48 COREY
T he hum of the jet’s engines fades as I nudge Rhea gently.
Her head’s lolled against the window, her wild hair a mess, and her lips slightly parted.
She looks like she’s been out cold since takeoff, which, honestly, isn’t surprising after the amount of wine she put away at dinner added to the amount she drank before the jet took off due to her nerves of “not being a fucking bird an never planning on being on a plane.”
“Rhea,” I say, my voice low but firm. “Wake up, Sleeping Beauty.” She stirs, her nose scrunching up like she’s annoyed at the world for existing. “Mmm, five more minutes,” she mumbles, swatting at me half-heartedly.
I smirk, leaning closer. “You’re gonna want to see this.” Her eyes flutter open, green and hazy, and she blinks at me like she’s trying to figure out if I’m real or just a figment of her wine- soaked imagination. “Corey? Where are we?”
“Somewhere you’re gonna love,” I say, standing and offering her my hand.
“Come on, up.” She takes it, her fingers warm and soft in mine, and I pull her to her feet.
She wobbles a little, still groggy, and I steady her with a hand on her waist.
“Easy there, champ. You’re not exactly light on your feet right now.”
She glares at me, but there’s no heat in it.
“Shut up. I’m fine.” She straightens, brushing her hair out of her face, and then freezes as she catches sight of the window.
“Holy shit. Is that… the ocean?” I grin, watching her face light up like a kid on Christmas morning.
“Yep. Welcome to paradise.” She presses her face against the glass, her breath fogging it up.
“Corey, this is insane. Where are we? Like, specifically?”
“Private island,” I say, shrugging like it’s no big deal. “Figured we could all use a break after… well, everything.” She turns to me, her eyes wide. “A private island? Are you serious?”
“Dead serious,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest.
“You’ve been through hell lately. Thought you deserved something nice.”
She stares at me for a long moment, and then, without warning, she throws her arms around my neck, nearly knocking me off balance.
“You’re the best, you know that?” I chuckle, wrapping my arms around her.
“Yeah, I know. But don’t let it get around. I’ve got a reputation to maintain.”
She pulls back, grinning up at me. “Too late. I’m telling everyone.”
“Great,” I say, rolling my eyes. “Just what I need. A PR nightmare.” She laughs, the sound light and carefree, and it’s a relief to hear after everything she’s been through. She turns back to the window, her hands pressed against the glass. “I can’t believe this. It’s like… a dream.”
“Well, it’s real,” I say, stepping up beside her. “And it’s all yours for the weekend.” She looks at me, her eyes shining. “Thank you, Corey. Seriously.
This is… amazing.” I shrug, trying to play it cool, but the way she’s looking at me makes it hard to keep the smirk off my face.
“Don’t mention it. Now, let’s get off this plane before Julian and Tobias decide to steal the best bedroom.”
She laughs again, grabbing her bag and following me to the exit.
The warm, salty air hits us as we step onto the tarmac, and Rhea takes a deep breath, her face tilted up to the sun. “This is going to be the best weekend ever.”
“Damn right it is,” I say, slinging an arm around her shoulders.
We all step into the villa, and even I’m blown away for a second.
The place is all open air, floor-to-ceiling windows letting in the golden sunlight, the ocean breeze carrying the scent of salt and flowers. The decor is sleek but warm, all muted earth tones and clean lines, and the sound of waves crashing against the shore fills the space. It’s perfect.
Rhea stops dead in her tracks, her mouth falling open as she takes it all in. She turns in a slow circle, her eyes wide, and then she does something I didn’t expect. She starts to cry.
“Hey,” I say, moving to her side. Julian and Tobias are right there too, closing in around her like they’re afraid she might collapse.
“What’s wrong?” She shakes her head, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. “Nothing. Everything. This is just… too much. I don’t deserve this.”
“Bullshit,” Julian says, his voice sharp but not unkind. “You deserve this and more, Rhea. After everything you’ve been through?
This is nothing.”
“Yeah,” Tobias adds, his deep voice softer than usual. “And for the record, this place? It’s got nothing on you.” She laughs through her tears, looking up at him with this mix of disbelief and gratitude. “You’re such a liar.”
“He’s not,” I say, stepping closer. “You’re the most beautiful thing in this room, and that’s saying something because this place is pretty damn nice.” She sniffles, looking around at the three of us like she’s trying to figure out if we’re serious. “You’re all batshit.”
“We’ve been called worse,” Julian says with a grin.
She laughs again, and this time it sticks, the sound light and easy, like she’s finally letting herself believe this is real. “I love you guys.
So much.”
“Good,” Tobias says, his hand brushing against hers. “Because we love you too.”
“Speaking of love,” I say, deciding now’s as good a time as any to drop the news. “We’ve got something else for you.” Her eyes snap to me, curious now. “What?”
“We’re building a new bar,” Julian says, his grin widening. “And we’re naming it after something—or someone—special.” She frowns, confused. “What are you talking about?”
“Betty’s,” Tobias says, his voice steady. “After your Camaro.” Her breath catches, and for a second, I think she’s going to cry again. Instead, she smiles, her eyes shining with something that makes my chest tighten. “You’re kidding.”
“Dead serious,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest. “You and that car? You’re kind of a package deal. Figured we’d honor both.” She looks at each of us, her expression soft but intense, like she’s seeing us for the first time. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” Julian says, his voice dropping a little.
“But if you want to show us how much you love us, we’re all ears.”
Her smile turns sly, and before any of us can react, she reaches for the hem of her dress, pulling it up and over her head in one smooth motion.
She tosses it aside, standing there in nothing but a black lace bra and matching panties, her skin glowing in the sunlight.
“How’s this for a thank you?” she says, her voice low and teasing.
I feel my breath catch, the air in the room suddenly charged with something electric. Julian lets out a low whistle, and Tobias mutters something under his breath that sounds suspiciously like “Jesus Christ.”
“I’d say it’s a good start,” I say, my voice gritty.
She grins, stepping closer to us. “Good. Because I’m just getting started.”