Chapter 21
SEBASTIAN
There was a perma-grin stuck to my face. I woke up with it. Showered with it. Brushing my teeth had never been easier.
I felt an actual pep in my step as I sipped my coffee and went over the shoots that were on the schedule for the day. Sunlight streamed through the window of my bungalow confirming it was indeed a perfect day.
The weather was perfect for my mood.
Hell, I would still be smiling even if it was raining.
Ain’t nothing going to get me down.
Last night had happened. That gorgeous pain in my ass had been in my bed. Had been under me, around me, saying my name in ways that would be permanently burned into my brain. I had given her an orgasm I knew she was going to be thinking about long into the day.
I knew I sure was.
I was already thinking about the next time.
I felt like I had barely scratched the surface with her.
There was so much more I wanted to do with that perfect little body.
She hid all the goods under those ugly suits.
I knew she was hot, but damn, naked and writhing Bernadette was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen.
I needed a nickname for her. Bernadette was a mouthful. Baby was too basic. Sexy? Nah, she’d never accept that. Bernie was, well, no. I was not going to be fucking Bernie.
I left my bungalow and went to the resort’s dining area, still grinning like an idiot. Elizabeth was already there, sitting at a table with a plate of fruit and what looked like yogurt. She looked up when I approached. Her eyes immediately went wide as saucers with her jaw dropping.
“Oh my God,” she said.
“What?” I sat down across from her, reaching for the coffee carafe.
“You’re glowing.”
“I am not glowing. Men don’t glow.”
“You are literally glowing. You look like you swallowed the sun.” She leaned forward, studying my face. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m glowing, so that means something is wrong?”
“No, but did you do something maniacal?”
“Like?”
She shrugged. “You did something. I’ve seen that same stupid grin on Adrian’s face. You Blackwell brothers are not as smooth as you think. What—” She slapped a hand over her mouth. “You didn’t!”
“What?”
“I know that look,” she hissed and leaned forward.
“Eat your fruit.”
“You slept with her.” It wasn’t a question. “I know that look because I have most definitely seen it on Adrian’s face. I put it there.” She sounded just a little proud of herself.
“Hush,” I said, glancing around to make sure no one was close enough to overhear. “Keep your voice down.”
“Oh my God, you totally did.” She was grinning now, delighted. “Sebastian Blackwell and Buzzkill Bernadette. I did not see that coming. Well, actually, I totally did, but still.”
“It was just once,” I said quietly. “Like a release valve. Got it out of our systems. That’s it.”
Elizabeth didn’t buy it. I could see it in her face. Probably because I knew it wasn’t true and I didn’t have the energy or the desire to try to convince her. She stared at me and shook her head.
“What?” I asked.
“You have such a goofy smile on your face.”
“I do not.”
I did. I knew it. I had stared at it in the mirror while I shaved and got ready. I felt it. My cheeks hurt.
“You absolutely do. Very dopey. Sweet. Like you’re thinking about something that makes you happy.”
“I’m thinking about bacon.” I stood and headed to the buffet, loading my plate with eggs, bacon, sausage, and toast. When I returned to the table, Elizabeth was still watching me with that knowing expression.
“I think you’re falling for the bossy little nerd.”
“I just like bacon.” I took a bite of my bacon, making exaggerated sounds of appreciation. “See? Bacon. So good. I’m going to need a tapeworm after all this food.”
“You’re such a model,” she said, but she was smiling. “Only you would be worried about gaining weight while on a tropical island running a massive production.”
“Hey, the camera adds ten pounds. I need to stay camera-ready.”
We ate our meals but I noticed her watching me with her own goofy grin. I really did like her. It was nice not to have to deal with the usual brother dynamics and competition. She was softer. Nicer. Easier.
“Are you excited?” she asked. “Everyone arrives in three days. Your brothers, your mom.”
The rest of the family was flying in for the runway show at the end of the week. Which meant three more days of relative peace before Adrian started hovering and Briggs started asking pointed questions and Dash started making inappropriate jokes.
My little paradise would be coming to an end soon.
“I just hope they don’t interfere with the last few shooting days,” I said. “The shoot is mine. I need to finish it without them trying to take over or ‘help.’ I’ve been doing just fine. They don’t know shit about an actual shoot and how to keep models happy. I do.”
“I’ll keep them focused on the runway show,” Elizabeth promised. “I’ll need their input on the venue setup anyway. The shoot is yours, Sebastian. And you’ve done an amazing job so far.”
The praise warmed my chest. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. I’ve seen the shots the photographers have been getting. The teasers we’ve been posting on social media. The response has been incredible. You’re making my dresses look amazing.”
“You’re welcome,” I said. “That’s what family should do for each other. Help each other. Make their lives better. Although it’s so weird to have a sister.”
She laughed. “Weirder to have a gaggle of brothers.”
“Thanks, Lizzie.”
“Don’t call me Lizzie.”
“Too late. You’re Lizzie now. I’m all about nicknames today.”
She rolled her eyes but smiled. This was good. This felt right. Not just colleagues or in-laws but actual family.
“I’ve got to go,” I said, standing and grabbing another piece of bacon for the road. “Time to make some magic.”
The weather was perfect. Not a cloud in the sky, gentle breeze, the kind of day that made you understand why people paid obscene amounts of money to vacation in places like this. Maybe I could convince my little Bee to take a vacation with me.
Mustique. I would bet money she’d never been. The billionaire playground was a dream. I’d only been twice, but it was unforgettable.
And private.
The crew was in good spirits too. Load-in went smoothly. All the equipment was transported to the location without incident. Everyone was working together like a well-oiled machine. Even the models showed up on time, which felt like a minor miracle.
I spotted Bernadette near the equipment staging area, talking to one of the lighting guys about proper cable management. Her hair was back in its usual severe bun, and she was wearing linen pants and a sleeveless blouse that looked professional but tropical.
She was buzzing around like a worker bee.
I grabbed two coffees from the craft services setup and made my way over. The lighting guy saw me coming and diplomatically excused himself.
“Morning,” I said, offering her one of the coffees. “How’s my favorite nerd doing?”
She took the coffee, and for a second, our fingers brushed. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and a small, private smile crossed her face. The kind of smile that said she was remembering last night too.
I knew it.
There was no way she couldn’t be thinking about me and what I did to her.
“I’m well, thank you,” she said, perfectly professional. But her eyes were warm. “Good morning.”
We stood there for a moment, just looking at each other, sharing something the rest of the crew couldn’t see.
Then she broke the moment, glancing at her watch. “I should run the safety briefing. We’re shooting near those volcanic rocks today, and there are some specific protocols.”
“Right. Yeah. Do your thing, Little Bee.”
She frowned at me. I raised my brow and waited for her to say something. Instead she just shook her head and went back to what she was doing.
She gathered the crew with a sharp whistle. The noise went straight to my dick. I hadn’t known she could whistle like that. I didn’t want her whistling in bed but watching her take command was hot.
She launched into a quick, efficient safety meeting. Proper footwear for the rocky terrain. Hydration stations. Emergency protocols. She’d streamlined it since the bingo game, making it informative without being tedious.
When she finished, I stepped up for my pep talk.
“Alright, people. Today’s going to be great. We’ve got perfect weather, perfect location, and the perfect team. The A-Team. Let’s make some beautiful images and have fun doing it. Questions?”
No questions. Just eager faces ready to work.
“Then let’s do this.”
We traded off like that throughout the morning—Bernadette handling safety and logistics, me handling creative direction and morale. It was seamless in a way I hadn’t expected it could be with her around. It was like we’d been working together for years instead of barely a week.
At one point, I heard one of the production assistants mutter something about Mom and Dad getting along.
I pretended not to hear it, but internally, I winced. People were noticing. That was dangerous. We said we’d be careful, keep things professional. I knew she did not want her reputation tarnished by the likes of me.
But as I watched Bernadette crouch down to check the stability of a rock formation where we’d be positioning a model, sunlight catching her hair, I found it hard to care.
We were working among volcanic rock formations, using the dramatic landscape as a backdrop for some of Elizabeth’s designs. The models looked incredible. The photographers were getting shots that would definitely make the final campaign.
It was brutally hot and everyone was sweating through their clothes by midday. But the shots were worth it. Dramatic. Powerful. Exactly the vibe we’d been going for. The makeup team had to blot the models every five minutes, but they were all troopers.
And Bernadette looked good. Even sweaty and flushed from the heat, checking her tablet and making notes and doing her job with that intense focus she brought to everything. I caught myself staring more than once and had to physically redirect my attention.
During a break for wardrobe changes, I found myself standing near the edge of the location, looking out at the ocean, feeling something close to contentment.
Life was good. The shoot was going well. My family would be here soon to see the success. Elizabeth’s designs were going to launch beautifully. I was proving to everyone—and to myself—that I could handle this level of responsibility.
And Bernadette? Well, that was complicated. But it was a complication I found myself not minding.
“You look happy,” Annika said, appearing at my elbow.
“I am happy. Everything is coming together.”
“Mm-hmm.” She gave me a knowing look. “And it has nothing to do with a certain insurance representative?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you don’t.” She patted my arm. “Just be careful. The crew is starting to notice how you two look at each other.”
“We don’t look at each other any particular way.”
“You look at her like she hung the moon. She looks at you like she can’t decide if she wants to kiss you or kill you. It’s very obvious to anyone paying attention.”
“We’re being professional.”
“Of course you are.” She walked away, still smiling that knowing smile.
I looked over at Bernadette, who was organizing something with the wardrobe team. As if she felt my gaze, she glanced over. Our eyes met. She gave me a small smile before turning back to her work.
Careful, I reminded myself. We needed to be more careful.
I found myself thinking that maybe careful was overrated.
I was going to enjoy it for now. I’d deal with the fallout later. I just wanted to live in the moment, and that included watching my Little Bee buzz around looking hot as hell—literally and figuratively.