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“So, you’re not plotting against me?” I asked her casually.
Her brows raised. “No. Of course not.”
I tipped my head to the side. “Then why can’t you tell me?”
Gia’s voice softened. “We’re in the process of researching to see if my new idea is feasible. I promise it has nothing to do with you or the resort. It’s something else entirely.”
“Is it something I’d want to do too, if I had the idea?” I couldn’t help but ask.
Gia barked out a laugh just as Emma returned.
“What did I miss?” Emma asked.
“Gia is working on something big but won’t tell me what it is,” I said.
“It’s not something you’d want to do or would even be able to do. Maybe Hannah, but not you.”
“Ah, it’s something about being a wedding planner.” Relief flooded my system. Her explanation made me feel better, but I was still dying to know what it was, and a part of me wondered if she was telling me the truth. How could I trust her when she was my biggest competitor? I thought we had a connection, but she was slower to have those same realizations. What if she didn’t see me as anything more than a physical release?
Any time I remembered what we’d shared on Sunday, I couldn’t believe it was true. I had to keep the faith that she’d eventually realize what we had.
The waitstaff cleared our salad dishes, and Brad appeared with several options for soup. When he left, Gia said, “I don’t recommend soups for summer weddings. It can feel very heavy, and you want your guests to feel light.”
“I agree,” Emma said as she sipped her Maryland crab soup.
It was delicious, but I had to agree, if the weather was warm, soups wouldn’t be ideal.
Next, Brad brought out a serving tray of the entrée options, ranging from filet mignon to lobster to crab cakes and the more expected chicken.
“You’ll want two options in case someone is allergic or doesn’t like seafood, but in my opinion, every Maryland wedding should offer seafood. Especially when your wedding will be held on the water.”
Emma nodded. “I agree. Let’s go with the filet mignon and the crab cakes.”
Once that was settled, Brad brought out the options for the sides. There were several different types of potatoes and veggies, and I lost interest.
“Ladies, it’s been nice, but I need to get back to the office for a meeting.” I stopped in the kitchen to praise Brad and thank him for a job well done. I was almost to the elevator before Gia joined me. “Did I forget something?”
“You just happened to jump into my meeting with a bride, and then you leave early?” Her tone was exasperated.
“I’m a busy man.”
“You did that just to get to me.” Gia’s body was tense, and her eyes were filled with irritation.
With a hand on her elbow, I pulled her to the side so no one saw us arguing. I was always professional in front of my employees and guests. “I wanted to see you. I missed you.”
Gia’s entire demeanor relaxed, her shoulders lowered, and her face smoothed out. “Are you serious?”
“Is it so hard to believe that I could miss you? What we shared this weekend was next-level, and I haven’t seen you since. I’m starting to question my sanity.” I figured the best plan of action with Gia was honesty.
“Silas,” she said, shaking her head, and I braced for her denial of what I already knew to be true. “I’m sorry, but I’m preoccupied with this new project at work. You know how it is when you get an idea, and it’s all you can think about.”
I knew exactly what she was talking about. I became consumed with seeing it to completion. “You’re so preoccupied with this new project that you’ve forgotten about us?”
I dropped my head slightly so my breath ghosted over her ear.
Breathlessly, she said, “I promise, I haven’t.”
I leaned back slightly to see her face. “Did you forget that I’m good for bouncing ideas off of?”
