Page 73 of Have To Be Mine

He settled the hat on my head. It was so big I could barely see.

I adjusted it so I could actually see him. “I look ridiculous.”

“You look adorable.”

The yacht’s engine rumbled to life beneath us. Dash guided me to one of the loungers. A crew member appeared with a tray.

“What can I get you to drink?” she asked.

I looked at Dash. He was already ordering something involving rum and fresh fruit. I ordered the same, figuring if I was going to do this, I might as well go for it. Soon enough, the drinks arrived in tall glasses with umbrellas and fresh mint. I took a sip.

“Good?” Dash asked.

“Dangerous.”

“The best things usually are.”

I closed my eyes behind my sunglasses, letting myself relax. It felt good.

“Thank you,” I said quietly.

“For what?”

“This. All of it.” I turned my head to look at him. “You didn’t have to do all this.”

“I wanted to. For you. You deserve it.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. No one had ever done something like this for me before. No one had ever paid this much attention to what I needed or wanted. It was overwhelming in the best possible way.

23

DASH

Istood at the perfectly set dining table on the back deck of the yacht, adjusting the very expensive bottle of white wine in its ice bucket for the third time. The best private chef in Mykonos was in the galley below. I had made damn sure everything would be exceptional for my mini vacation with Krista.

I was going to show her what it was like to be treated like a queen.

I had the crew lay out a dress for Krista, just for dinner. Something simple but elegant. I wasn’t even sure she’d wear it. Part of me expected her to show up in the outfit from earlier. But when she appeared at the top of the stairs, I forgot how to breathe.

She was wearing the dress.

It was a soft coral color that somehow worked with her sunburn instead of against it. The fabric draped perfectly, flowing around her in a way that made her look ethereal. Her hair was down, falling in those natural waves around her shoulders.

She looked magnificent.

“Wow,” I said, standing up so fast I nearly knocked over my chair. “You look… wow.”

She laughed, a nervous sound that told me she wasn’t entirely comfortable. “That’s your big line? Wow?”

“I’m trying to think of something better, but my brain just stopped working.” I moved to pull out her chair. “You’re stunning, Krista.”

“Chivalrous now, are we?” she teased, but I caught the slight flush in her cheeks.

“Always,” I said, helping her settle into the chair before taking my own seat across from her.

She fidgeted with her napkin, smoothing it across her lap. I could tell she was a bit shy, unsure of herself in this setting. It struck me that it had probably been a long time since anyone had treated her like a woman instead of one of the guys. Like someone worth worshipping.

And I wanted to worship her. I wanted to make her feel truly seen for the gorgeous, feminine creature she was.