of course I loved what I did and would keep doing it if I could, but it wasn’t worth the stipulations the producers placed on it.

“All right, Robert. I’ve got to go. Excavation to run and all that.”

“Easton . . .”

I shut the laptop before he could continue. The sensation of freedom washed over me. I no longer defined myself by the show. I didn’t need the edge it pushed my body to, the torture to alleviate my guilt. My lungs filled with air, and it felt like the first real breath I’d taken in years. A strong, undeniable, damn near gravitational pull jerked in my core. I knew exactly what I needed now. And I wouldn’t waste another second waiting for it.

Rain

THE HIKE TO
my dad’s cave had been incredibly easy without the pressures of an opposing team or lack of supplies. It had only taken me a couple days after a quick stop at the tiny village Easton and I had stayed in the last time.

The site had changed drastically in the few weeks since I’d left, though. A huge camp had been set near the water source that flowed just outside the cave. Tents, tables with laptops and maps and grids covering them, and at least thirty people were stationed across the land.

Whoa. Easton’s producer wasn’t kidding when he said he had resources to ensure the proper excavation of Dad’s cave and the treasure within. Of course, Easton was nowhere in sight, which only upped the jitters that made my stomach queasy. I was terrified of how he would react to my presence. Now that I understood the reasoning behind his departure all those years ago, I feared I’d see it in his eyes the second he saw me—my father’s death, over and over—and the pain I could cause by simply being present. I’d taken a risk, coming out here unannounced, but I knew if I didn’t at least try I would regret it for the rest of my life.

The producer’s offer had given me the nudge I’d needed. Though I had forced the man’s hand when he’d threatened Easton’s show if I didn’t sign on. He was sorely mistaken if he thought I’d take
that
lying down. By the time I’d hung up the phone with him, he’d drafted the contract I’d demanded, which secured Easton’s show for another five years, regardless of ratings, as long as he continued to make notable finds and adhere to the survivalist rules the show had set for him. Easy things on Easton’s end, but I needed assurance the bastard producers wouldn’t use his love for the show as a bargaining chip anymore.

“Rain?” An unfamiliar voice called to me from inside one of the canopied hubs of action, and I walked over to the man, gripping the straps of my pack.

“Do I know you?” I asked as I reached him. He had jet-black hair that matched the ink decorating his forearms.

“Not yet.” He reached out his hand. “I’m Kevin. Easton’s rope guy. It’s a real honor to meet the only person in existence who can put that cocky asshole in his place.”

The grin on his face, paired with the completely loveable way he’d spoken, set me at ease. He knew Easton well, and I immediately liked him.

“He doesn’t know you’re coming.”

It wasn’t a question, but I shook my head anyway.

He nodded and called over his shoulder. “Crystal! I need you to cancel that flight Easton had you book this morning.”

My stomach sank as a petite redhead called back a mocked
yes sir
to him. “Is he at the airport?”

“No. He wanted to do one last sweep of chamber six before heading out.”

“Chamber six?”

“Yeah. It’s sick. He’s never hit a score this big. The magnitude of the collection alone . . .” He stared at the cave. “It’s exhausting.”

The thrill of discovery coiled my already-tight muscles as he picked up a radio off the table and clicked the button down. “Anyone have eyes on Compass?”

The use of my pet name for Easton had my eyebrows raising.

Kevin tilted his head. “Did you not want me to track him down?”

I shook my head. “Why did you call him that?”

“Compass? It’s been his code-name since we started filming.”

“Are you filming the excavation?”

“No. Since the show started . . . good God, what is it?
Eight
years ago? Fuck, I’m old.”

I pressed my lips together to hide my smile. He’d left me but never forgot. Warmth swelled in my chest as static blared from the talkie in Kevin’s hand.

“I’m not even rappelling, Knot. Can’t I have ten minutes to get this last check done without you nagging me?”

Knot
for a rope guy? The notion made me laugh, as did the irritated but brotherly tone from Easton.

Kevin clicked the button down. “Fine, I’ll just take this gorgeous blonde out for dinner myself. I know a great place to catch her a lizard.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

I covered my mouth to keep a lock on my laughter.

“She’s not going to wait around forever, man. I’d get your ass out here before someone much smarter and hotter than you comes along.” Kevin winked at me, and I could only imagine the shenanigans these two got up to on shoots.

Damn, it would be a fun ride . . .
if
Easton wanted me, that was. And there was the rolling stomach I’d almost forgotten. Kevin set the radio down, ignoring more questions from Easton. “He’ll be a few minutes.”

“You’re just going to leave it at that?”

“Yup. Least I can do after he killed the show.”

“What?”

He sighed. “It’s not official yet, but the producers laid an ultimatum on him he wouldn’t comply with. It’s fine, we all get why, but I’m still sad about losing the gig I’ve loved for so long.”

I arched an eyebrow. I guess Easton hadn’t checked in over the past two days since I’d made the deal with the producer. It
would
be difficult to check an email out here, I suppose, assuming the laptops running on the tables were more for data collection and not hooked up to a hotspot router—or maybe he’d simply ignored any attempt at contact from Robert.

“Why do you think I’m here?” I asked.

“Because you love him and all that shit?”

I laughed. “Well, there is that . . .”

“Wait. Are you saying . . . ?”

I nodded. “If he wants me.”

He fist-bumped the air. “Yes!” He jerked me into a tight hug. “Thank you. I seriously have no clue how to write a resume and really didn’t want to.”

I patted his back, kind of honored by the quick acceptance into what was clearly a tight-knit family-like crew.

“You have five seconds to get your hands off her before I throat-punch you, Knot.” Easton’s voice was playful but bordered on sharp.

I jerked out of Kevin’s embrace, and my stomach flipped when I set eyes on Easton. He looked unbelievably good, with clear brown eyes that obviously had gotten the proper amount of sleep—and food and water. And the tight T-shirt he wore stuck to him from the heat, showing off each hard plane of muscle, including just a hint of those V-lines I loved to trace with my tongue.

I blinked hard, returning my focus to his eyes. Watching them for any signs of pain. I only saw shock—and happiness. Kevin slowly backed away with his palms raised, leaving me with Easton.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, closing all but a foot of distance between us.

“Is this okay? That I’m here?” I asked, taking my pack off and setting it on the table next to us. My shoulders were grateful for the freedom.

“Of course. Just . . . wasn’t expecting you.”

“I was offered a job,” I blurted out, instead of going with the much more emotionally deep speech about love and needing him and wanting him that I’d planned. I resisted the urge to face-palm myself.

“What?”

“I’m your new camera girl?” Good Lord, even that sounded dirty.
Lock it up, girl. You can’t jump him in front of his entire team.

“You agreed?”

“And you didn’t. Was that because you didn’t want me here? Because if that’s the case, I can cancel the contract.”

“You want to go on location with me? For . . . what did he say it’d be . . .
five
years?”

I wanted much more time than that. “If you’ll have me.”

The grin I’d grown up loving shaped his face, and he lifted me off my feet, crushing me to him. He turned his head, brushing his cheek against mine, and I met him in the middle, pressing my lips to his.

The connection made the rest of the world drop away, until there was just Easton and me and the sparks bursting beneath my skin. I sighed between his lips and locked my ankles around his waist.

“Ah hem.” Kevin cleared his throat ultra-loudly, and I snapped out of it.

I didn’t jump off Easton but instead buried my head in his shoulder to hide the blush flooding my cheeks.

“Yes?” Easton asked.

“Sorry, man. Just got the call. Chamber number seven has been located.”

I snapped my eyes to Kevin, who held the talkie in his hand.

Easton brought his mouth back to mine, brushing his lips across them in a soft kiss before pulling back and pinning me with those damn eyes of his. “Are you with me?”

My heart swelled. Easton wanted me here, trusted me with this, and didn’t look at me like I only reminded him of the most tragic moment of his past. He looked at me like I was a drink of water on day two without it. He looked at me like only I could slake his hunger when he was starving. And I was fully prepared to do that for as long as he wanted me to.

I unlocked my ankles, and he gently set me down. I grabbed my pack and slipped it on, knowing there wasn’t a situation on this earth too dangerous for Easton and me. We could face, and survive, anything together. “I’m with you.”

Easton

“YOU THINK BROWNIE
is still out there?” Rain asked as she gazed through the window. I navigated the Jeep down the long, graveled path toward the Montana cabin where we’d spent a summer years ago.

“You know, I believe he is,” I said, smirking to myself. She had no idea yet, but that was part of the fun.

She glanced at me. “You think the cabin owners will be pissed we just showed up?”