Chapter 11

Eleven

Gia

H arper’s face flushed. “Nothing happened between me and Leo that night.”

“I didn’t say it did. I’m not upset that you’re engaged to my brother. You’re going to be my sister. What better outcome could there be? Just don’t tell me any intimate details about you and my brother. Because that’s—” I shuddered.

“Got it. Now, tell me about Silas. I had a feeling something was going on, but I wanted to give you space.”

From her expression, I could tell she was preoccupied with Leo at the time, and I couldn’t blame her. “We hooked up.”

Harper sucked in a sharp breath. “I shouldn’t be surprised, but I am. I always had a feeling about you two. You burn hot when you’re together.”

“I can attest to that. But I left in the middle of the night. I didn’t want to face what we did.”

“Gia.” Harper sighed, her expression falling.

“I needed space.”

“Did he give it to you?”

“I didn’t see him again until the night that Leo proposed to you.” I didn’t mention that seeing my brother so in love with my best friend, him getting down on one knee in front of our family, pierced my heart. It made me want something that I had no business even considering. A future with someone by my side. Someone strong and fierce and steady. Someone like Silas.

In my fantasies, Silas wasn’t my enemy. He was the man who challenged me and supported me. He cared for and protected me.

“That night, he kissed me in the kitchen, but then he said I’d have to make the next move.”

Harper’s expression was hopeful, but then it fell. “You haven’t. You’re too scared.”

I bristled. “I’m not scared.”

“You’re afraid of being close to someone, of letting someone in. You think he’s going to hurt you.”

I couldn’t argue with her assessment because it was true.

Her shoulders lowered. “So that’s it? Nothing’s going to happen?”

“We’re working together now. We have to be professional.”

“I have a feeling he’s not concerned about any of that.”

“He’s confident he can keep business separate.”

“You think he wants something physical.”

“He hasn’t said, but I assume.”

“You’re afraid you’ll feel too much, and your emotions would get involved.”

I hated to admit it, but I nodded miserably.

“Love isn’t a bad thing.”

“It is when the other person doesn’t feel the same way.” We both remembered my first boyfriend in college. I’d fallen hard and fast, giddy to be out of my father’s house and free for the first time in my life. I’d fallen into the arms of the first boy who’d showed me attention. We were inseparable that first year, until the new flock of freshmen arrived. Then he’d moved on to another girl, and I’d been devastated.

“You always fall hard for your first love.”

“I didn’t love Jeff.”

“You thought you did.”

The pain of that breakup was still fresh, even though I’d long ago realized I was better off single. I vowed not to let go with another man again. I was always in control of any relationship, and Silas made me feel very much the opposite. “I was young and na?ve. Desperate for a guy’s attention.”

“You’re not that now. You’re strong and independent and fully capable of having an adult relationship with Silas.”

“I won’t survive it.”

“How do you know if you don’t try it?”

“You’re high on love because of my brother. Just because it worked out for you doesn’t mean it will for me.” It was clear how much Leo loved Harper, but Silas wasn’t looking for love.

“Is that what you want? Love?” Harper asked gently.

I snorted. “Of course not.”

Harper sat, her gaze on me. “Then what are you afraid of?”

I twisted my hands in my lap. “I’m afraid I’ll blur the lines.”

Harper’s gaze was understanding. “You’re afraid you’ll fall for him.”

“Something like that.” I hated to admit any weakness, but I needed to talk it out with someone.

“It’s okay to like him. Maybe even love him.”

I shook my head. “I’m not looking for love.”

“Then I don’t see the problem. Enjoy him. Have a good time. Don’t let it interfere with your business relationship. How are you working with him now?”

“He’s allowing me to have a room there to work with one couple. If it works out, we’ll reevaluate things. But for now, it’s just the one.”

“That’s good. You can figure out if it’s feasible to hold weddings both in Annapolis and at his resort.”

I nodded. “We have Ireland and Aria covering here.”

“I don’t want you working too much again.”

“I can handle it. It will be fine.” Except I wasn’t sure anything would be fine.

“I’ll run the numbers and see if it makes sense to have you focused solely on Silas’s resort, while Aria and Ireland handle Annapolis. Are you planning to move there?”

“What? No.” My family was here.

“Mmm. It’s just a lot of back-and-forth for you. It’s an hour away.”

“I can stay in that room he’s reserved for me.”

Her lips twitched. “That’s generous of him.”

“I think he wants me to give in. There’s a fundraiser this weekend. I’m going as his date.”

Her eyes widened. “How did that happen?”

“He said he needed dates for these events. I offered to be his next one. I don’t know what I was thinking, but he promised to schedule time for me at the spa on Saturday.”

“Go. Have a good time. Explore whatever’s going on between you. It might surprise you.”

I shook my head. I couldn’t stay in control with Silas. He wanted me to come undone.

“I think this is a good move. You’ve always wanted to work with Silas, and now you have your chance.”

Was it that simple? Was I overthinking everything? Could I have a casual relationship and keep my emotions out of it?

“How amazing would it be to work with him and not against him? You won’t have to turn away any clients.”

“It would be nice.” It was a source of consternation for me. If a client wanted to hold their wedding at Silas’s resort, I couldn’t be their wedding planner. But this arrangement had the potential to change everything.

The more I thought about Saturday night, the more I was leaning toward going to him. To making that next move. I convinced myself I could stay in control. I always had in the past, and if he was going to let me make that move, then maybe I could this time too. I said it to myself so many times I started to believe it was possible for me to take that next step without losing myself.

“Can we handle it? Or will it be spreading us too thin? This is all hypothetical because he hasn’t agreed to anything more than one wedding.”

“Would you limit the number of weddings you’d handle? Maybe make it an exclusive thing? When you started out, everyone was able to work with you. But now it’s a special thing. You can only handle so many weddings, and to do the best job possible, you need to limit it to just a few a year. If you charge more for that exclusive option, then you’d be okay. Plus, you’d be protecting your time too.”

“I make money by either handling the clients myself or hiring wedding planners who can do the work for me.”

Harper’s brow furrowed. “Right.”

I moved behind the desk. “What if there was a way for me to help more people, but it didn’t take much more of my time?”

“What are you thinking?” Harper asked eagerly.

“What if we offered a wedding planner course? We give our best practices, our tips for starting a business, maintaining it, and how to build it?”

“How would that work?”

“I wouldn’t want to be doing a live course every time. We could pre-record the videos and have a portal for the written material. The planners could go through the content at their own pace.”

“We can do lives in the beginning to entice people to sign up, and we could always add to the course later."

I snapped my fingers. “Yes.”

“Oh my God, Gia. This is genius.”

“You don’t think it’s crazy? I don’t know if others are doing it already.”

“Even if they are, you do things differently than someone else. They’re paying for your unique knowledge. No one else can do it like you can. Your business acumen is what makes you stand out. You’re willing to take risks and pivot when necessary. So many businesses fail because what was working stops, and they can’t try it a different way. But you’ve expanded, and now you want to add more income streams. It’s amazing. I think you should do it.”

“It’ll take time to develop.”

“Gia, I’ve got this. This is what you hired me for. I can research the options for course platforms. You provide the content, and I’ll build it and create the images and marketing materials."

“How soon do you think we can get it up and running?” I asked, excited now that Harper was on board.

She thought for a few seconds. “A few months?”

“I want this to be your top priority. We already have the marketing set up for the destination wedding advertisements. I can handle the interviews with the new couples.”

“I’ll get started right away,” Harper said, standing up and gathering her things.

“I want to offer you a bonus once the course is completed.”

Harper paused. “Let’s see how it goes. We don’t even know if we can do it.”

“I’m confident you’ll make this happen, and it will be better than I’m imagining.”

Harper raised her brow. “You have a lot of faith in me.”

“I have faith in us.”

“That’s why you should trust yourself when it comes to Silas. How does he make you feel?”

I chewed my lip. “I feel amazing when I’m with him. Like I can do or be anything.”

“Then go with your gut. Just like you do your business. You can trust your instincts. Looking back, I bet there were a few red flags with Jeff you ignored.”

I sighed. “You’re probably right. I was just so eager to have his attention that I overlooked the signs that I was just another girl to him. I wasn’t special.”

“Does Silas make you feel that way?”

“No. In fact, he’s said I’m different from other women he’s dated.”

“Then I think you have your answer. Now, let me get started on your course.”

“Thanks, Harper. For listening to me and being a great friend.”

Harper’s face softened. “Always, Gia. You’ll be my sister soon.”

I hugged her. “You always have been.”

Was I strong enough to make a move on Silas and not lose myself in the process?

I was busy the rest of the week between issues with various weddings, new client meetings, and planning the course with Harper. There were so many decisions to be made. Did we need a separate website, or should we create a separate page on the current one? Which course platform would work for the long term? I had a few moments when I thought I was losing my mind, but for the most part, I was excited for the future. I wanted stability. I needed consistent income. I didn’t want to be affected by the slow seasons.

I didn’t want the roller coaster anymore. I hoped this would be the thing to take me to the next level, and maybe, just maybe, I wouldn’t need Silas’s partnership. There was power in that. And I went to his resort on Saturday with more confidence than the last time.

I didn’t need Silas. I had everything I needed inside myself to take my business to the next level. I’d packed a few dresses I thought could work for the event. And I’d even packed my sexiest lingerie, confident Silas wouldn’t be able to resist me.

I thought about teasing him with another picture of me in them, but I wanted to keep him guessing as to what my answer would be this weekend. It was more fun this way.

When I checked in, a bellhop took my things to my room, and I was immediately taken to the spa for the treatments Silas had booked for me. I was delighted to discover he’d booked time but not actual treatments. I was able to enjoy a massage, pedicure, and manicure. Usually, I had a hard time relaxing at spas, but Silas’s was next level. I felt pampered the entire day. When I was escorted to my room, there were a few dresses hanging, shoes, and another box wrapped in a ribbon.

There was a note on the box. I opened it, my heart beating rapidly in my chest. It was from Silas.

I picked a couple of dresses for you to wear tonight.

My immediate thought was to wear one of the options I’d brought. But I was curious to see what Silas picked out. I would have thought a stylist had chosen them, but the note made it seem like he made the choice.

The first dress was black and draped over my body like a second skin. When I moved from side to side, it shimmered in the light. It was gorgeous and fit like a dream, but I wanted to see the second.

This one was red and bold, and I wondered if that was how Silas saw me.

It was strapless with a sweetheart neckline, an embroidered bodice, and a trumpet silhouette. As soon as I put it on, I fell in love with it. It was bold and sassy and hot. It was a designer dress that must have cost a fortune. I wasn’t one to be impressed by a man buying me something this extravagant, but then again, it had never happened before. I couldn’t help but be impressed by both the cost and the intent behind it.

When I turned in the mirror, I noticed the large bow in the back. It wasn’t something I would have picked for myself, but it was on trend, and I felt gorgeous. I tried on the different shoe options, settling on a strappy silver pair that wouldn’t be visible under the full-length dress.

There was even a small Chanel clutch. It was vintage, and my heart was tripping at the implications of this entire night. It wasn’t just the Pretty Woman feeling I got from the clothes and spa day. It was the implication that I was taking a risk with Silas. But I refused to worry about tomorrow. The only thing that mattered was tonight.

I removed the shoes and dress so I could quickly shower and do my hair and makeup. When I was dressed, I smoothed a hand down my stomach, trying to quell the butterflies. It didn’t work.

When the knock sounded on the door, I wasn’t prepared either mentally or physically. My hand trembled as I unlocked it and opened it to find Silas looking handsome in a black tux.

I’d seen him dressed in a suit in the pictures in the paper, but in person, he was devastatingly handsome. He always had a dusting of scruff lining his jaw, but tonight he smelled faintly of soap and cologne. It was intoxicating.

“You wore my dress.”

A tingle ran down my spine. “I love it. Thank you.”

“I knew it would look gorgeous on you,” he said as he cupped my jaw with his palm.

“You always pick out dresses for your dates?”

His expression was serious as he gazed into my eyes, as if he couldn’t believe I was here. “No. Never.”

“I should feel special then.”

“I wanted to create the perfect day for you, where you didn’t have to worry about anything.”

“You did,” I managed, even as my throat was dry, and my eyes stung with an emotion I couldn’t quite name.

Instead of kissing me, Silas let go of my jaw, closing the door behind him. He moved to the bar, pouring ice and water into a glass and handing it to me.

“Thank you,” I said gratefully as I soothed my dry throat.

I’d eaten at the spa in between treatments, but it had been a while.

“Are you ready?”

I took a deep breath and smiled. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“We only have to stay as long as you want.”

“I want to do whatever you need. I assume you need to stay for the duration.” I wanted to be supportive. I wanted to be like those other women in the pictures.

“We’ll see how the evening goes,” he murmured, and I wondered if he was thinking about the challenge he issued.

It was all I could think about this week. I turned the idea over in my mind, trying to figure out some way to put a stop to it, but I was determined to see this through. I wanted to enjoy this time with Silas. If I was only going to meet one man who made me feel this way, I should take advantage of it for as long as I could.

I just hadn’t anticipated how he’d make me feel over something as simple as a date to a charity function. “I feel a little like Cinderella with the spa day and the dresses.”

“I wanted to pamper you.”

My face flushed. “Thank you. It was unexpected.”

“I loved both dresses, but I hoped you’d pick this one. I knew it was you the first time I looked at it.”

“What about the shoes and purse?” I asked.

“I let my stylist pick those. I gave her some pictures of you, and she guessed what you’d like. She’s fairly good at that.”

“She has good taste.”

“She knew you liked designer bags, and she thought you might enjoy the vintage Chanel.”

“Are these borrowed? I’ll have to be careful with them.”

“They’re yours.”

“I couldn’t accept it. It’s too much.” Everything had a designer label, but there were no price tags. I couldn’t even imagine what it cost.

He pulled a velvet box out of his pocket. “These are on loan. But don’t worry; they’re insured.”

He popped open the top before I could respond, and I was dazzled by the dangly diamond earrings.

I drew in a breath and looked up at him. “These are gorgeous.”

“Put them on. I want to see how they look with the dress.”

I carefully took the earrings and moved to the mirror by the front door to put the first one, then the second one, into my ears. It was just enough bling to complete the ensemble. “I love it.”

Silas stepped behind me, his hands on my bare shoulders, and my gaze was drawn to his in the mirror. “You don’t need anything else.”

I knew he was talking about my bare neck and wrists, but I couldn’t help but feel it in my chest. I was enough just as I was. Maybe with the addition of designer clothes and diamonds. “It’s too much.”

“It’s not enough.” He brushed my hair off my right shoulder and dusted his lips over the skin, sending tingles through my whole body. I turned, and his hands drifted down to my hips. I felt feminine and desirable in the dress and the bling.

“You make me want to stay in tonight.”

His eyes darkened with desire. “I want that too. But I also want to show you off.”

My face flushed with pleasure that he thought I was just as beautiful as the other women he’d had on his arm. He’d done an admirable job of making me feel different, special even, and I intended to enjoy the night. To not worry about what came after. I wanted to soak up everything that happened today and tuck it into a memory box for later.

Cinderella only had one night. I would take advantage of the evening and enjoy it to its fullest.