Page 58 of Have To Be Mine

I didn’t understand why she wasn’t singing instead of consulting for guys like me. The way she’d finally let go and had let me see the woman she was? I was already thinking about how to get her back there again. I wanted her to feel like she was safe with me. She didn’t have to be Captain Krista. She could just be her.

I got up, showered, and got to work. I had a plan, and contrary what some people thought, I did know a little something about planning and execution.

I opened my laptop and went through every pending item for Mykonos. Confirmed the hotel accommodations. Checked in with the talent coordinator. Sent emails to vendors that I’d been putting off for days. Made one phone call to the event planner overseeing the talent appreciation weekend to make sure nothing had gone sideways since I last checked.

Everything was fine. Better than fine, actually. Handled.

“See,” I said to the room.

I picked up the phone and called the concierge. Not long after, I knocked on Krista’s door.

She answered still looking half asleep, hair loose around her shoulders, wearing her West Point shirt that looked like it had been worn through at least one war. “What are you doing here?”

“We’re spending the day enjoying Corfu.”

“We need to leave for Mykonos today,” she said, shaking her head. The tired look in her eyes was quickly being replaced by annoyance.

“No, we don’t. I made plans. I’ve been up for an hour. I’ve doublechecked the arrangements for Mykonos. All of it. Everything is ready.”

“Really? You checked on everything?”

I shrugged. “You can verify all of it. Check my sent folder.”

“You’re very perky.”

I grinned. “Here’s what I’m proposing,” I said. “One day. Not a vacation. Just you, me, the pool, and whatever you want to eat and drink. Blackwell hospitality, full service. You’ve been running at full speed for who knows how long. You’re allowed to breathe.”

“I breathe fine.”

“I think you’re in survival mode. One day, Krista. People take days off.”

She almost smiled. “I don’t need to be taken care of.”

“I know you don’t need it. But would you like it? Just for today?” I tilted my head. “When’s the last time someone took care of you?”

Krista didn’t answer because she couldn’t. I knew it had been years. Maybe since before her mother got sick.

“One day,” I said. “And if you hate it, I’ll personally drive us to the ferry and we’ll be in Mykonos by dinner.”

She exhaled through her nose and I knew I’d won.

“One day,” she said.

“Good. Meet me at the pool. I’ll be the guy in the cabana.”

“You’re obnoxious.”

“I know.”

It took her about twenty minutes to come down to the pool. She was wearing a cover-up, a white linen thing that reached mid-thigh. I wanted to know what was under there. I would find out. Her hair was up, but it wasn’t the severe ponytail or bun. It was a loose, messy bun that was stylish and sexy.

She sat on the lounger beside mine looking just a little stiff. I signaled to the server I’d already spoken to, and within three minutes a tray arrived with a drink for her. A strawberry daiquiri. I figured I couldn’t go wrong with something cold and fruity with an umbrella in it and a ring of pineapple on the rim.

She looked at it, then at me. “You ordered for me.”

“I did. I told you, I’m taking care of you today. You will want for nothing.”

She picked it up and took a sip. I watched her try not to look pleased about it. She failed.