Page 58 of Hate To Be Mine

“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.