Chloe's voice made me break eye contact with the man. "Ashton, this is the lady I mentioned who wants to swap rooms. Why don't you two talk it over?"

I stepped forward. "Hi, I'm Elaine Hart. Would it be possible to switch rooms?"

"No," he said flatly.

Irritation bubbled up inside me, along with a streak of stubbornness. "Why not?"

He just looked at me without responding, then draped an army-green towel over his shoulder and walked past. The ...