Page 34 of Have To Be Mine

I thought about my suite at the Athens hotel. The marble bathroom. The king-sized bed. The view of the Acropolis. I thought about every five-star hotel I’d ever stayed in, every private villa and luxury resort.

She was acting mad, but I could tell she was not happy with our situation either. She was practically recoiling at the thought of sleeping in that room. That was unexpected. I didn’t know how long she served in the military or if she ever had to sleep in a tent in a desert, but she was not thrilled about sleeping in a bunk bed.

“Alright,” I said. “I’m sure they wash the bedding after a person leaves, right? And do hostels separate boys and girls or are the rooms co-ed?”

“I don’t know,” she said through gritted teeth.

“Hopefully, you’re not rooming with a couple. I imagine these beds squeak. You don’t want to be on a bottom bunk with a couple going at it all night over your head.”

“It’s fine,” she said again. “This is fine. We just have to sleep here.”

I walked into my room and poked my head in the bathroom. There was zero chance I was using that toilet.

“Do you think they leave cleaning products so we can sanitize the toilet?” I called out loud enough for her to hear. “I’m sure it’s fine, but maybe a little bleach would help.”

I already had my phone out.

“It’s fine,” Krista said. “I’m sure⁠—”

Her words cut off. I couldn’t resist looking to see what had made her speechless. I walked across the hall into her room. She was staring at the toilet. I peered over her shoulder.

“Oh, I guess the rooms are co-ed. You’ll definitely want to make sure you check the seat before you plop that pretty little ass down.”

I heard the inhale. “I’ve shared bathrooms with men before. It’s fine.”

I chuckled and shook my head. “Yep. Fine.”

I watched her do her very best to pretend it was all okay. It clearly wasn’t. We both knew it but I was the only one willing to admit it out loud.

“Fine,” I said, already scrolling through my contacts. “Let me make some calls.”

“Dash—”

“Don’t.” I held up a hand. “I know you’re about to give me some speech about sucking it up or making do or whatever other military bullshit you’ve got lined up. But I’m drawing a line. I will sleep in a lot of places. I have slept in a lot of places. But I’m not sleeping in a hostel where I have to share a bathroom with eleven strangers that could have all kinds of issues.”

She opened her mouth to argue, then closed it. I saw the exact moment she gave in, her shoulders dropping just slightly.

“Look, it’s not just about standards,” I said, trying another tactic. “I’m Dash Blackwell.”

“I know exactly who you are.”

“I mean, I’m a billionaire. There’s a safety concern. I don’t travel with security, but there have been issues. We all prefer to take our own precautions but this might be asking for trouble. I’m not trying to get mugged or kidnapped for ransom.”

I saw her using that military mind. She knew it was true. I wasn’t actually worried, but it had been known to happen to others.

“Thank you,” she muttered.

“What was that?”

“Don’t push it.”

I grinned and started making calls. The first three hotels I tried were fully booked. I walked away from Krista. I didn’t know why it mattered, but I didn’t want her to hear me use my name to get what I wanted. I didn’t want to confirm her belief I was a spoiled, entitled rich boy.

I called another hotel, gave my little spiel using just enough authority in my tone to make it clear I wasn’t going anywhere. I was put on hold. I heard heavy steps behind me and looked down the hall. Krista was watching me with her arms crossed, trying very hard not to look curious. I winked at her. She rolled her eyes.

The manager came on the line. “Mr. Blackwell, it’s a pleasure. I remember when you stayed with us three years ago. Let me see what I can do.”

Five minutes later, I had a reservation. I hung up and looked at Krista with what I knew was an insufferably smug expression.