Page 36 of My Ex's Billionaire Brothers

We clean up and exit the bathroom, the station clerk glancing at us with mild suspicion. I flash a bright smile her way. “Oh, nothing to see here, ma’am, just the best illicit bathroom sex of my life.” And I lead Anya outside.

She swats my arm, her face a tomato. As we leave the mini-mart, she hisses, “I cannot believe you said that!”

I chuckle. “Well, it’s true. That was the best bathroom sex I’ve ever had.”

She’s so precious when she’s exasperated. “I meant, I can’t believe you told her.”

I shrug and grin. “You’re worth bragging about, Anya.”

Her blush remains firmly in place. Theo is off the phone now, pacing near the SUV. Gage rummages in the back, presumably searching for a magic wand to fix the starter. He sees usapproach, noticing our pink cheeks and rumpled outfits, and raises a brow. “Everything all right?”

I mock-salute. “Mission accomplished, Commander. Anxiety neutralized.”

“Mechanic says he’ll be here in ten,” Theo remarks, gesturing at the dusty road that leads into the small town. “We’ll see if that’s true or ‘Carolina ten,’ which probably means an hour.”

“No worries,” I reply, taking a seat on a bench outside the store with Anya beside me. I drape an arm over her shoulders, letting her lean in. “We’ll wait. We’re pros at that now, right?”

She nudges me, but she’s still smiling. If I can keep her grinning, keep her from panicking about Calvin, then I’ll gladly endure sweaty parking lots, broken-down cars, and a thousand questionable bathroom choices.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, that same little voice reminds me I’m in way too deep. But I push it aside. Because for now, the only thing that matters is that she’s safe, she’s smiling, and for a few stolen moments, she’s all mine.

16

THEO

I pressmy back against the SUV’s bumper and inhale slowly, trying to manage the frustration simmering in my chest. For years, I have taken meticulous care of this vehicle—regular inspections, routine tune-ups, and an almost fanatical commitment to immaculate cleanliness. Now, John the mechanic is telling me he can’t fix it today because he needs a part that won’t arrive until tomorrow.

Superb.

The more irritating detail is the supposed coincidence that the gas station attendant, Shelby, just happens to have a vacant cabin rental nearby. It’s a setup. Has to be. We left the vehicle to find snacks in the gas station’s store, only to return and find it not working?

Scam. Obviously. But even if it’s a ploy, we have no better alternative. Arguing with them about it won’t improve our situation, and we can’t sleep in the SUV.

Exhaling, I gather our bags with my brothers, and Anya stands a few feet away from us, arms wrapped around herself. The breezetugs at the hem of her retro sundress and lifts her wavy hair. She looks tense—eyes darting toward the road, as though she expects to see one of Calvin’s cars appear any moment.

“Everyone ready?” Shelby waves to us from inside her pickup truck, gesturing for us to hop in. Apparently, she’s our ride to her rental cabin in the woods.

Gage shrugs and hoists his bag onto his shoulder. Hunter does the same, crossing the gravel path to the old pickup. Anya lingers by me, eyes flicking over the SUV one last time. “I’m sorry about your car,” she murmurs. “I know you take care of it.”

“It’s not your fault,” I say, placing a hand gently on her back. Despite my lingering annoyance, I feel her tension and want to comfort her. “But I can’t deny I am rather frustrated. The timing is suspicious.”

“You think they sabotaged it?”

I resist the urge to scoff out loud. “I suspect they might have helped the problem along. But we can’t prove anything. And at this point, we’re stranded, so lodging is the only sensible option.”

She offers a sympathetic half smile, then follows me to the truck. We pile into the extended cab—Anya squeezed between me and the window, while Gage takes the passenger seat next to the attendant. Hunter ends up in the bed of the truck with our luggage, bracing himself as we rattle down a dirt road.

“Hope you folks don’t mind a bit of a drive,” the attendant says cheerily. The late afternoon light slants through thick pines, turning the world into a verdant quilt of green and gold. “Cabin’s about twenty minutes into the woods, near the river. Very peaceful. You’ll love it.”

I stare out the side window, letting the rush of trees blur my thoughts.Car trouble, an inconvenient holiday, and a looming confrontation with Calvin in Castle Beach.The trifecta of irritations sets my teeth on edge. At least work is going well.

The attendant chatters about the amenities—a cozy fireplace, a functional hot tub, and a pine needle path leading to a nearby river. A night of serenity in the forest could help soothe our anxieties.

Positivity is not my strong suit, but I’m trying to keep my chin up.

Eventually, the truck bounces along a final stretch of dirt road and we reach a clearing. The cabin stands tall and sturdy—logs stacked in neat rows, a wide porch wrapping around the front, and large windows that reflect the warm evening sun. It’s undeniably charming, a step above the run-down motels we’ve encountered.

The moment the truck stops, Hunter jumps down from the bed, shaking out his arms. “I give this ride one star,” he jokes, giving Anya a wink as he helps her step onto solid ground.