Page 30 of Have To Be Mine

Of course he was wearing a pair of luxury shorts to lounge by the pool. He was the best advertisement. Cancel the expensive photoshoots and just take a picture of his dumbass. Problem solved.

“Ladies, gentleman,” he said to his assembled admirers. “Duty calls.”

He grabbed his shirt from the back of the chair and put it on but didn’t bother buttoning it. He walked toward me, still dripping pool water, proving he hadn’t just been lounging.

“Lead the way, Captain,” he said with that charming smile.

I turned and started walking, very aware of him behind me. Very aware of the wet footprints he was leaving. Very aware that everyone we passed was staring at him and his ridiculous body and that stupid charming smile he was giving everyone.

This was exactly the kind of spectacle I should have prevented. I was supposed to be managing him, keeping him on schedule, and preventing him from turning every moment into a circus. And here we were, walking through the lobby of a five-star hotel with him looking like a Greek god straight from Mt. Olympus.

“You’re enjoying this,” he said from behind me.

“Enjoying what?”

“Ordering me around. Publicly.”

I glanced back at him. “Maybe a little. But it’s not like you give me much choice.”

“At least you’re honest.”

We reached the lobby and I could feel eyes on us. On him. A woman actually walked into a pillar because she was too busy staring at Dash to watch where she was going. He noticed and gave her a little wave. She blushed and scurried away.

“You’re a menace,” I muttered.

“I’m friendly.”

“You’re a distraction.”

“Is that what I am?” He was suddenly right behind me. His voice had dropped lower, more intimate. “Am I distracting you, Krista?”

I stopped walking and turned to face him. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t try to flirt or charm me. It doesn’t work. Not on me.”

“You sure about that?”

I was not sure about that. Standing this close to him, with water still dripping down his chest and those eyes looking at me, was extremely distracting.

But I’d rather die than admit it.

“The car,” I said, pointing toward the entrance.

He grinned like he knew exactly what I was thinking. “After you.”

I walked outside, grateful for the blast of heat that hit my face. Maybe it would explain why my cheeks felt so warm.

The driver jumped out to open the door, his eyes widening slightly when he saw Dash’s state of undress.

“Good morning,” Dash said cheerfully, sliding into the car like he was perfectly dressed for travel.

I got in after him, putting as much distance between us as the backseat would allow. Which wasn’t much.

“You could have at least changed,” I said as the car pulled away from the hotel.

“You said we were leaving now. I left now.”