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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.”
