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“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 wantyou.” 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.Youmake 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.
Six
GIA
Icouldn’t believe Silas dangled the one thing in front of me that I’d wanted for years. A chance to work with brides at his resort. Why had he changed his mind?
Was it because he wanted to get close to me? It was obvious he wanted to continue our physical relationship. But he hadn’t said anything about liking me or wanting to date me. Not that it was a real possibility, but maybe I wanted to know that I got to him, and it wasn’t just physical.
He might be trying to get close to me to use something against me. I couldn’t trust him, even though I felt like I could when we were naked. Business was different, and I’d do well to remember that.
I’d help with one couple and prove that I could be around him and not lose my head again. Could I be around him and not give in to him? Did I want to?
Could we have a physical relationship that didn’t go anywhere else? Just two successful people getting a release with each other? No strings and no promises?
I would have believed it if I hadn’t already felt the way I did when we were together. The thing that held me back was that he hadn’t felt the same way. It was purely physical for him.
I smiled and nodded the rest of the night and was disappointed when Silas didn’t try to get me alone again. It was ridiculous, but I liked our banter and his references to our sexual encounters. He fired me up and got me thinking about something besides business.
I needed to prove to my father that opening a business was the right move and that I could be successful. For me, success was determined by the numbers, and Happily Ever Afters wasn’t there yet.
I wouldn’t admit defeat—not to my brothers or to my father. I needed to make my dream work. Harper had convinced me that if I wanted to expand, I needed to hire more people. I had moments when I thought I should let the employees go and handle everything myself. But that was my old way of doing business.
Now I was glad we’d hired more planners because it would allow me to concentrate on Silas’s couple and give them my full attention. If it went well, and he allowed me to handle more brides at his resort, that would be good for my business. It would be worth it. If only I could resist him.
When everyone left the party, I volunteered to stay and clean up. I kicked off my heels, slid on flip-flops, and cleaned the tables. I was just taking out the garbage when a car pulled down the alley. I probably shouldn’t have taken out the garbage while I was alone.
The window lowered. “What are you doing out here?”
