Chapter 2

Two

Gia

I swiped my room card over the keypad, and when the light flashed green, I pushed the door open. Shutting it, I leaned against the solid surface, not quite believing Silas expected me to blow him in that closet, and that I’d wanted to. I wanted to get down on my knees like he had for me. I wanted to make him lose control.

I must have lost my mind because I didn’t kiss guys in closets, and I never lost control. Not ever.

I felt this weird vortex of energy when I was around Silas. My friends had teased me, saying that it was attraction, but I hadn’t believed it.

There was something about the way he’d pulled me into the closet and maneuvered me against the wall. I always felt in control when I was with a man. Like I couldn’t let go. But with Silas, I forgot about everything, that he was my brothers’ best friend, my competition. I was supposed to be checking out his hotel, not allowing Silas to feel me up.

I’d lost all sense of reason.

I wanted to be irritated at the way he’d commanded me to call out his name the next time he made me come, but I wasn’t. I was hot all over, wishing he could fill me up, knowing it would be like nothing I’d ever experienced with any other man.

Silas had played my body, driving me higher, only to ease me down before doing it all over again. He was skilled with his fingers and his tongue, but I wanted more. I wanted to taste him. I wanted my mouth stretched around his cock. I wanted to see if he’d lose control the way I had.

I wanted to shock him, challenge him.

Disgusted with my reaction, I moved into the bathroom. My cheeks were flushed, my lips were swollen, and my hair was a mess. I looked like I’d been freshly fucked, and I wish I had been. I had a feeling if I’d asked, Silas would have lifted me and fucked me against the wall.

My nipples pebbled all over again at the image. He’d be strong and commanding, skilled and tender.

I loved the way he’d seemingly checked in with me, his gaze assessing, his fingers questioning, and when I’d given him the answer he wanted with my body, he’d taken control, allowing me to let go. It was an intoxicating feeling. One I wanted to feel again.

I was used to being the boss in my business, and I liked being in control of relationships. Not that I engaged in them often. Other men bored me. They didn’t challenge me, not like Silas had.

I let my hair down, finger-combing it as best I could, before twisting it up again. My bag was in my car, so I didn’t have a brush or makeup. I’d only intended to check in and see the room.

I hadn’t even decided to stay, but there was something about being in Silas’s hotel room that had me hot all over, despite the earth-shattering orgasm I’d just experienced on Silas’s skilled fingers and tongue.

It was so wrong to want more with Silas. Not only was he my biggest competitor, but my brother was at cocktail hour, probably wondering where I was. Leo was overprotective by nature. He’d eased up over the years, realizing I could handle myself, but it wouldn’t stop him from searching me out if I stayed away for too long.

I used the lipstick in my tiny silver purse. Satisfied I didn’t look as disheveled as I had when I came into the room, I took one last sweep of the room. It had a king bed with a view of the water. It was a gorgeous room with upscale décor and luxe linens. I expected the best from Silas when it came to the resort’s accommodations, but I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d get the same treatment if he was in my bed.

Would he be a tender lover or a passionate one? I had a feeling I’d only seen a glimpse of his potential in that closet. He’d held himself back, as if he needed to be in control to give me pleasure.

My pussy clenched at the memory of his fingers inside me. I wanted more. So much more. But first, I had to get back to the reception before Harper or Leo came looking for me.

I took a deep breath and opened the door, finding the hall empty. A strange emptiness filled my chest. Was I expecting Silas to be waiting for me?

It was his hotel. I was positive he could easily figure out which room I’d been given since I’d used my legal name. Would he get a key and let himself in in the middle of the night?

A thrill shot through me at the idea. Could I handle one night with Silas and then go back to the way things were? I was positive I could separate sex from emotions, especially with Silas. I didn’t have any tender feelings toward him.

My heart hadn’t skipped a beat when his strong hand had encircled my wrist and tugged me into the closet. My breath hadn’t whooshed from my lungs when he’d backed me up against the door. His scent, musky with a hint of aftershave, hadn’t invaded my senses, stealing all sense of reason.

Nope. I wouldn’t acknowledge that Silas Sharpe had gotten to me. He’d bared more than my body inside that closet. It wouldn’t be smart to get any more involved with him.

It was a mistake.

I strode toward the reception, my head held high. If Silas was watching me on camera, I wanted to show him I hadn’t been affected by what happened between us. It didn’t change anything. He was still my biggest competitor, and I had no business seeking pleasure in his arms.

I took slow, deep breaths, urging my heart to slow as I calmly made my way to the table where Leo and Harper were sitting. I hoped it wasn’t obvious I’d just had the best orgasm of my life with my enemy in a broom closet. Not that anyone would believe it.

I slipped into the seat next to Harper. “What did I miss?”

The waitstaff set bowls of salad in front of us.

“Just the rest of cocktail hour,” Harper said.

“You get any good intel?” Leo asked as he removed his hand from Harper’s chair.

“I took a walk to see the grounds. The property is gorgeous.” I hadn’t seen much of the property beyond the inside of the closet. I hoped they wouldn’t ask any follow-up questions.

Leo’s eyes widened. “You’ve never been here?”

I rolled my eyes. “If it wasn’t obvious, Silas doesn’t want me here.”

Leo shifted in his chair. “He’ll come around. You’re my sister.”

“And his number-one enemy.” Guilt pricked my conscience because I didn’t feel great about keeping things from him. I picked up my fork to eat the salad. Part of being here was scoping out the food. “From what I can tell, he runs a beautiful resort. The accommodations are luxurious, and the waitstaff is professional and accommodating.”

“Are you staying overnight?” Leo asked me.

“I want to get a better feel for the hotel.” I had visions of showing up at the bar tonight and Silas buying me a drink. It was stupid, but I craved him.

“I want to get back to Evie,” Harper said.

“I’ll take you,” Leo offered, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I didn’t know what I planned on happening tonight, but I didn’t want my brother or best friend anywhere nearby.

“Don’t you need to spend time with Silas?” Harper asked Leo, and I tensed, hoping he’d say no.

“I can grab a drink with him anytime, and if you need to be home, I’ll get you there.”

Harper’s expression softened. “Thank you.”

“Anytime.”

I’d never been so grateful that my brother was a genuinely nice guy. Even if he had plans with Silas, he’d change them to ensure Harper made it home okay. I felt a little bad that I was lying to them. As much as I wanted to get a feel for Silas’s resort, I was more interested in scoping out his body.

In an attempt to pretend this entire fiasco was business-related, I said, “Their wedding planner is organized and well-prepared. The wedding and ceremony went smoothly.”

“You thought it wouldn’t?” Leo asked.

I knew Leo respected Silas’s business decisions. “I was hoping there would be something I could exploit.”

Leo leaned back in his chair. “You aren’t in direct competition, you know. If a couple wants a resort, they come here; if they want a venue in Annapolis, they go to you.”

I sighed, hating to admit this to my brother but needing to hear his thoughts. “I’ve been losing more clients lately. When I ask why, they say they prefer the all-inclusive offerings of Silas’s resort.”

Harper shook her head. “Can you blame them? I can’t imagine planning my own wedding. There are so many details.”

“Yet you don’t mind doing it for other people,” Leo said.

“I’m not a wedding planner. I’m the manager,” Harper said.

“That’s right,” Leo said as I sipped my champagne.

Dinner came, and we dug into our respective entrees, chicken or steak, while speaking to the other couples at the table.

Finn played his guitar for the couple’s first dance, and when guests filled the dance floor, I said, “You two should dance. We need to blend in and look natural.”

“Not like we’re on a supersecret spy mission?” Leo teased.

I waved a hand at him. “Just go dance.”

I needed a minute to process what transpired between me and Silas. The time I spent in the hotel room wasn’t enough to clear it from my memory. I wasn’t sure I’d ever forget it.

That’s when I spotted Silas in the rear of the tent, his gaze on me. I checked to ensure that Harper was dancing with Leo. Those two seemed engrossed in each other, so I grabbed my purse and headed in his direction.

His gaze stayed on me as I made my way through the maze of tables to stop in front of him. He arched a brow. “You need something?”

His words, combined with the heat in his eyes, were like a bomb detonating inside my body. I was hot all over and desperate for another round. Instead of answering him, I asked, “Are you planning on spying on us all night?”

“Isn’t that what you’re doing?” His stance was deceptively relaxed, but I knew he was hyperaware of me.

I smiled, feeling cooler when I thought about business and not Silas Sharpe seeing me naked and writhing under him. “Your resort isn’t competition for the high-level service my wedding planners provide.”

Silas flicked his gaze over my head, then back to my face. “Are you looking for something else, then?”

Without waiting for a response, he touched my elbow and guided me around the corner. I heard the music drifting from the tent, but we were out of sight of the party itself.

“What are you doing?” I hissed.

“Giving you want you want.” Then his hands cupped my face, making me feel both cherished and adored before he kissed me. His hard body pressed against mine, and I arched toward him, needing and wanting more. He made me ache for him.

I lost all sense of space and time, forgetting about the reception, my brother, and my best friend until there was nothing except Silas’s mouth on mine.

“You staying the night?” Silas asked as he eased back.

My lips felt swollen, my cheeks hot. “You know I am.”

“Good.” Then he walked away, leaving me wanting more.

It was so irritating that he had this effect on me. It was like a switch had been flipped, and now, we couldn’t contain our desire for each other. Desire we’d been perfectly able to ignore for years.

I smoothed my dress and touched my swollen lips. How long had I been gone? Would Harper and Leo notice that I’d just been kissed? I didn’t think I had time to duck inside the restroom, so I hoped I’d make it back to the table before Harper and Leo so I could use the compact in my purse to fix any damage.

I hated that Silas made me lose control like this. I was acting so out of character. I was here for business, not to fuck Silas Sharpe, even though I wanted to. I really wanted to know what it was like to get the full Silas experience.

Could I justify it to myself that it was purely for business? That I was testing the bed for bridal couples? I stepped away from the planter and into the tent. My heart sank when I saw Harper and Leo alone at our table, watching me walk toward them.

“Where were you?” Leo asked, his gaze steady on me.

I smoothed my dress for a second time. “I was just checking on things.”

“Anything we can use?” Harper asked as I sat.

After a quick glance at Leo, I said, “We can talk about it later.”

Leo’s lips twitched. “So, I can’t know about the secret workings of Happily Ever Afters?”

“It’s on a need-to-know basis, and you’re friends with the enemy,” I teased.

“You really want to know?” Harper asked Leo.

“Not unless you have late-night sleepovers and throw pillows at each other.” The table fell silent. “No, wait. This is my sister we’re talking about.”

I narrowed my eyes on him. “Is that what you think we do?”

“You drink champagne to celebrate a job well done, don’t you?”

“Yes,” I said, my throat feeling tight.

“Isn’t that how the rules were created?” Harper asked, and my stomach dropped.

Leo turned his attention to me. “What are these rules?”

I waved a hand at him. “No sleeping with coworkers. That kind of thing.”

“Is that all?” Leo asked.

Harper grinned, tapping a finger on her chin, and that’s when I realized that her eyes were glossy. “Oh, there’s more. Let’s see if I can remember correctly… There’s no sleeping with coworkers or members of the wedding party—oh, and Gia’s brothers.”

It was bad enough that I’d created those rules and then wrote them down, but to have Harper repeat them in front of my brother? I was never going to live this down.

“Wait. What?” Leo leaned in to ask Harper. “Did you say there’s an office rule about not sleeping with Gia’s brothers?”

“Yeees. Everyone knows you’re off-limits.”

“I didn’t realize we were ever an option,” Leo asked, his tone a little lighter.

Hopefully, he thought it was all a joke. In reality, I’d created those rules to exert some control over my friends and employees. I’d been burned too many times in the past.

“You know all my friends liked you, even in high school. I just like to keep things clear.”

Leo’s expression smoothed over. “Is that true, Harper? Did you like me in high school?”

“Not Harper. She’d never betray me that way.” I shook my head, implicitly trusting my best friend since childhood. I’d had issues with other girls befriending me to get closer to my brothers. I’d even walked in on one of my best friends at the time, making out with Matteo. But Harper had been by my side through everything.

Needing to talk about something else, I scanned the room, and seeing the wedding planner next to the bride and groom at the cake table, I said, “Oh look, it’s time to cut the cake.”

“Let’s get a closer look, shall we?” Harper asked as she stood and moved toward the four-tier white cake with cascading flowers. “Did you learn anything useful?”

I rolled my eyes. “Just that Silas runs a tight ship."

“We suspected that.”

“I can’t believe he drew Harrison away from me,” I said, attempting to draw on the anger I’d felt when I’d heard he’d poached my supplier and forget about how good he’d made me feel afterward.

Harper frowned. “But he didn’t. Not really. Harrison’s in the business of renting wedding supplies, and he’s the only one in the area who designs and builds arbors.”

I was used to my friend trying to get me to see things a different way, but I was stubborn and desperate to put Silas back into the box I’d labeled Enemy . “He did it on purpose to piss me off. I bet he offered him an incentive.”

“Harrison is building a business, just like you are. He’s not going to turn down paying customers,” Harper insisted.

I sighed. “I’m not mad at Harrison.”

“You came to this wedding to get some insight into Silas. We didn’t find anything, so maybe there isn’t anything to find. He runs a good business, just like you do. You can coexist. You aren’t offering the same things.”

I’d gotten insight into how skilled Silas was with his fingers and tongue. I wasn’t nearly done exploring that side of him, but I refocused on our conversation. “I don’t like that he poached my vendor.”

“He didn’t, though. He works for both of you,” Harper said, familiar with the way my mind worked. It took time for me to see things differently, if ever.

“I’ll never forgive him for it.” I wouldn’t forgive him for how my body reacted to him.

Harper laughed. “You didn’t exactly like him before you learned about Harrison.”

I smiled, wondering if hate sex was a thing. “True.”

“Your brothers are friends with him. Maybe he’s not that bad.”

I was sure my brothers didn’t see the side of him that I had today. “Silas has taken some of the biggest clients from me recently. I can’t let it continue. I need to figure out a way to handle this. I’m trying to get the Christmas Tree Farm on board. It’s something we could offer that’s different.”

“Have they changed their mind about working with us?” Harper asked.

“They won’t give me a definitive answer.” My stomach tightened. The Monroes' farm was an amazing possibility. It would increase our weddings during the winter. I wanted to be able to offer it as an option, since so many brides were interested in holiday and winter-themed weddings.

“Is it the son—Emmett—that’s the issue?

Lori, the woman who owned the farm, was interested, but her grumpy son, Emmett, wasn’t. I couldn’t blame him for being worried about the effect it would have on his Christmas tree customers, but I was used to getting what I wanted. There was an angle to pursue there. I just hadn’t figured out what it was. “I think so. I’m going to send Ireland to talk to him. Maybe she can talk some sense into him.” Ireland had a knack for dealing with difficult brides, and grumpy men shouldn’t be any different.

“You’re successful because you’re hardworking and the brides know you’d do anything for them.”

It felt good to hear someone else say I was successful, but I felt like a fraud, especially when the business wasn’t as profitable as I’d like. “I have to figure this out.”

Harper leaned in closer and lowered her voice. “Don’t look now, but he’s watching us.”

“I won’t give him the satisfaction of knowing he gets to me.” Although it was probably too late for that. Silas had the ability to read me like no one else. That’s what made me think he’d be great in bed, and I really wanted to give in to the temptation and find out.

“Are you still planning on staying the night?” Harper asked.

I nodded as a man in a suit approached me. “Would you like to dance?

He looked handsome, but he didn’t spark anything inside me.

I glanced over at Silas to make sure he was watching, then placed my hand in his. “I’d love to.”

“I’m going to head out. I need to get Evie,” Harper said.

Knowing Leo would take care of her, I said, “Have a good night.”

The man pulled me into his arms. “I’m Deacon.”

“Gia.” I smiled tightly, wanting to put on a good show for Silas but not feeling comfortable in this man’s arms. Not like I had in Silas’s.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Silas stalking toward us. My heart galloped in my chest for what I hoped would be a confrontation.