Chapter 13

Thirteen

Harper

L eo surprised me in the best ways. He was great with Evie, patient and kind. He didn’t mind when she made a mess and pulled me away when he wanted to kiss me. But I still wasn’t sure that our relationship would be well-received by the rest of the family.

He’d assured me he’d already talked to Matteo and Carlo, but he wasn’t clear about how they felt about us dating. I had a feeling they weren’t pleased, but I was looking forward to an evening with Leo and no distractions.

I’d liked him for so long, and things felt easy between us, but there was this untapped electricity between us I wanted to explore. I almost thought it was a good thing that Evie was around because she forced us to slow down and get to know each other before the relationship progressed physically. The anticipation made everything so much better.

“You seem different,” Gia said when we were going over the wedding schedule for the rest of the month. We had a lot of fall weddings, but it was a little slower than spring and summer.

My heart rate kicked up. “Hmm. How so?”

“You’re happier. Did something happen?” Then her eyes brightened as she focused on me. “Did you meet someone?”

“No.” After all, I didn’t just meet Leo.

“Are you talking to someone online?” she persisted.

“Nope.” I didn’t like online dating. It seemed like more of a hookup space, which I had no patience or time for. I’d noticed the men on there preferred to text and not always meet in person. I didn’t have that kind of time. I wanted to meet, figure out if there was chemistry, and move on to the next. But lately, I hadn’t even done that.

“Then what is it?” Gia asked, and I thought about the last few weeks.

“I’m happy.” That’s what this feeling of expansion was in my chest. My heart was full, and I was hopeful that this thing with Leo could be the real deal. As much as I didn’t believe it was possible for me, maybe I was wrong.

“Are you doing something different? Did you pick up a new hobby?”

“It’s nothing like that.” I felt bad lying to my friend, but I couldn’t tell her about dating her brother. Not without talking to Leo first. “I’ve been thinking about moving out of the apartment.”

Gia’s eyes widened. “Why?”

“I’d like to have a yard for Evie.” And get some space from the Giovanni family. As grateful as I’d been to them over the years, I wanted independence and a little more privacy.

“Have you found anything you like? You’ll want to make sure you’re in a good school district for Evie.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve got this.” The Giovannis were so quick to help, and I hoped Leo wasn’t dating me out of pity or some weird sense of obligation to a family friend.

“You could stay with me.”

“No.” There was no way I was moving in with my potential boyfriend’s sister. Not when she was my best friend. “No offense, but I don’t want a roommate.”

“I just thought it would be easier for you. You’d get more space and a yard while you saved up. I’ve been thinking about giving you a raise too.”

“Gia, you can’t give me a raise because I’m your friend and need to move.”

“I can’t lose you. You do so many more things than I originally hired you for. You were supposed to organize my business, and you did, but you also create marketing plans and graphics and write ad copy. I’ll pay you whatever so you don’t go somewhere else.”

“I don’t have any plans to leave, but I won’t turn down a raise if that’s how you feel.”

“I’ve been thinking about it for a while. I believe in paying people what they’re worth, and you’ve more than proven yourself capable of the job.”

She’d hired me to organize the business, but she didn’t think she’d have any more work for me. That quickly turned out not to be true. “I’m glad you’re happy with my work.”

“You’re indispensable. I’m sure Papà hates that I’ve stolen you from the restaurant.”

“I love waitressing occasionally, but this challenges me more.”

“Have you thought any more about going to school?”

“I’d love to take some business and marketing classes. I had no idea how much I’d love working here.” I always thought of selling something to someone as being kind of icky, but every time we signed a new client, it felt amazing. It almost made me want to start my own business.

“I’m happy to help with Evie or whatever you need if you want to take some classes. I’m not saying you need it. You seem to have some natural talent for marketing and business.”

“I’ve always played around with design and graphics, but the marketing stuff just comes to me.” I came up with ideas when I was at the playground with Evie or taking a shower, and I’d text them to Gia. She’d tell me to create the campaign and let me take the lead.

“You deserve the raise. You gave me the idea of advertising to out-of-state couples, and we’ve already had some inquiries from the ads you created.”

“Are you serious?”

Gia smiled. “We’re doing virtual meetings this week with several interested couples.”

“We need to sell them on Annapolis and our service.”

“Can you come up with a quick presentation on the venues and what Annapolis has to offer in terms of activities and amenities for their guests?”

“Absolutely.”

“Perfect. I’ll send a proposal over for your raise, and I was thinking about adding a commission incentive for every client you bring in.”

“How will we know if they’re from my marketing or word of mouth?”

“Easy. We’ll ask them. You already do a survey for clients who don’t sign on with us; we can do one for new clients who do.”

“I love it.” I was furiously typing notes on my tablet so I’d remember everything later.

When I stood to leave, Gia came around the desk to hug me. “You’re a good friend and employee. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Me either,” I said, guilt filtering through my consciousness. What would she do when she found out I was dating her brother? Would she feel like I betrayed her? Would she think I was like every other friend she’d ever had who hung out with her to get close to her brothers?

I wanted to say she knew me better than that, and we’d been friends for years, but I wasn’t sure of her reaction. She tended to get hotheaded quickly and ask questions later.

What if she made Leo choose between me and her? I just hoped Leo and I were in a good place before she found out and anything went down.

“And whatever you’re doing, keep it up. You’ve been floating around the office, and your energy has been amazing for the planners and couples.”

I was happy, and I wondered if Gia was right. Was my energy rubbing off on others? If this thing with Leo worked out, would I feel like this all the time?

I had nothing to compare it to because I’d never been in a great relationship. I’d certainly never been in love. I had no good examples of it except for Mr. and Mrs. G. and the newer couples in the office—Aria and Finn, Sophie and Mark, Lily and Jake, and Everly and Harrison.

In my office, I refocused on preparing a slide presentation for the new couples we’d meet with this week. I scoured the internet for pictures that depicted Annapolis in the best light. We were competing with other destinations, like the Caribbean, Hawaii, and Bermuda. I wanted Annapolis to stand out.

I got lost in my work, and when I finally checked my email, I was shocked by Gia’s generous raise. I hurried into her office, where she was bent over her laptop, typing something.

She raised her head as I came in. “I take it you got my proposal?”

“It’s so generous. More than I thought it would be, but I can’t accept it.” Was I making a big mistake in turning it down?

Gia frowned. “Why not? I want to pay you what you’re worth.”

I sighed. “You know I’m not going anywhere. We’re friends.”

“You’re saying I should pay you less because you wouldn’t quit?” she asked incredulously.

I nodded, feeling a little miserable for turning down all that money.

Gia stood and came around the desk to lean against it. “Conceivably, you could go work for Silas.”

“You know I wouldn’t.” I thought that might be a worse betrayal than dating her brother.

Gia held up her hand to stop me. “You could work for Silas. I paid Harrison for priority. I’m paying you enough to keep you happy. As your friend, I want you to be happy, live in a comfortable house, and put Evie in a good school.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“I researched salaries of business managers who also handle marketing, and this is in that range.”

“I had no idea.”

“You know I don’t do things on a whim. I’ve been thinking about this for a long time, and if you’re right about out-of-state couples wanting destination weddings, you’ll have saved the business.”

“We can’t know that yet,” I said, swallowing over the tightness in my throat.

“I know that you’ve radically changed my business for the better since you’ve been here. I know I can’t live without you, either personally or professionally.”

I was struggling with the raise, not only because it seemed like a lot of money, and I never thought I deserved it, but because I was sneaking around behind her back. I felt horribly guilty.

“You deserve this. You are worthy of success. You are not your mother. And you didn’t get this job because we’re friends. I hired you because you’re good at organization, and I’m keeping you because you’ve proven yourself in other ways. You did this.”

“I have a hard time believing good things can happen or that I deserve them. Especially when everything I have is because of your family.”

“You’re an amazing, kind friend and loving mother. You didn’t get that from us or your mother. That’s all you,” she said forcefully.

I’d never thought of it like that before. I was a good mother, but I thought it was because I knew how not to be my mother. But at the same time, loving Evie came easily. Like it was how it was supposed to be. I could never understand how my mom was so distant and uninvolved. “All I can say is thank you, and I’ll keep working hard.”

“You do that.” Then she hugged me. “Love you like a sister.”

It was something we used to say but hadn’t in years. She’d always said she couldn’t trust other girls because they were after her brothers, but with me, she could relax and know I was a real friend. I’d never felt guiltier. “Love you too.”

When she pulled away, she said, “I think you should work fewer weddings. We have enough wedding planners now, and I want you to focus on the marketing and business side. You’ll still be at the initial consultations, but otherwise, you can work in the office or at home.”

“I’m good with that.” It would allow me more time with Evie, which was always my priority.

“I figured you’d want to spend that time with Evie.”

“Definitely.”

And then she smiled. “And whoever you’re seeing that you won’t tell me about.”

When I opened my mouth to respond, she waved a hand at me. “Don’t worry about it. You’ll tell me when you’re ready.” She smiled like we shared a secret, but we didn’t. Not really.

I stopped at the restaurant after work to grab a pizza and just to see Leo’s face. I missed him. He’d been working nights all week, and I was asleep by the time he left work.

I stood at the hostess stand and gave Crystal my name for the carryout order I’d placed online. But before she could look for the order, Leo appeared. “Hey, I saw your order come in. Want me to help you take it upstairs?”

“Yeah, sure.” I smiled at Crystal before following him to the steps to my apartment.

“Are you hungry, Miss Evie?” Leo asked, smiling at her.

“I’m starving,” Evie said dramatically.

“I added a salad and some breadsticks too.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“I was hoping to join you for dinner,” he said sheepishly.

“I don’t want to take you away from work.”

“A guy’s gotta eat, am I right?” Leo directed his question at Evie, who giggled.

I opened the door and held it while they walked inside. Leo placed the boxes on the small round table.

“Wash your hands,” I reminded Evie, and when she disappeared into her bathroom, Leo crossed the room and pulled me against him. “I missed you,” he murmured before he kissed me like he was starving for me and not dinner.

By the time he pulled away, my lips were tingling. “I missed you too.”

We broke apart just as the water turned off in the bathroom, and Evie appeared in the hallway. I busied myself grabbing dishes and silverware while Leo popped open the pizza box. “Plain cheese for the princess.”

He pulled out a slice and put it on a plate and gave it to Evie.

It was nice having someone in my space and helping with Evie, even if it was only pizza.

“Sit. I’ll get yours too,” Leo said to me, and I did, because I was drained from the day.

When we were eating, I watched Leo ask Evie about her day at school for a few minutes until they both fell silent. “I have some good news.”

“What is it?” Leo asked.

It struck me that I didn’t have anyone to share these kinds of developments with. “Gia offered me a raise. It’s more than enough that I can start to look for a house.”

“We’re getting a house?” Evie asked, and I smiled, pleased I could get her what she wanted. “I think so. I’ll have to talk to a realtor, but I’ve been saving for a while, and the raise should cover the mortgage.”

“That’s amazing. I’m so proud of you.”

“Gia said she wanted me to focus on the business and marketing aspects of the business. Work fewer weddings.”

“That’s good news, right?” Leo asked.

“It’s great news. Now I can spend more time with this girl.” I tickled Evie, and she giggled.

When she sobered, she asked, “Can I watch TV?”

She’d eaten a slice and a half, so I said, “Yes.”

“Are you happy about the raise?” Leo asked.

“I was worried she was doing it because she knows I want to move, but she said she’s been considering it for a while. She said I was indispensable to the business.”

“Of course, you are. Why do you think she stole you from Giovanni’s? You’ve proven yourself. Enjoy it. Gia wouldn’t do that if you didn’t deserve it. She doesn’t have patience for people who don’t pull their weight.”

“That’s what I figured.” But I felt guilty. I didn’t like hiding things from her.

“I’m looking forward to having some time together this weekend. My brothers are up for babysitting.”

“They didn’t think it was weird that you asked them and not your parents?”

Leo looked conflicted. “They were both worried about it and how my parents will react.”

I wondered if his brothers didn’t think I was good enough for Leo. If his family didn’t like us together, then it wouldn’t matter how Leo felt. If he had to choose, he’d go with his family, and I couldn’t blame him.

“What are you thinking about?” Leo asked.

“That alone time we’re finally going to get,” I said to cover my thoughts.

“Maybe we shouldn’t go out,” Leo said, his voice gravelly. “But no, you deserve a first date.”

I flushed with pleasure at his words. He was sweet and kind. When we were together, the other issues fell away, and it was just us. And being with him felt so good. We needed this time alone, with no one from his family influencing us.

For once, I had something I wanted within reach, and I wasn’t going to deny myself.