Harry turned and even cracked half a smile. “Captain,” he said, holding out his hand. “Thank you for coming.” Then his eyes fell to Jay. “Medic.”
“Hey,” Jay said. “Thank me for being here too, big guy. You know you want to.”
“I really don’t,” Harry grumbled with half a smile.
Asher gave him a shove, taking Jay’s hand. “Thank you for being here,” he said with a smile. “For taking the time. I know you don’t have much to spare.”
Rhett nodded. “We were in the country, so it was good timing.”
“Ah, introductions,” Harry said, somewhat awkwardly. He gestured to the two men beside him. One taller man, forties, with dark astute eyes, and the other man was younger with a huge bright smile. Clearly a couple, and a gorgeous one at that. “This is August and Jake. Friends of ours from home. This is Captain and Medic.”
They shook hands and said quick hellos.
“So,” Jay said, smiling at Harry. “You do know our real names, right?”
Harry nodded. “We were told, yes.”
“Not gonna be using them any time soon then?”
Harry shook his head. “Nope.”
Rhett decided to intervene before these two bickered all night long. He looked around, taking in the bluest water and whitest sand he’d ever seen. “What a place, huh?”
Asher laughed. “Almost as nice as his last place. Harry was just saying he prefers this one.”
“Yes,” Jay said flatly, rolling his eyes. “My last private island was sooo much nicer too.”
Harry huffed. “I’ve missed you, Captain,” he said. “Medic, not so much.”
“Be nice,” Asher warned, but there was no heat in it.
Rhett had a few interactions with Harry over the last six months. Some professional, mostly friendly, chewing the fat and getting to know the man behind the reputation. The thing was, Rhett respected and admired Harry. He’d survived on his own for a long time, and that deserved a level of respect that not many could grasp.
But Rhett did. And what’s more, he liked him. Behind that intimidating glare and hulking body was a man who had lost a lot, who had been pushed to the brink, wasabandoned by his government handler, yet he still had more integrity and honour than anyone Rhett had ever met.
And, on a personal level, he was gay and deeply in love with a man who had been with him through thick and thin.
Like Rhett and Jay.
So yeah, Rhett liked Harry. When he’d asked Rhett and Jay to be here today, of course he’d said yes.
And god, it was a beautiful day for it. Warm, sunny, gentle breeze, on an island in Far North Queensland.
Though someone was missing . . .
“I haven’t seen Yunho yet.” Rhett looked back at the house. “Is he okay?”
“He’s doing well,” Asher replied. “It took him a little while to get used to being on this island, in this house, but he’s okay now. He feels safe here.”
“Good,” Rhett said. He was glad.
When Rhett had told Harry and Asher back in London that he would look after Yunho and ensure his safety, he took that very seriously. It took another few weeks in hospital before they made the trek home, and for someone like Yunho, with his condition, it took a concerted, medicated effort.
Rhett had never met someone with agoraphobia before. He knew what it was, sure, but he’d never seen it firsthand. Jay had been with them the whole way, of course, which Yunho appreciated.
Rhett really liked Yunho. He was an eccentric little man but extremely smart and tremendously sweet and kind. Alongside his agoraphobia and anxiety, he was injured, had severe PTSD, and had a long medical road ahead of him. Yet he had been nothing but gracious and grateful.
“Oh, hey,” Jay said, giving Rhett a nudge and a pointed nod toward the patio doors.