Page 34 of My Ex's Billionaire Brothers

But if I’m honest, they always have been. My fantasies veer toward the gutter on the regular, only now, they’re all about Anya. Even when I try to think of doing her and another girl, the other girl is also Anya. Two Anyas might kill me, but what a way to go.

Still, I’m the easygoing one, the guy who’s just in this for the fun, right? Except somewhere between the first kiss and the tenth, my heart took a nosedive off a cliff, and now I’m doggy-paddling in a sea ofuh-oh.

I shake my head, turning to find Anya. She’s on edge, tapping her foot on the concrete like she’s sending SOS in Morse code. Ever since we told her that her Calvin is crashing the Castle Beach party with a new girlfriend, she’s been wound tighter than a ukelele string.

A pang of protectiveness stabs me right in the chest.Gotta fix that.

I head over, forcing a grin. “Hey, good lookin’,” I say, resting an arm on the car roof. “You okay, or do I need to serenade you with a country ballad to calm the nerves?” I waggle my eyebrows for good measure.

She huffs a tired laugh, arms folded. “I’m guessing your singing voice isn’t what I need right now.”

“Probably not.” I lower my voice conspiratorially. “But I do a killer rendition of ‘Tennessee Waltz.’ It’ll make you laugh so hard, you’ll forget about your troubles, darlin’.”

The tease in her voice pulls at my heart. “For the love of Dolly Parton, your southern accent is awful.”

I snort a laugh and shake my head. “Thought I’d give it a shot.”

“Stick to your upper-crust Boston accent. It suits you.”

I shrug and lean on the SUV. “Seems like we’ll be here a while. Do you want to talk about what’s bothering you?”

She smiles, but the tension in her eyes doesn’t ease. “I just…” She glances around at Gage, who’s still on the phone, and Theo, who’s trying to look like he’s not eavesdropping. “I keep thinking about what happens if we run into Calvin. He’ll probably make it a spectacle?—”

“We won’t let him,” I say, voice firm. With a flourish, I hold out my arm. “C’mon, let’s get you some air. Well…some other air. This particular corner of asphalt stinks of spilled diesel.”

She quirks a brow. “You have a plan, or just your usual random impulse?”

“Random impulse, obviously.” I wink and guide her into the station’s mini-mart. The AC hits us like a chilly slap, but I sigh in relief. “Ah, sweet, sweet air-conditioning. Is this love? I think it might be.”

She rolls her eyes, the smallest giggle escaping her lips. “You’re ridiculous.”

Ridiculous but effective. She’s smiling again.

We weave past displays of chips and candy, navigating toward the restrooms at the back. The overhead lights buzz, lending a slightly eerie vibe to the cramped hall. “Your idea of fresh air is a questionable hallway in a gas station?”

“What can I say? I’m a hopeless romantic.” I stop near the restroom door, giving her a slow grin. “Besides, if you recall, I’m good at distracting you.”

Her cheeks go pink, and she glances at the door. “You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, I can definitely be serious,” I murmur, stepping closer until there’s barely any space between us. “But for you, I’ll beridiculous anytime you need.” My hand finds hers, and I gently tug her into the restroom.

The door clicks shut behind us, and I flick the lock. The cramped space and fluorescent light create an atmosphere fit for a zombie movie, but I’m determined to spin it into a private escape. Her expression wavers between nerves and anticipation. I lift a hand, brushing her hair aside.

“Hunter,” she whispers, “they’re going to wonder where we are.”

I snort. “Please. Gage is on the phone, and Theo is studying that SUV like it’s a Rubik’s cube. We’ve got time, trust me.”

She hesitates, but then I see it—the flicker of longing. She steps forward, pressing her palms against my chest, and I melt. Without a word, I wrap an arm around her waist and dip my head to kiss her. The tension in my shoulders drains the second our lips meet. Fuck, I needed this.

Our tongues tangle, and a soft moan escapes her as I back her into the wall. The cracked tile is cold against my hand, which I plant next to her head to brace myself. “Mmm,” I murmur between kisses, “I love that little noise you make.”

She laughs breathlessly, her fingers curling in my shirt. “I never thought hooking up in a gas station bathroom would be on my bucket list, but here we are.”

I flash a grin. “We’re killing your anxietyandspicing up your bucket list in one fell swoop. Impressive, right?”

She shakes her head, laughing against my mouth, and the tension in her posture eases. Her body softens into mine as she lets me take some of that burden off her shoulders.

We lose ourselves in a series of heated, hurried kisses. The restroom’s flickering light sets a jittery backdrop, oddly perfect for the frenetic energy coursing between us. I slide a hand under her vintage sundress, feeling the warmth of her skin. She sighs into my ear, and my blood roars for more.