Chapter 5

Five

Silas

W hen I woke up to an empty bed, I couldn’t say I was surprised. Gia had this ethereal quality about her. Like I’d never be able to hold on to her. It only made me want to hold on tighter.

I had a feeling things got too intense for her, and she just couldn’t deal. I hoped she couldn’t resist coming back for more. But she’d have to overcome that rational side of her brain, which I knew was strong. I’d bide my time and see how she handled things going forward.

I wanted her to become addicted to me, to my touch, to everything I could offer her because I was positive she wouldn’t get it from anyone else. There was something between us. Something I’d never experienced before, and I already wanted her again.

After my last text, I stayed up way too late waiting for her reply. When it never came, I decided to let her make the next move. I understood she was concerned about her brothers, but we were adults. I was positive we could have a physical relationship and keep her brothers out of it.

I loved the Giovannis and wouldn’t want to alienate them. They’d always been good to me, including me in family gatherings, even when I was younger.

I was a patient man. I’d give Gia some time to come around to the realization that no one else was me. I was cocky enough to think that one night with me would have her coming back for more. That the memory of our evening would overcome all reason.

But as the weeks passed, my patience began to wane. I’d resisted showing up where I suspected she’d be or reaching out to her. But my ego had taken a hit.

I’d been in close contact with her brothers, giving business advice regarding their recent expansion to a second restaurant. I didn’t ask how she was because she wasn’t someone I usually discussed with her brothers. But it was hard.

I wanted to know if she was thinking about me. If she remembered our night. With every day that passed, I began to think she was either incredibly stubborn or she hadn’t been affected like I had.

I refused to believe the latter, so when the Giovannis announced a private grand opening party at the newest Giovanni’s Pizzeria, I said I’d go. It was assumed I would as a family friend, but I wanted to see her. I wanted to confirm that she was affected by my presence.

I timed my arrival so that I missed the ribbon-cutting ceremony. I didn’t want to see Gia for the first time when she was busy. I wanted to catch her off guard.

I walked inside, unsure of what to expect. Gia was near the door, her mouth dropping open slightly before she recovered. “What are you doing here?”

I sensed Leo moving toward me, probably trying to diffuse an argument.

I nodded toward him. “Your brothers invited me.”

Gia’s hands moved to her hips, and I was drawn to the tight black dress she was wearing, with a belt at her waist with a gold symbol. It accentuated her small waist and curves. A vision of her naked and riding my cock in the hot tub popped into my head. I worked hard to clear it because I was in the same room as her brothers.

Gia’s eyes flared with a mixture of irritation and something else—maybe desire. “You’re not welcome here.”

Leo stood by her side. “Gia, be nice. Whatever beef you have with him, can you let it go for one night? Can you just be happy for us?”

Evie ran up to Leo, holding a chain. “Can you put the necklace on me?”

Gia’s face softened at the sweet interaction.

Leo squatted in front of her to put it on. “Of course.”

Once it was on, Evie looked up at me, and my heart squeezed. “Do you like it?”

I cleared my throat. “It’s beautiful, just like you.”

Evie smiled. “Leo’s marrying my mommy.”

The admission made my heart thump a little harder. “Did I miss something?”

Leo grinned widely. “I just asked Harper to marry me.”

Genuinely happy for my friend, I hugged him. “Congratulations. Although I didn’t even realize you were dating.”

“I’ve liked her forever, and when I finally realized she was the one for me, everything fell into place.”

My mind flashed to all those moments on my balcony, and to the one I kept coming back to—Gia naked in my bed. The moon illuminating her skin as she closed her eyes and finally relaxed. I finally settled on, “That’s great.”

“What do you know about love?” Gia asked with a slight sneer.

I thought about it carefully, wondering why she was asking. If she thought I wasn’t one for relationships, she’d be right. “I can like it for other people.”

I wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to say, but she nodded. I looked around at the dining room. “This place looks great.”

Leo clasped my shoulder. “Thanks for helping us. We couldn’t have done it without you.”

“You asked Silas for business help? Why didn’t you come to me?” Gia asked.

“You don’t own a restaurant,” Leo pointed out.

“I own a business.”

I couldn’t help sparring with Gia. “It’s different.”

Leo sighed heavily, clearly wanting to avoid a confrontation, and asked me, “Do you want a tour?”

I waved him off, needing time alone with Gia. “I can walk around while you enjoy time with your fiancée.”

“Silas, it’s so good to see you again.” Harper appeared at Leo’s side.

I was happy for my friend, but I didn’t want the same thing. I was confident Gia and I could have something enjoyable while it lasted.

When Leo put his arm around Harper, murmuring in her ear, I asked Gia, “Are you my tour guide?”

Gia spun on her heel and moved away without waiting for me to follow.

“Where are you going so fast?” I asked her when I caught up.

“I’m trying to lose you.”

I touched her elbow, spinning her around to face me. “Are you sure about that? I kind of want a repeat.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Of course you do.”

I decided to try a different tactic. “You look beautiful tonight, and the party is amazing.”

She huffed. “You’ve been here for five minutes.”

I grinned. “And someone’s already gotten engaged. It has the making of an epic party.”

Gia’s lips twitched. “Are you always this charming?”

I nodded, confident that was the case. “Always. You’ve never given me a chance before.”

“Mmm,” she murmured, fighting the pull of her answering smile.

“How about that tour?” I asked, eager to get her alone.

“I would think you’ve already seen everything if you’ve been advising my brothers.”

I shook my head. “It’s mainly been phone calls and messages. I haven’t seen the place in person.”

“Fine.” She sighed and led me around the dining room, pointing out the differences between this new restaurant and the original.

The furnishings were meant to be welcoming and comfortable. The colors chosen were classic pizzeria, yet tasteful. But it was the black-and-white photographs I couldn’t help but notice. “Are these of your family?”

Gia moved closer so I could see them. “There are a few where we posed with customers at the other location.”

I was fixated on a picture of Gia on a swing, one of her brothers next to her. “You were a cute kid.”

Gia rolled her eyes. “I was really into pigtails back then.”

I chucked her chin. “Adorable. Were you a princess or a tomboy?”

I remembered her being a tomboy, so it was interesting how into designer clothing she was now. I rarely saw her out of heels and a dress.

“Tomboy. That’s what happens when you’re the only girl.”

“I have all brothers.”

“Are they all as obnoxious as you are?” Gia teased.

I held my hand over my heart with mock shock. “I’m not obnoxious.”

“Aren’t you?” She moved on to the rest of the dining room.

There were pictures of the Giovannis at barbecues and holiday gatherings. In every one, Gia had a huge smile on her face. I wondered what happened to cause the rift with her family that I’d sensed the last few years.

She led me through the empty kitchen, which was usually Matteo’s domain. There were stainless steel countertops and appliances. Everything was clean and shiny. “They’ve hired cooks, and Matteo will train and oversee them.”

“But he’ll still work at the Annapolis location?”

“That’s right.”

I’d advised Matteo to hire cooks at his restaurant so he could have some time off. I was pleased he’d listened.

“Matteo has some ideas for catering, to offer family-style meals. Large portions at an affordable price. The idea is, if you want a Giovanni-like gathering, we handle the food; you bring the family.”

“I love that. They can use it in their marketing materials.”

By the way Gia blushed, I had a feeling she’d coined it.

“But he didn’t mention anything to me about wanting to cater.”

Gia rested one hip against the counter, and all I could think about was gripping her hips when she was bent over my railing. “That’s because he doesn’t think Papà will agree to it.”

I blinked to clear the vision from my mind. “Why not? I think it’s clever.”

“Papà doesn’t like change. We need to ease him into things over time.”

“Is that why there seems to be animosity between you and him?”

Gia stiffened. “You could say that.”

I was getting a clear picture of what was going on. “He wants you to work in the restaurants.”

Gia smiled stiffly. “Family sticks together. You know his motto.”

I frowned, not liking what I was hearing. “Are you saying he disapproves of your business?”

“He thinks planning weddings is frivolous. Who would pay for that?” Gia made a move to slip past me, but I stopped her with a hand on her arm.

“Does he not realize how much people are willing to spend on weddings? And even with smaller budgets, brides and grooms want someone else to handle the details.”

“Papà doesn’t think like you.”

From what I’d seen, Mr. Giovanni’s business ideas were solid, but he tended to like to stick with what he’d always done. He wasn’t continually coming up with new innovations like me or Leo. “He’s old-school, but I don’t understand why he’s not proud of what you’ve accomplished. Your business is successful and thriving.”

Gia cocked her head. “How do you know?”

“I’m aware of what’s going on.” I justified it to myself because she was a competitor, but that wasn’t the whole truth.

“You’re aware of business in general, or you’ve kept tabs on me and Happily ever Afters in particular?” Gia asked astutely.

I sensed this was a minefield, and I was going to misstep. “I’m aware of my competitors. I meet with couples after they’ve gone to you. Then they ask why they can’t use the wedding planner of their choosing at my resort.”

Gia tipped her head to the side. “And why can’t they?”

“You know it’s standard operating procedure at a resort,” I said, trying to focus on business when I really wanted to pull her to me and kiss that cherry-red lipstick off her lips.

“And you know that only occurs at all-inclusive resorts. That’s not what Chesapeake Resort offers. We work with several hotels in the area.”

Gia had come to me early in my ownership of the resort and proposed being my exclusive planner. At the time, it was just her, and I doubted her ability to handle both Annapolis weddings and my resort. I also knew I couldn’t be trusted around her. “Those hotels either don’t have planners or they’re substandard. They’re all too happy to allow the bride and groom to pay for a service they should be providing.”

“It’s your business. You can do whatever you want,” Gia insisted.

I shook my head, my stomach sinking. “I don’t know how we got from me asking about the rift between you and your father to our businesses.”

“It’s intertwined.”

“But it’s not.”

Gia considered me for a second before she said, “You drive me crazy.”

I stepped into her body, heady with the scent of her. “I know one way we can get that out of your system.”

She tipped her head back to meet my gaze. “What did you have in mind?”

“We continue what we started on my balcony.” I was a little bitter that I never got an opportunity to take my time with her. “I want to taste you again.”

“You want a repeat?” she asked breathlessly, her cheeks pink.

“I’m starved for you,” I practically growled. I hadn’t been this close to her in a long time, and it verified that nothing had changed.

Her eyes darkened with desire, and she swayed into my body.

I steadied her with a hand on her arm, then curled my fingers with hers. It felt intimate, the pang going straight through my heart.

Then she stepped back, tugging her hand from mine. “That’s not a good idea.”

“Oh I think it’s a great idea. You need me to give you an earth-shattering orgasm.”

“I have other things that help with that,” she said, and I was dying to know what toys she had in her nightstand drawer.

“As hot as that is, you can’t get that same feeling without me.”

She rolled her eyes. “I doubt that.”

I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “You don’t remember how good we were that night? In the closet, bent over my railing, and you riding my cock in the hot tub.”

Her cheeks flushed. “My family is here.”

“Yet no one is in this kitchen.” I wanted to lift her onto the pristine countertop, spread her legs, and verify she was wet from this conversation and from the memory of us, but I wouldn’t expose her like that. Her father could walk in at any moment.

The thought was like cold water being poured over my head.

“I think you’ve seen everything,” Gia said dismissively.

I grabbed her wrist. “Oh I haven’t seen nearly enough.”

She tugged away again. “And you won’t.”

“Why not?” My tone was tortured. I never begged a woman, but I felt desperate for her.

Her lips twisted. “It’s a bad idea. You’re friends with my brothers. We’re enemies.”

I scoffed. “We’re only enemies because you treat me that way. We could have been business partners.”

“I tried that, remember? You turned me down.”

“You wanted to be my sole wedding planner. I didn’t want to depend on someone whose business was elsewhere.” I wasn’t sure where I was going with this. I preferred making brides use my planner.

The majority of my brides wanted Gia, and I strong-armed them into using Hannah. I stood by my business practices because it was extra profit for me. I needed to get this conversation back on track because if she was able to keep her distance, she’d never give us another chance.

“What are you saying, Silas? Spell it out for me.”

“I have a proposition for you.”

Her eyes flared.

“You handle one bride. But it has to be you. Not one of your employees.”

“Ireland and Aria are perfectly capable of handling a wedding,” Gia said carefully.

“That may be so, but my couples want you .”

Her eyes widened.

I stepped closer, my hand still encircling her wrist. I felt the flutter of her pulse and the delicate bones of her wrist. “When they come to me, they always ask if they can use you , not Ireland or Aria. You are the face of your company. You’re the brand.”

She studied my face. “You want to work with me?”

I grinned. “That’s right. You’ll come to my resort and work with one couple.”

“How would we handle compensation?”

Gia was used to pocketing the entire fee, so this would be a challenge. “For every bride that is a referral from you, you’ll get ten percent.”

“Are these couples I’m working with?”

“The ones you’re not. If you work directly with the bride, you’ll get fifty.”

She shook her head. “That’s not enough.”

“It’s fair. I researched rates. And if you don’t work with this one couple, then the deal is off.” I was prepared to go a little higher. Gia wasn’t the sort of woman who took anyone’s first offer.

“We’d need to negotiate the rate. Do you have a couple in mind?”

“I’ll find one and send you the information.” My heart picked up that she was considering my proposal. I’d gotten Harrison to work with me on a similar angle. I liked to make them an offer they couldn’t refuse. But Gia was different. I needed to secure her presence in my life. It was worth more than the perfect deal.

“Send me the information and let me think about it.”

My jaw tightened. “This is a limited-time deal, Gia.”

She gave me a look. “It sounds like you need me.”

“Oh I do.” In my bed and riding my cock. Maybe taking her from behind. But I didn’t think that’s what she was talking about.

“The couples want me, and you’re manipulating them into an exclusive contract with the resort.”

“It’s a marketing tactic. One that’s been highly effective because they want you. ” I knew if I wanted Gia in my bed, I’d have to make some concessions. It wasn’t hard because I admired her and the reputation she’d built. I was confronted with it every time I sat down with a couple to seal a deal.

“This isn’t some cheap tactic to get me into your bed, is it?”

I laughed. “It’s not cheap. I’ll do whatever it takes to get what I want.”

Gia rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible.”

“I’m the only one that can handle you, and you don’t like it. You don’t like that you let go that night.”

For the first time, she looked uneasy, and she shifted away from me. “I don’t want a relationship.”

“It’s more than that. I made you lose control, and it scared you.” Was it because we hadn’t used a condom? “We can use protection if it makes you uneasy.”

“It’s not the condom. It’s you. You make me uneasy.”

I nodded, satisfied. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”

“Nothing’s ever going to happen between us, Silas. The sooner you realize that, the easier this will be. I’ll work with one couple, and we’ll have a contract outlining the details.”

I nodded. “I’ll have my lawyers prepare one.”

She arched a brow. “And my lawyers will review it.”

I grinned. “I love a woman who can talk business.”

“One couple. Then you’re out of my life.” She walked through the double doors into the dining room, leaving me alone.

“We’ll see about that,” I murmured to the empty room. The point of the arrangement was to see if we could work together. The truth was, I didn’t feel right about telling couples they had to work with Hannah if they were set on Gia. It was a good marketing tactic, and it worked. But I wasn’t sure the couples were happy with Hannah. I think they’d prefer Gia, and there was only one way to find out.