Page 114 of Have To Be Mine

“Yeah? He was okay with that?”

“Very. I’m cashing in on the success of that show. I’ve earned some time off.”

“Dash, I don’t have any clothes.”

“We’ll buy whatever you need. Or don’t need. I’m perfectly happy keeping you naked in this hotel room for a week.”

Heat flooded through me at the suggestion, but I tried to stay practical. “I can’t wear the same outfit for days.”

“Then we’ll go shopping.” He kissed my shoulder. “Give me twenty minutes. Go shower and by the time you get out, I’ll have an outfit for you.”

“You going to whip it up yourself?”

He winked. “Something like that.”

I made my way into the bathroom to take a shower. I had a feeling I was going to be pampered over the next day or two or maybe longer. And I couldn’t bring myself to be sad about that.

When I walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a robe, I saw a pair of pink capris with a white blouse and sandals similar to what I had worn earlier. There was a bag with even more clothes.

I shook my head. “This man.”

I dressed and joined him in the living area. Room service had been delivered. He was dressed in a very casual linen set and sipping coffee.

“So, what’s your plan?” I asked.

“I want to show you something. Trust me.”

“I have this far.”

An hour later, we were in a car heading north out of Athens. I watched the landscape change through the window, the urban sprawl giving way to rolling hills and then mountains. Dash wouldn’t tell me where we were going, just kept grinning every time I asked.

“You’re being very mysterious,” I said.

“I’m being romantic. There’s a difference.”

“Is there?”

“Absolutely.” He took my hand and brought it to his lips. “Romance requires mystery. It’s part of the appeal.”

I rolled my eyes, but I was smiling. This was new territory for me, letting someone else take control without knowing the plan. It should have made me anxious. Instead, I felt excited.

We drove for hours, stopping once for lunch at a small taverna where Dash ordered for both of us in broken Greek. The owner seemed charmed by his attempt, bringing us extra food and wine. Dash left an absurdly large tip.

“You’re going to spoil me,” I said as we got back in the car.

“That’s the plan.”

The landscape grew lusher as we continued north. Dense forests covered the hillsides. It was a part of the country I imagined few people except locals got to see. I caught glimpses of turquoise water through the trees. Finally, we turned down a winding road that led to the coast.

“Welcome to the Pelion Peninsula,” Dash announced as we pulled up to a stunning villa perched on a cliff. “Our home for the next week.”

I stepped out of the car and just stared. The villa looked like the one we stayed at in Santorini. Behind us, the forest rose up the hillside, so green it looked almost unreal. I had landed in actual paradise.

“Dash, this is stunning.”

He came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. “I know. I saw pictures and knew I had to bring you here.”

A woman appeared from the villa, introducing herself as Elena, the caretaker. She showed us around. The place had three bedrooms, a kitchen stocked with local food and wine, and a living area that opened completely to the terrace. Every window framed a different view of paradise.