Chapter 20

Twenty

Silas

L ast night, I told Leo I owed him a conversation but needed to talk to Gia first. I couldn’t reach her, so I figured she was at work and sat outside her office to make sure she was safe.

I was surprised when she showed up at Sunday dinner. I wanted her to have a good relationship with her family, but I saw firsthand how awkward it was between her and her father.

Once Harper arrived at work this morning, she texted me to say Gia was inside, sleeping on her desk, and was as fine as she could be for now. I checked into a hotel and used the change of clothes I kept in my car for nights when I wasn’t sure where I was sleeping. Then I picked up breakfast and took it to the new pizzeria.

“How’d you know I’d be here?” Leo asked when he opened the door.

“You’re the same place I would be, or where Gia is now—work.”

Leo chuckled as he locked the door behind me. “That’s the Giovannis. We bury ourselves in work.”

I followed him through the dining room, down the hall, and into his office. He sat across from me and held his hand out for the egg bagel sandwiches and coffee. “I’m still pissed at you.”

“For dating your sister?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

Leo shook his head. “I can’t believe you just came out and said it.”

“I should apologize, but I’ve kept my distance from her over the years.”

Leo ran his hand through his hair. “You’ve liked her for years?”

“On some level, I must have known. I think she did too. It’s why we fought each other so hard.”

“Harper said something similar, but I didn’t want to believe it.”

I leaned forward. “Harper knew?”

“She thought it was just a physical attraction. Is that what this is? Are you just fucking my sister?” His voice rose in volume with every word.

“Fuck no.”

Our food sat on the desk between us, neither one of us ready to eat.

Leo threw up his hands. “Then what is it? Because I’m trying to be understanding here, and trust me, Matteo and Carlo won’t be as levelheaded.”

It was why I’d come to Leo first. He’d recently fallen in love with Gia’s best friend, Harper, and was worried his family wouldn’t accept their relationship, but he’d done it anyway. Of anyone, he’d be the most understanding.

Carlo and Matteo were still single, and it was more black and white to them. I was dating their little sister. It was unforgivable. There was no excuse for crossing that line, but Leo had already crossed several with Harper, who’d been a de facto member of their family since she was a kid.

“I’m in love with your sister. We might disagree on some things, but we have a lot in common, and I care about her. I knew she’d be hard to convince, but I thought if I was patient, she’d feel what I did.”

Leo’s brow furrowed. “You don’t think she feels the same way?”

I ran a hand through my hair. “She’s a tough one to read.”

“She’s had to be, growing up the youngest of four siblings. We teased her mercilessly, and Papà’s the hardest on her.”

“Why?”

“He expected her to work at the restaurant, and when she didn’t, he was hurt. When she was little, she was his little shadow, but as she grew older, they grew apart. I think he’s always wondered why.”

“He didn’t want her to make her own way?”

“To him, it’s more about why she would have to. He’d created this business that she could just step into.”

“Gia wouldn’t appreciate someone handing her something.”

Leo chuckled. “Definitely not. Papà has always been mystified by her. She never does or says what he expects.”

“He wants her to return to the restaurant.”

Leo’s expression was sober. “On some level, yes, but I think he’s starting to realize that’s not going to happen.”

“He had this vision for how things would be, and she’s not playing into that. I can understand his disappointment, but it’s hurting her.” I shook my head. “That interaction with your father was rough. I don’t like the way he talks to her.”

“I don’t like it either. But what can we do? There’s always been animosity between them. She isn’t what he expected, and he doesn’t know what to do about it. Mamma says he’ll get over it, but I’m not so sure.”

“No one stands up for her with your father?” I asked, the realization pissing me off.

Leo shook his head. “He’s the one in charge of the pizzerias. No one wants to upset the balance.”

I stood. “I’m going there next.”

“You’re going to talk to Papà?” Leo asked, standing with me.

I nodded.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“Whether Gia and I end up together or not, it has to be done. Someone has to say something. This can’t go on. It’s not fair to Gia or the rest of the family.”

“I can respect that.” Leo shook my hand. “For what it’s worth, I hope you work things out with Gia.”

“I still need to talk to Matteo and Carlo.” I wasn’t looking forward to any of these conversations, but they had to be done. Gia was worth it.

“Let me handle them.”

“Are you sure?” Leo was easy compared to those two.

Leo gave me a rueful smile. “I was in your position not too long ago.”

“And look how it worked out for you.” Gia might not realize it yet, but she wanted a man who’d fight for her, who’d protect her. She didn’t need it. She could handle herself. But I hoped she’d come to appreciate it. Because this was who I was. And if she cared for me like I did her, then she’d have to accept me stepping in from time to time. Her brothers weren’t willing to do it, but it was my place if she’d let me.

Leo walked me out. “I respect what you’re doing.”

“You don’t mind that I’m dating your sister?” I asked, a little surprised.

“I need to talk to her. Make sure she’s okay with it. But you’re my best friend. I can’t think of a better man for her.”

“I think we resisted each other before out of self-preservation. We felt the connection and resisted it. Neither one of us wanted a distraction from work. Maybe it wasn’t the right time before. But when you came to Naomi and Chris’s wedding, I saw her differently.”

It was more about touch and taste, but I wasn’t going to mention that to her brother. “I want you to know that if she’ll have me, I’ll take care of her—as much as she’ll let me.”

Leo laughed and clasped my shoulders. “You’ll have your hands full with Gia. I admire you for doing what you’re doing. I hope she appreciates it.”

We reached my car, and I turned to face him. “So, you’re really okay with this?”

“I’m in love with Harper, so who am I to judge who you love? If she feels the same way, then I’m all for it. I’ll check on Gia too.”

“I appreciate that.”

“I hope you’ll be part of the Giovanni family one day.” Leo shook my hand.

Contentment flowed through me. “Isn’t it the other way around? Gia will be part of the Sharpe family.”

“I don’t know. You can’t resist the pull of our family. It’s too strong.”

“I couldn’t resist Gia, that’s for sure.”

Leo held up his palm. “Too much information.”

“Got it. Sorry.” I could talk about caring for his sister, but anything more personal was off-limits.

“I like you two together. It makes sense, and Harper saw it first. I just hope it’s the real deal.”

“That’s all up to your sister. She’s focused on her business and resists making time for anything or anyone else. Although she did let me take her out the last two Sundays.”

“Life isn’t all about work. I could easily have worked more when we opened the second restaurant, but I wanted to spend time with Harper and Evie. I didn’t want to be working all the time. And my brothers figured out a way so that I could be home in the evenings with them. Relationships are about compromise, but I didn’t see it that way. I wanted to spend a lot of time with them, and I made it happen. If you two want the same, you’ll make it work.”

“You realize it’s your sister that puts up the biggest fight.”

Leo laughed. “I don’t envy you. I just hope she sees that love is a once-in-a-lifetime thing and grabs hold with both hands.”

I tipped my head back. “ If she loves me.”

Leo hummed. “I hope for your sake she does.”

“I appreciate it. I’ve got more work to do.”

“Let me know if you need anything. I’ll talk to my brothers and check in with Gia.”

“I don’t think she’ll appreciate it.”

“Tough.”

I laughed. “She’s lucky to have you.”

“She’s luckier to have you. We let her down over the years with Papà, but I have a feeling you’re going to do right by her.”

“You think this is the right thing to do?”

“How do you feel in your heart?”

“Like I need to have a conversation with her father.”

“Then that’s what you need to do. I’m a big believer in following your heart. It brought me to Harper and Evie, and I’ve never been happier. It feels like it was meant to be.”

We said our good-byes, and I wondered what he’d meant the whole way to the Giovanni house. Were we meant to be? It certainly seemed like it when I thought back to the years we resisted each other and then to the interactions at my resort. I never acted like that with anyone else. I wouldn’t take a woman into a broom closet. I was usually so focused on work, but Gia made me forget everything.

She made me see that there were other things in life, like love and happiness. I just hoped she felt the same.

By the time I pulled up to their house, I was questioning if this was the right decision. What if her father wasn’t open to hearing what I had to say? What if he didn’t like me for his daughter? Just because Leo was understanding about our situation didn’t mean her parents would be.

I knocked on the door, my heart beating harder than the first time I met a girl’s parents on a date. Mrs. G. opened the door, wearing an apron, and I breathed in the smell of apples and cinnamon. “Silas. The boys aren’t home.”

I loved that she called her sons, who were grown men, boys. My parents had a different parenting style. It was less affectionate and more filled with expectations of perfection and success. “I wanted to talk to you and Mr. G. about Gia.”

“Is she okay?” Mrs. G. asked as she ushered me in.

There were cooling pies on the countertops.

“Harper’s keeping an eye on her.” I hated that I couldn’t see Gia yet. I had a few things to take care of first, and I had a feeling Gia was going to be stubborn about hashing this out. She probably thought we’d broken up, but I wouldn’t back down without a fight. I didn’t give up that easily. She wouldn’t be able to pretend nothing had happened between us.

“I think Papà is too hard on her, but he won’t listen.” Mrs. G. opened the stove and pulled out another pie.

I stood awkwardly in the doorway. “I hope he’ll listen to me.”

Mrs. G. turned and narrowed her eyes on me. “Is there something going on between you and my daughter?”

I gave her the smile women said was charming. “I can’t stand up for your daughter without being in a relationship with her?”

She moved closer to me. “Of course you can, but I have a feeling you are.”

“We’ve been seeing each other.”

“And you’re here to talk some sense into my stubborn husband.”

I chuckled, some of the tension easing. “Then I need to talk to your daughter. I have a feeling she’s just as stubborn.”

“Those two. They were always butting heads. They’re nothing like the boys. Their relationship was always harder. I tried everything I could to help them over the years, but they were both too stubborn. They refuse to talk to each other or listen, for that matter.”

“Do you mind if I talk to him?” I asked her.

“Are you in love with my daughter?”

I opened my mouth to answer her when Mr. G. walked into the kitchen. “Who’s in love with my daughter?”

His voice filled the room, and tension pricked my shoulders.

“I am, sir.”

He raised his brow. “Does she love you?”

I chuckled without any humor. “That remains to be seen, but I hope so.”

“That’s what you came to talk to me about today?”

“That, and your relationship with her. I know it’s none of my business, but I want Gia to be mine, and I don’t want her to be hurt.”

“She’s upset?” Mr. G. asked, looking uncomfortable for the first time.

“Your opinion matters to her, probably too much. It’s what drives her to work so hard. I think she’s searching for your approval. And sure, she needs to learn that the only person she needs to impress is herself, but she also needs to know that her family loves her unconditionally. I wanted you to know how much it hurts her when you don’t support her.”

“I didn’t think she cared what I thought. She’s always so strong.”

That made sense to me. That he thought she didn’t care, so he was harsher with her. “It hurts her a lot. She cares what you think of her more than anyone else.”

“I’m proud of her. She built that business from the ground up.”

“All she hears is that the wedding planning business is frivolous, and she should come back and work for you.”

Mr. G. shook his head. “I think I’ve handled it all wrong. But it’s so easy to fall back into old patterns when she’s here.”

“She stayed away all these years, and when she comes back, you chase her off again,” Mrs. G. said angrily.

This sounded like an argument they’d had before. “I wanted you to know how what you say affects her greatly. She wants your respect above anyone else’s.”

Mrs. G. sniffled.

“I’ve made mistakes, and I regret them. Even as I vow to do better by her, I fall back on our old way of interacting.”

“She’s strong-willed, but I love her for it.” I wouldn’t be challenged by a woman who didn’t act like Gia did. If I wasn’t sure about my feelings before today, I was solid in them now.

“I will do better by her. I will talk to her.”

“I hope you do. Your opinion matters.”

Mr. G. nodded. “Are you here to ask about something else?”

“Gia is my present and, hopefully, my future. But I have a few walls to climb before I can make her mine.”

“What do you plan to do with you living where you do? Her business is important to her.”

“We’ll work it out. One or both of us can work remotely from time to time.”

“What about marriage? Kids?”

“Gio, it’s too soon for all of that,” Mrs. G. Chided him.

“I want all of that with her. If she’ll have me.” Was she just denying her feelings to protect herself, or was she not as into me as I was into her?

My life was filled with business opportunities and profit margins before Gia came into my life. Now I was worried about work-life balance and how we could see each other despite the geographical distance.

She loved my house. Was it too much to think we’d settle down there eventually? Fill it with our kids, who would inevitably fight and one-up each other? I could see it so clearly now, and it made me smile.

“You’re good for her.”

“I think so.” But it was all up to Gia at this point.

He patted my cheek. “I like you for my daughter.”

Did that mean I had his blessing? “Thank you, sir.”

I hugged Mrs. G. and shook Mr. G.’s hand. I needed to talk to Gia, but I had to figure out the best way to do it. She’d already had too much time to put emotional distance between us. I had to go about it the right way.