“Who says anything’s wrong?”
River narrowed her eyes. “Literally every part of you but your lips.”
“I have your phone,” Bree said randomly. “I should probably give it to you, but I really don’t want to. The last thing you need right now is the stress of dealing with everyone.”
River frowned, sitting up higher. “Define everyone.”
Bree sighed. “Someone at the hospital leaked the story.”
“How do you know it was someone at the hospital?”
“There’s a picture of you in a hospital bed on every entertainment website and TV show right now.” Picking up the remote control connected to her bed, Bree turned on the television. “Someone caught a picture of you and Easton kissing.”
She increased the volume, then went to the most popular entertainment and celebrity gossip station. Two women sat perched on stools in a studio with an oversized picture of…yep. That was a grainy photo of River and Easton, on her hospital bed, entwined and kissing right between the two television hosts.
The host on the left spoke brightly. “While River has been unavailable for comment, sources close to the actress say she’s in good spirits despite her ordeal. More to come soon. Rill, can you imagine being stuck on a mountain in the freezing cold? I can’t even leave the house if it dips into the seventies—”
As they began to talk about sweater weather, Bree paused the screen.
“The internet is worse,” she said. “It’s everywhere. You need to get someone on this. Your agent and your publicist, maybe? Someone will have to put out a statement.”
“Will they?” Sighing, River leaned her head back against her pillow. “Bree, do you remember what it was like to not have anyone care about all this crap? What we eat, what we wear, what we make faces at because it’s stupid?”
Crossing her legs beneath her, Bree winced, then changed positions. “No one ever cares what Jessie and I do. River, do you mind if I speak honestly with you?”
“It would be preferable to lying to me and letting me bop along clueless to the truth.”
“When we first got here, and even when we got to Mount Veil, you were playing a part.” Bree shrugged. “Like every other movie we’ve made together, you were acting. The scenery was different, and the drama on set was far scarier—”
“Except for the torture barn.”
“Yes, that was horrifying. Anyway, you were playing the role of actress number one, director and coproducer number two. At times, it didn’t feel like a documentary. It felt like you were going through the motions.”
River tried hard not to be insulted by that. “I care about this project, Bree.”
“I know, but it’s like muscle memory. You’re so used to going through the motions, you didn’t know how not to do so. But when we started to climb, you stopped playing a part. You were you. The footage we got then was better than anything I’ve ever filmed before.”
“What does this have to do with anything?”
“We’ve been keeping this documentary close to the cuff. No one knew we were up here. But that picture of you and him…it’s getting attention. People didn’t even know you and Sweeny had broken up. And now you’re with some sexy Alaskan hunk in a hospital bed? This could drum up the kind of publicity that would really help the documentary be a success.”
River couldn’t see her own face, but she must have not looked happy.
Bree set the remote down next to River’s hand. “Or not. It was just an idea. Either way, someone is going to have to say or do something. Jessie’s talking to the hospital staff on how to manage things, but I think you need some backup.”
Bree handed River her cell phone.
“Why?” But River already knew the answer.
“Because the paparazzi love a great story. And there’s a shit ton of them outside.”
Chapter 19
“I’m going to kill them.”
“You can’t kill them, buddy. With that many cameras, someone would catch us, and you know what would happen then. I’m too pretty for jail. It wouldn’t go well for me.”
Easton was not in the mood for Graham’s sense of humor right then.
When it was decided that all Easton really needed was rest, they’d discharged him and sent him home to rest in his own bed. He hadn’t liked leaving River at the hospital, but she’d been sleeping too, and they’d convinced him to go home. Graham had offered to drive with him back to the hospital the following morning, only to find a swarm of camera crews and equipment vans clustered outside the tiny hospital’s front entrance.
If Easton had known what he’d be leaving her to face alone, he never would have left.
“How long have they been here?” he asked with a snarl as Jonah strode over, his deputy at his heels. Easton was standing on the far side of the parking lot, fuming, because so far, Graham hadn’t let him closer. It wasn’t only River everyone was shouting about to the poor doctors and nurses coming in and out on their shift change. Easton’s name was being shouted too.
“I think they all took the same plane,” Jonah informed them. “They showed up about an hour ago. A few of them got on her floor before security pushed them back out, but no one was ready for this level of attention.”
“Security” consisted of two very hassled young men who up until that point were used to spending their time playing cards in a small room off the main entrance.
“I’ve called for another squad car for backup,” Jonah continued. “The only one nearby is Fish and Game, but Garcia’s partner said they would help.”
Someone turned their head, and that was all it took. Like an ocean wave crashing around him, suddenly he was surrounded by the paparazzi, lights and microphones in his face. Unfamiliar voices yelled questions at him, each louder than the last.
“Easton Lockett. Can you tell us how River is doing?”
“Easton, are you and River Lane in a romantic relationship?”
“What about Sweeny, Easton? Is he concerned about how much time you and River spent together?”
Easton didn’t even know who that was.
“Is it true you saved her life on the mountain, Easton?”
“She saved mine,” Easton said. He never should have said anything, because the roar of questions that followed his words was overwhelming. Lights flashed, blinding him no matter which way he turned. Graham kept his body shoved in front of Easton, protective and loyal to the end, but neither of them were wired for this kind of thing.
Everyone get back.” Jonah and his deputy’s efforts were utterly ineffective, except for being extra bodies between him and the cameras. “Come on now. Give the man some room.”
“Get that out of my face,” Graham said when a boom swung dangerously close to his forehead.
“Graham? Jessie said we need to get Easton inside.”
Zoey was the last person they needed in the middle of this mess. Someone was going to trample her and not even realize it. Easton reached for her and only got more reporters in his face.
“Hey!” Ash suddenly appeared in the midst of the craziness. “Hey, morons! If you want to hear anything, shut up and listen.”
God bless his sister and her naturally inherent ability to intimidate everyone with an inborn sense of self-survival. He hadn’t even known she was there. He’d been too focused on the camera crews.
“River’s going to be fine. When she’s ready to tell you more, she’ll tell you more. Easton doesn’t have to say anything unless he wants to.” Ash turned to him, her turquoise-colored hair nearly white in the flashing lights. “East. Do you want to tell them what it was like up there?”
“Not really—” he started to say when they erupted in questions all over again.
Ash had missed her calling as a drill sergeant, because her bellow for silence shut them all up, wide eyed and startled.
“I’m his sister, and I’ll tell you what it’s like. It’s cold, it sucks, and they’re lucky they’re not dead. You’re in Alaska, children, so keep a solid swinging distance between you and us. I have no problem destroying every camera here. Now let my brother through.”
The group hesitated enough for her to narrow her eyes.
“LET. HIM. THROUGH.”
Never had a press of paparazzi parted so fast.
Easton wasn’t oblivious to the fact that his friends and family had formed a wall around him, using their bodies to shield him from the camera. Zoey at most came up to his sternum, but she’d grabbed hold of his arm in a protective way, glaring a death glare at everyone they passed. They reached the door and pushed through the remaining reporters and their microphones, the group tumbling into the hospital entranceway.
“Well, that was interesting,” Graham declared, looking back through the sliding glass doors to the still flashing cameras. “Is that what she goes through every day?”
“Nope.” Jessie’s face was a familiar relief. “This is what it’s like when something interesting happens. On a normal day, they try to catch her with her hair and makeup all a mess or looking pregnant. For some reason, everyone keeps trying to make her pregnant.”
Waving them away from the still-curious eyes outside, Jessie snorted. “It’s like a pack of starving dogs out there, isn’t it? But hey, what can you do? Work is work.”
“East,” Graham murmured. “You’re growling.”
Maybe. But not at Jessie per se, just in his former client’s general direction. Jessie shot him an amused look. “Man, you really have it bad, don’t you? Well, get used to it. This is her life. People want to know what she’s up to.”
Easton found River in her room, sitting up with the controller in her hand. The television was on mute, but it was obvious what she was watching. Already film of Easton pushing his way into the hospital played on repeat.
“Welcome to the insanity,” she quipped, sounding embarrassed. “Feel free to run screaming.”
Since the railing was dropped, Easton sat on the edge of her bed. “Jessie says that people want to know what’s happening to you.”
“They also want to have a commentary about it too. Look on the bright side. The more of a fuss they cause, the more buzz they’re building about the town. Maybe the tourism board will pay us after all.”
Easton took her face in his hand, stealing the controller away from her fingers. “You need to rest. The last thing you need is to be worrying about all this.”
“I’m not.” She hesitated.
Tilting his head to catch her eye, Easton stroked his thumb down her cheek. “You sure?”
“I’m not worried. I just feel bad about them coming here. The town’s going to be upset.”
“The town can deal,” Easton said firmly. “Graham’s the mayor. He can handle those idiots. They’re his payback for not giving you your filming permits.”
“Oh, he’ll hate it.”
She wrapped her arms around him, pulling Easton down to her. Careful not to crowd her, he settled in to steal those giggling lips.
“We need to talk,” he told her before things grew too heated.
“Four words that are never a good sign. Do we have to? I’m liking the not talking.”
Easton squeezed her hand before pressing a kiss to the inside of her wrist. “Me too. For the sake of more of the same, what’s it going to take to make all those people go away?”
“Honestly?” Pursing her lips, River thought a moment. “I probably need to make a statement to the press. Preferably from right here. If they get the good stuff, I have a better shot of being left alone long enough to get back home.”
“If that’s what you want, I’m not going to argue,” he told her. “But I hate the idea of letting those vultures anywhere near you.”
“The protective growl is cute.” She kissed him again. “You should do that more often. And this more often.”
It was impossible not to. Settling back in, Easton was more than happy to distract her until suddenly River pulled away, a horrified expression on her face. “I’m going on camera. In front of the world. Minus a toe.”
“Technically, you still have the toe,” he reminded her. “And I’m fine with locking the doors so no one ever bothers us again.”
“If only it were that easy.” She ran a worried hand over her hair. “If I look half as rough as Bree said I do, they’ll never leave.”
He had no idea what she was talking about. But then again, his face was currently buried more interesting places, trying to remind her how much more fun it was to stay distracted.
“Hey, Easton? Do you know anyone who’s good with makeup?”
“Hmm?”
“Like really good with makeup?”
As a matter of fact, yes, he did.
• • •
“What do you think?” Zoey held up a compact mirror for River to see her reflection. “Good enough?”
“I think you’re a godsend.”
Zoey smiled at her. “My job wasn’t hard. Are you sure you don’t want me to make you look less put together? I mean, you are in the hospital right now. Even I’m having a hard time believing you and Easton went through what you did.”
“Thanks.” Returning her smile, River squeezed Zoey’s hand. “I appreciate that, but I need to look my best. If I’m all messed up, it’ll only make everyone more interested. Trust me, the town does not want them sticking around.”
“How bad was it up there?”
“Most of it was amazing. A few times, when things were going wrong, I was scared. But it’s hard to be too worried with Easton there.”
“He’s a really good guy.” Zoey glanced at her shyly. “Did he tell you he found me when I was lost in the woods? I was on an ATV trip that went sideways, and I ended up getting stuck out in a storm. I was scared to death, then I turned around, and this massive Sasquatch-looking guy was there. He got me back home safe. I’ve had a pretty big soft spot for him ever since.”
Totally understanding, River nodded. “Yeah, Easton’s kind of got that whole sexy mountain man thing going on. I was a sucker from the moment we met.”
“I feel the same way about Graham.” Zoey’s entire face lit up at the mention of the diner owner’s name. “The people here have been really good to me, but Graham and Easton are the best guys I’ve ever met.”
“Are you sure? Because I kind of wanted to punch Graham within thirty seconds of first meeting him. If he’s sucked you into a cultlike situation, please let me know. I’m happy to rescue you.”
With a sweet laugh, Zoey tucked her makeup supplies back in a bag. “Trust me, he drives me crazy plenty. It wouldn’t be any fun if he didn’t. But I’m kind of ridiculously in love with the big lug, so I ignore his more irritating habits. Okay, you’re all set. How do you want me to handle everyone out there?”
With a grimace, River sat up straighter in her bed, ignoring the pain in her toe as she pulled her blanket over her foot to cover it from view. “Open the floodgates. Trust me, they’ll find me.”
And find her they did. Stuffed together so tight in the tiny hospital room, everyone’s personal bubbles had officially been popped by the time River started her interview. To her credit, Zoey stubbornly stayed at River’s side, although the poor woman was uncomfortably squished between the hospital bed and a cameraman’s shoulder.
“Wow, this is a lot of attention,” River joked. “I should have fallen off a mountain earlier in my career.”
A murmur of laughter rippled through the camera crews.
“River, how are you doing?” someone asked.
“I have some frostbite on my foot. It’s not pretty, which is why no one gets to see it. Other than that, I’m fine. I need to rest up awhile, and then they’ll send me home.”
An
other reporter held out a microphone in her direction. “River, what happened on the mountain?”
“You’ll have to see my documentary to know that.” She flashed the same pleasant expression she had practiced for years in her mirror. “As my first job behind the camera, I’ve both appreciated the opportunity and deeply enjoyed experiencing all the wonderful things Moose Springs, Alaska, has to offer. I think the Alaskan Tourism Board will be pleased with the end result of our documentary. As for the actual details of the film, you all know the drill about how nondisclosure agreements work. None of us can talk about what happened, legally.”
“River, can you tell us about Easton Lockett? Are you and he in a romantic relationship? What about Sweeny?”
“Sweeny and I are friends, and we still enjoy each other’s company.”
Actually, she couldn’t stand him, but she knew better than to ever tell the paparazzi the truth of the relationship. Instead, she pushed ahead.
“Easton is the guide who got us up and safely back down the mountain. But like the rest of us, Easton’s signed a nondisclosure agreement. Everything we’ve been doing here in Moose Springs has been a part of filming, so we really can’t talk about any of it. You ladies and gentlemen know how much trouble we’ll all get in if we spill the beans.”
“River,” a familiar entertainment report asked. “What can you say?”
She hesitated, then finally looked into the cameras. “Easton saved my life, and I saved his. That’s the kind of shared experience that leaves two people connected. I’m grateful for everything he has done, and I ask for everyone to please respect his privacy. He didn’t ask for this, and he didn’t sign on for cameras shoved in his face. He’s a man who did his job. That’s all I’m going to say for now. Thanks, everyone.”
They continued to ask questions, but River smiled brightly, shaking her head. Eventually, they started to filter out, having been given all she was willing to share.
“How did I do?” River asked Zoey, who looked a bit wide about the eyes.
“Better than I would have. They’re pushy, aren’t they?”
“It’s part of the life. But soon, if I can keep getting producing gigs instead of being in front of the camera, they’ll forget all about me.”
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