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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.”
