Chapter 9

Nine

Silas

“ T hank you,” Gia murmured.

I nodded and leaned back in my chair. “I’m curious why you color your hair blonde.” I only asked because she had dark hair as a little girl. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have even noticed.

Gia laughed. “At first, it was to upset Papà, and then I liked it. It was a way to stand out in the family. To be different.”

I was a little lost in her smile and the pure joy on her face. “You don’t need to color your hair for that. You always stand out to me.”

Her cheeks flushed pink . “It was just something I did, and it stuck.”

She’d be gorgeous no matter her hair color. “I like you as a blonde.”

She looked away from me. “I like it too, and it’s been so long, I can’t remember how I look with dark hair.”

“What else did you do to rebel?” I asked, needing to know more. I’d heard things from her brothers, how she drove them crazy when she started dating, but otherwise, they didn’t talk about her. They knew how she felt about me and were loyal to her.

“You’ve probably heard the stories. Leo was supposed to watch out for me, and I’d take off with some guy.”

“On the back of a motorcycle,” I said lightly, even as it irritated me.

“I did it to drive my brothers crazy. They always kept it from Papà, though.”

“That was nice of them.”

“They wanted to make sure I was safe, but they didn’t have to worry. I could take care of myself. I was always in control of any situation I was in.” Her eyes flashed to mine, as if she hadn’t meant to reveal that last part.

“I don’t doubt that.” She could take care of herself, but she shouldn’t have put herself in those situations. I had a feeling she didn’t do anything like that now. “Do you date a lot?”

“Occasionally, but no one holds my interest for long.”

I smirked at that because I was positive I more than held her interest. She was resisting me, but she wouldn’t be able to do that forever. I was confident in my ability to wear her down, to drive her crazy until she gave in. And when she did—it would be worth the wait.

She needed a man who was confident and sure of himself. She didn’t have to be with someone who was wealthy, but she deserved to date an equal. Someone who’d admire her and not be jealous of her success. I had a feeling we’d push each other to be better in our respective businesses.

I wondered if she got bored with the guys she dated, or if things got too intense, she’d break things off. Maybe she only felt vulnerable with me, and I liked that a lot.

“What about you? You said you don’t bring women to your penthouse. Who are the women in the pictures in the newspaper? Are they girlfriends?”

“They’re friends. I needed a date for those functions, and they like to be seen on my arm.”

Her nose wrinkled. “Why would you need a date?”

I hesitated for a few seconds, unsure if she’d like my answer. Then I decided to go with the truth. “It keeps women from hitting on me.”

She laughed then, her eyes dancing. “You need a date to protect you from women coming on to you?”

“Something like that,” I said, enjoying her reaction.

She grinned. “I like that. Maybe I can be your protector next time.”

Joy surged through me. I was fairly positive it was a spur-of-the-moment offer, one she’d issued to be funny, but I wasn’t going to let it go. “It’s a date.”

Her eyes widened. “I didn’t mean—”

“I’m sure you’re a woman of your word, and you offered,” I reminded her.

Her eyes narrowed on me. “Fine. I’ll be your date.”

“There’s a charity event here next weekend. You’re welcome to use your room to get ready and stay overnight. Unless you choose to sleep in my room.”

Gia shook her head. “That’s not going to happen. We work together.”

“Mmm,” I said to get under her skin.

“You don’t believe me,” she said incredulously.

“I think you believe it. And that’s all that matters.” I kept my tone light and teasing, with none of the sexual innuendo I usually would have resorted to.

I could tell she couldn’t see how to take that.

The server brought our food and asked us if we needed anything, and when Gia said no, he told us to enjoy our meal.

“Everything looks amazing.”

“You’ll love the way it tastes too,” I promised, winking at her when she looked up at me.

Gia shook her head. “Is everything sexual with you?”

“Only when I’m with you. But I can try to keep things PG when we’re working.”

“I’d appreciate it,” she said wryly, but I knew she was enjoying our interaction.

I cut my chicken and popped a bite into my mouth. I chewed and swallowed before adding, “Is it because you don’t believe you can resist me?”

Gia groaned. “You’re impossible. I’m going to ignore you now.”

I chuckled, and we ate in silence for a minute before I asked, “Tell me something about you. Something I don’t know.”

“Hmm. There’s not much to tell. I grew up in my brothers’ shadows at school and at the pizzeria. When I went away to college, I enjoyed my freedom. Probably too much. I took some business classes, got the bug, and came home on break with all these ideas to improve the pizzeria, but Papà wouldn’t hear me out.”

“I’m sorry.”

Gia shook her head. “It’s okay. My brothers have had the same trouble with him. It’s not just me. Although at the time, I thought it was. I knew I wanted to open a business. I just wasn’t sure what it would be. I helped some friends in college who’d started an event planning business. I worked as a server, absorbed everything I could, and decided to start my own. I planned parties at first, and then I refocused on weddings.”

“I’ve heard you throw a good party.”

“I enjoy creating a fun time for people to enjoy. But I didn’t want to spread the business too thin. I wanted to concentrate on one specialty.”

“Why did you settle on weddings?” I asked, curious about how her mind worked.

“Money was a big part of it. It’s a higher-cost item,” she said shrewdly.

“I love it when you talk business to me.” She was different than any other woman I’d ever dated because she was a business owner. I hadn’t realized before how awesome it was to share business ideas with someone who got it. The other women I’d dated weren’t interested in the operations of the resort.

Gia shook her head. “I love planning them too. The couples have these hopes and dreams for the future, and everything hinges on that one day. If one thing goes wrong, brides think it’s bad luck. I love the challenge of creating that perfect day, giving couples their best start.”

“I hadn’t thought of it like that. You’re passionate about your business.” I was too, but not in the same way. I didn’t give in to the emotions surrounding a wedding. I treated it as a business deal, and maybe that’s where I’d gone wrong with some of my decisions.

“You are too.”

“I’m not passionate about weddings. It’s something we offer because guests want it, and I like money.”

She tipped her head to the side, considering me. “What are you passionate about?”

You. But I choked that down. I was supposed to be laying off the innuendos. “I’m determined to create a luxurious experience, from the room to the service to the food and accommodations. Everything should exceed the guests’ expectations. I handle all customer service in-house. I’ve had experiences with other hotels where customer service isn’t on-site, and they know nothing about the resort. It happens more with large chains. The advantage of only owning one resort is I can be hyper-focused on the guests' experience here. I’m constantly walking the grounds, introducing myself to guests, and maintaining contact with the managers.”

“You sound like a great owner. I bet most don’t spend much time on-site. They hire managers for that.”

“That’s the advantage of living here part time. I know what’s happening at all times.”

“I think you’re doing an amazing job.”

I had a feeling Gia didn’t give compliments if she didn’t strongly believe in them. And I felt her words in my chest. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she said as she finished her meal.

“Are you ready to meet our couple?”

Gia nodded. Her face filled with excitement. “I can’t wait to talk to them. I’ve always wanted to plan a wedding here. Between the location and the food, it’s perfect.”

I loved that she was passionate about planning a wedding at my resort. I never cared what other women I’d dated thought about my business. I knew it was successful, and that was all that mattered. But knowing Gia was impressed with my work meant a lot.

She reached across the table and covered my hand with hers. “Thank you for the opportunity.”

My heart was racing, and I couldn’t seem to form any words. My interactions with Gia had almost always been contentious. I wasn’t sure how to handle this softer, appreciative version. I finally cleared my throat and said, “You’re welcome. You’re doing me a favor.”

“Do your clients often ask for me?”

I nodded, not afraid to admit it. “But I thought it was better to keep everything in-house.”

“I can understand wanting all the profits. Even if this doesn’t work out, we should operate on a referral system. If I send brides your way, you give me a finder’s fee.”

I was impressed with her tenacity. “Are you saying that you aren’t sending them my way now?”

Her lips twitched. “I lose business when I do.”

“We might need to change some things.” I wondered if I’d let our feud cloud my business judgment. That was something that had never happened before. I prided myself on good business sense, always making the right decisions when other business owners were mired in indecision.

Gia winked at me. “When you know better, you do better.”

I nodded. “I think I might have been blinded where you were concerned.”

“I think we both were too wrapped up in personal issues to see the way it was affecting our respective businesses.”

I wasn’t sure I wanted to be business partners with her either. She’d mentioned not getting involved if we were working together. That it might complicate our business dealings, and I had to agree with her.

I’d never done anything like this before. But then again, I hadn’t dated anyone like Gia. Someone who challenged me and encouraged me to be better. I wasn’t keen on the idea of a relationship being off-limits.

I was hopeful she’d come around, but first, we had a couple to meet. I stood and held out my hand to her. “Are you ready for this?”

She met my gaze. “I’m always ready.”

I chuckled as she stood and curled her hand around my elbow rather than my hand. “I’ve met my match with you.” That was the case in the bedroom, even if we hadn’t spent much time there yet. I refrained from saying what was on my mind. We needed to keep things professional, at least for the next few hours. “You should get the full experience next weekend. I’ll book you a day at the spa.”

Her posture softened. “You don’t have to do that.”

“You deserve the royal treatment.” She bought designer clothes and drove a luxury car, but how often did she take care of herself, her body, and her mind? Maybe she needed a man like me by her side who’d notice those things.

“You want me to like the resort.”

I swallowed over the lump in my throat and deflected the only way I knew how—through my business. “If you’ve experienced the resort firsthand, you’ll be better able to make recommendations to the bridal couples and their wedding party.”

She sobered. “Of course.”

It was only partially true. I wanted to treat her, but I didn’t think she’d appreciate that.

Gia squeezed my elbow. “Thank you for thinking of that.”

My heart squeezed at her show of appreciation. I wanted more of these kinds of interactions.

The couple was waiting outside my office, and they rose when we approached. “John, Emma. This is Gia Giovanni.”

“I thought you didn’t allow outside planners?” Emma asked.

“I wanted to make an exception if you’re interested. You can talk and see if Gia would be a good fit.” I hadn’t explained to them the purpose of the meeting before I called them in. I’d wanted to see their reaction.

“That would be amazing. Gia’s the wedding planner my friend, Lorraine, used for her wedding last year,” Emma said to John.

“Whatever you want is fine with me,” John said.

“Then come into my office. Let’s talk about the details.”

We settled in my office. I leaned on my desk while Gia sat across from John and Emma. Even though she wasn’t as familiar with my resort, she seemed to have a good understanding of the amenities. I wondered if she’d studied them. It’s what I would have done. Examined my competitor's business for weaknesses and flaws. It made me respect her even more.

I didn’t have to add much to the conversation. It was clear by Emma’s demeanor that she was delighted to be working with Gia. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t explored this angle before. I’d been shortsighted by excluding Gia from the resort.

If we only allowed a few brides to work with her, the highest-budget weddings, it would have an exclusive feel to it. I loved it. Her other wedding planners could handle the smaller weddings, and if Gia only offered herself up to the highest bidder, it would make her more valuable. I was positive she’d feel the same way.

They focused on the location of the ceremony and the reception. Those two things needed to be set for them to pick her dress, colors, and linens. Or at least that’s what Gia suggested. I rarely sat in on meetings with couples and Hannah.

I could have excused myself, but I felt invested in this arrangement, and I wanted to spend more time in Gia’s presence. I told myself it was purely business. I wanted to study how she operated. But it was more than that.

Gia was professional as she guided the couple to the most practical options for the ceremony, given the size of John and Emma’s guest list. Ceremonies on the water accommodated the smaller weddings. “There’s a gorgeous ballroom overlooking the water. I think it would be perfect for your guests. They want a view of the water without worrying about the weather or bugs. They want to be part of the experience without being in the thick of it. Does that make sense?”

“I think she’s right, Emma. Your mother won’t want to be so close to the water. She’ll complain about the sun on her skin and the bugs. We’ll be protected from the elements while still enjoying that million-dollar view,” John said.

“It’s less stressful for you since the ceremony can be held despite any weather developments. Although I’ve ordered blue skies and sun for your wedding,” Gia said with a smile.

I was impressed with Gia’s ability to direct and guide them in a certain direction. She knew the pitfalls and advantages of every possible scenario and seemingly knew what John, Emma, and their guests would want.

Gia was so skilled at it that I wasn’t sure they realized she was guiding them in various directions. I was positive it was her years of experience. She knew what to anticipate and how to avoid any problems.

“Before we make a final decision, I’d like to tour the possible locations again.”

“Absolutely. Do you have time to do that now?”

John looked at his phone. “I have a work meeting, but we drove separately. Can you take Emma?”

“You should see it at some point, but I can take Emma today,” Gia said.

I found it interesting that she wanted the groom present. She wouldn’t let him check out of the process.

“Emma can take pictures for me.”

Gia frowned, and I knew she didn’t like that John was blowing off the decision-making process. Most grooms said the bride could have whatever she wanted, but Gia seemed to prefer when both the bride and groom were involved.

“I can go with you,” I said as Emma walked with John to his car.

“You don’t have to. I’m used to handling this on my own,” Gia said as she gathered her things.

“I’d like to be involved with this wedding. It’s an experiment to see if this could work, and I’d like to be involved.”

Her cheeks flushed as Emma returned. “Are we ready?”

“Absolutely,” Gia said as she led the way out of the room and in the direction of the ballroom with the water view. It was the most expensive space to book. It was also the largest.

Emma stood in the middle of the room, taking it in before moving toward the window. It was where I was always drawn whenever I was here. It was the space I’d fallen in love with when I toured the building.

I knew this resort was money, and I made an offer on the spot. But there was something about watching Gia talk about the space that was enlightening.

“We can hold the ceremony by the windows, hanging flowers from the ceiling to give it a more intimate feel, and during cocktail hour, we’ll transform it for the reception. We’ll have live musicians, a band or a string quartet, whatever you and John would prefer.”

“I love this. I thought I’d want to be outside, but you’re right, the guests will be more comfortable here.”

Gia smiled. “It has an extravagant feel to it.”

“I have to agree,” Emma said as she executed a small circle in the center of the room.

When Gia walked Emma to her car, I went to my office, giving them time to themselves. I wasn’t sure Emma would want me hovering over every meeting. I just thought it was important to show that the owner was present. Plus, I’d wanted to see Gia in action.

I sat at my desk, intending to answer messages and return phone calls, but my mind was on Gia. On whether I’d made a mistake the last few years in excluding her from the weddings here. I’d thought for sure I was creating an exclusive experience, but Gia was a dream at her job. If the brides wanted her, I should probably stop fighting them and her.

Gia breezed in. “I thought that went well.”

I stood. “You’re impressive. It was interesting how you guided her in the direction you wanted.”

“The bride and groom usually have only been through this once. I’ve done it a hundred times. I know what to avoid. What the couple’s guests will want and what will work best for them. Some couples prefer the outdoor wedding, but I suspected John and Emma’s guests wouldn’t. Now she can choose the wedding gown she wants, not one that will work for the outdoors.”

“How often will you need to meet with them?” I wanted to know how often to expect her on-site.

“We’ll talk over the phone and have Zoom calls, but I prefer to meet in person. It allows me to get to know the bride and groom better and anticipate their needs.”

“I’ll want to know your schedule.”

Gia nodded. “I’ll have Harper enter the information and share it with you. I’d better get back. I have a drive to get home.”

“You should stay. Enjoy the suite I reserved for you.” I’d given her one of the one-bedroom suites with a view of the water. I didn’t mind reserving it for her for the next few months. I knew she’d enjoy it, and I wanted to entice her to stay.

“I can’t tonight. I have plans.”

I wanted to ask what they were, but it wasn’t my place. We weren’t dating, but my mind ran wild with possibilities. Was she seeing someone else?

I walked her to her car and held her door open, saying good night as I closed it. I watched her drive away, my jaw tight and my back knotted with tension. Working with Gia was both the best and the worst idea I’d ever had.