Chapter 27
Sebastian
“You should know me better than that, Sebastian. No crop tops. No crop anything. Ever.” She shakes her head, and I catch a slight wince.
That wince underscores why it’s so important that I take her to Napa. It’s not quite rational, but it is visceral. I know she’s going whether I like it or not. Because she’s stubborn and hell-bent on making this business of hers work. So I need to make sure this trip doesn’t cause a health setback.
And maybe, I also want to spend more time with her.
So I’ll say yes to the damn party at Mancini’s. It’s the last place I want to be. But for her, I’ll go.
This morning, once again, I woke before Emma. I woke with my hard dick against her sweet ass, my arm slung over her in the most elemental, territorial of positions. I got the hell out of bed before I did all the things I’ve been fantasizing about.
So I tried to distract myself by packing for her.
The only upside was that it gave me an excuse to see inside the underwear drawer. It was very illuminating. Em isn’t as buttoned-up as she likes everyone to think. I especially like her black lace.
I know she’ll repack whatever I put in the suitcase, but it’s fun to tease her. Her annoyed expression is the cutest.
I lean in. “When we’re at the Mancinis’, I want you take it easy and relax except when you are meeting with Caitlin.
I made our hosts aware that you’ve been in the hospital.
” I pin her with a piercing gaze, worried about her obvious dizziness when she first sat up. “Are you absolutely sure you’re okay?”
“Chill out, Sebastian. I’m recovering from a concussion. Not major surgery. But tell me about the Mancinis. I mean, I know the basics. I know he’s ridiculously rich and has more Oscars than any other director in history.”
I pack a few more items.
“What do you want to know?” I ask, wary now.
“What’s Dario Mancini like?”
I tense, but try to answer honestly. “He’s a brilliant director. He was always good to me and the rest of the cast. The Family was a show based on his life growing up in Brooklyn. His entire family was always on set. His wife. His daughter. Even his parents when they were in the country.”
She tilts her head. “Did your mom spend much time on set also? She must have known Mancini. She starred in one of his films, right? The… The Tribute.”
Something catches in my throat, and I slide my gaze away from hers. I look at the open suitcase, not really seeing it. “She did.” I clear my throat. “A long time ago. Before I was born.”
She reaches over and snatches the bra that I’m holding. “I’ll do my own packing. Thank you very much. And we have to coordinate stories about how we got engaged. I’m going to come up with the mushiest, most cringe-worthy proposal I can think of,” she says with a wicked grin.
That makes me smile. “Do your worst.”
She waggles her fingers in my direction. “And you’ll have to put a ring on it. Something really, really big. Think Napa has any good jewelry shops?”
I grin wider. “That won’t be a problem.”