Page 20 of And Everything In Between (Love By Any Means #3)

On the other side of the map, Giovanni adjusted his watch and followed his sister through a set of revolving doors, trying to stay focused.

He was annoyed, and for multiple reasons, but he understood business had to be handled.

He’d worry about his missing lady later.

This was day one of many meetings it would take to get the show up and running.

He couldn’t lie, his mind wasn’t fully in it. He was irritated, not because the schedule was packed, but because today came with a surprise he hadn’t prepared for. It was just like the devil to send a storm when you were trying to get right and enjoy your blessings.

His ex, Sienna, of all the people, was back in his orbit after two years.

Apparently, she had weaseled her way into another foolish man’s life.

Now her phone calls made sense. This was a coincidence, but not one she didn’t know was coming.

He hadn’t seen her in years, and now here she was, hovering at his shoulder, breathing the same air as if she still belonged anywhere near him.

The shit didn’t sit right. Because honestly? She was lucky she was still alive after stealing his fucking money and disappearing. Anybody else would’ve met the barrel of his gun. But she was slick, slippery, and she knew how close to the line to skate.

“G,” Spirit said, pulling him slightly to the side as they neared security. “I know your mind is scrambled. I overheard you talking to Momma about this Paige girl. Get your head in the game. You’re no good to her if you don’t handle this and lay the foundation for the future.”

“Spirit, what are you going on about? I’m good. You and ma talk too damn much.”

“Giovanni, please. Lie to someone who doesn’t know everything about you.” She raised an eyebrow. “You’re in love. Or something close. And it’s okay. But business first. If she’s the one, she’ll be there when we get back.”

“I hear you.”

But those words you’re in love bounced around in his head.

In love?

Hell nah.

He couldn’t be.

Or could he? He’d been showing signs. Acting off. Sad in her absence, even.

He loved her laugh, loved her smile, loved the way she invaded his space. But was he in love? A man in love wouldn’t be giving Paige space he didn’t want to give. Spirit saw it. She didn’t miss shit. And that’s why she was his number one, his partner, and the highest paid person on his team.

“Do more than hear me. Get it together.”

They’d agreed to take this Sunday meeting because the exec was flying out Monday morning, and Spirit wasn’t the type to wait on anyone else’s timeline. If they wanted the deal, it was now. Still, the energy felt off the moment they stepped in.

Sienna being around had a lot to do with it.

Her spirit could make a snake shiver. She was cold-blooded and a mooch.

Brokenhearted and broke in the pockets. She clacked now in front of them in sky-high heels, swinging her hips like someone had asked her to perform.

Giovanni wasn’t looking. He hadn’t looked in years.

Sienna was always about two things, money and a good time.

What made her dangerous wasn’t the recklessness; it was the performance .

The illusion. She played the long con. Watched him, studied him, mirrored him.

Said all the right shit, right when he needed to hear it. Back then, he didn’t see the trap.

Paige was the complete opposite. She said what she meant. No performance, no pretense. Her energy was real, undeniable, and honest. He felt it in his bones. She wasn’t built to break people down. She didn’t weaponize love or move with manipulation.

His Paige was a giver. A lover. She moved with care, even when life gave her every reason not to. Where Sienna played power games, Paige offered connection—unfiltered and without ego.

Sienna was part swindler, part actress, and she played her role like she trained at Juilliard. Giovanni hadn’t caught it until Cleveland, pockets light, blindsided. She ran off with thirty bands and left a fake apology on the dresser. The moment she got what she wanted; she vanished.

And that was his flaw: he gave too much, too fast. Trusted too easily. Especially when a woman looked like she wanted to stay. This was why Paige had him rattled; she was trying to slip past him but also lean in. She wanted to trust him; the same way he wanted to trust her. Why was she fighting it?

“Hey, Giovanni, long time no see.”

He ignored her. No doubt, Sienna was fine as a muthafucka.

Put you in the mind of Karrueche, but thicker.

But her upbringing put you in the mind of the runt in a litter.

Pretty to look at, but not good for a muthafuckin thing.

Back then, he’d chalked it up to lust. To being young and wild.

But seeing her again, all these years later, smiling like she hadn’t almost ruined everything he worked for, that had him ready to set it off.

He was healed from it, but he’d never forget and never ever let her get the drop on him again.

“You good?” Spirit asked without looking at him. She clocked her from the start.

She’d knock her ass out if she fumbled this or created an issue for Giovanni. Period.

“Yeah, I’m good,” Giovanni muttered His expression stone-cold. “Let’s eat.”

The conference room looked like all the others: bottled water, glass walls, shiny notepads, and everyone wearing their best poker face. They’d soon learn it didn’t matter. Spirit didn’t bluff, and she didn’t miss.

Darren Reese, the exec, stood and extended his hand. “Giovanni. Spirit. Glad you made it. Sienna said great things about you. Small world, huh?”

Spirit didn’t sit. She placed her folder on the table and gave a smile that wasn’t sweet, it was professional.

“She talks more than she delivers,” Spirit said, eyes cutting to Sienna. “But we’re here for the opportunity. Not the side commentary. Or the reminiscing.”

Sienna flinched, forgetting his sister had a sharp tongue. Darren let out an uneasy laugh and motioned for everyone to sit.

After introductions and a recap of the agenda, Spirit ran point. She spoke like she already owned the show. The concept, growth potential, community reach, merch opportunities, and streaming projections were laid out. She gave them strategy and vision.

Giovanni stayed quiet. Played his position. Spirit didn’t need him; he was the face and the brain behind the builds.

His phone buzzed under the table causing him to sit up straighter.

Paige: I know you’re out of town, but I was thinking about you.

That little text cooled every part of him.

Giovanni: Been carrying this phone everywhere, waiting to see your name pop up. Almost gave in and called you a hundred times.

Paige: Stop. LOL!

Giovanni: I’ll be back home Wednesday. Pulling up on you the second I touch down. That’s a promise.

He locked his screen and tuned back in.

Darren leaned back in his chair. “I think we’ve got something here. I’ll loop in legal and get the paperwork started.”

Spirit stood first. “Great. And make sure the contract reflects equity. We’re not interested in exposure. We have that and plenty of it. We’re building something. We want ownership or nothing.”

Giovanni followed her lead.

Outside, as they hit the hallway, he exhaled.

“You chewed that up.”

Spirit smirked. “Always do.” She paused, looked over her shoulder. “But next time she shows up like this?”

Giovanni raised an eyebrow.

“I’m putting her through the glass. I owe her ass.”

“Giovanni, can I speak to you?” her voice piped up from behind them.

He didn’t want to. He preferred they never speak again. But he turned anyway.

“Alone,” she added.

Spirit scoffed. “Hoe please. A bitch that steals ain’t got shit to say that I can’t hear. Bitch lost her morals and marbles.”

“I’ve changed, Spirit. You never liked me to begin with. Giovanni, I owe you an apology. I’m sorry for how I did you.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. He wouldn’t call her out her name, that would mean he still cared. But a bitch was gon’ be a bitch, and a hoe a hoe. There were two things he’d never seen: a UFO, and a hoe that wouldn’t go.

And he could tell she’d already sunk her fangs into Darren.

“No, you owe me thirty fucking thousand dollars. Get that and then holla at me. I ain’t interested in your lame ass apologies. What’s done is done.”

And with that, he turned and kept it moving. Spirit matched his stride, her satisfaction radiating without a word.

Back in the hotel suite, Giovanni paced the length of the balcony, the Los Angeles skyline sprawled before him.

His phone weighed heavily in his hand as he scrolled through his gallery, landing on a candid shot of Paige from that night at the dragstrip.

Her head was thrown back in laughter, gold hoops catching the light, completely unaware of the camera or how beautiful she looked in that moment.

The meeting had gone well despite Sienna’s unwelcome appearance, but he couldn’t focus on the business win. His mind kept circling back to Coupeville. Back to Paige.

Giovanni pulled up the website for the florist in Coupeville. He chose a bouquet of deep red and white roses with sprigs of lavender, it was elegant but not trying too hard. She loved lavender and she loved red roses. He’d learned that at the drag strip.

In the message field, he kept it brief:

‘Thinking about you too. Home soon.’ – Vanni

He paid, then stepped to the railing, looking east toward the place where his heart had unexpectedly taken root.

The business was important, the show was his legacy, but for the first time in his life, Giovanni Terell Dowlen was building something that had nothing to do with engines or chrome.

Something that might be the most important project he’d ever undertaken.

And he couldn’t wait to get back to the workbench.

Later, after a long shower that did nothing to wash away his restlessness, Giovanni's phone buzzed on the nightstand.

Paige's name lit up the screen. And a smile graced his face.

“Hey, this is a nice surprise.”

“The roses are beautiful. A text wouldn’t cut it.” her voice came through warmly.

“Hhm that means I did a good job.”

“You nailed it. I love them.”

“Good,” he replied, settling back against the headboard. “I wanted to let you know you’d been on my mind too.”

There was a pause, and he could almost see her smile through the phone.

“The lavender's my favorite; it works so well against the red. How’d you put that together?”

“I don't know. Everything about you is perfectly in contrast. The roses are bold, but the lavenders soft. Like you,” he said simply. It was corny but it was true. Paige was both sugar and spice and he couldn’t get enough.

“Wow,” she croaked out. “Thank you, Vanni. They made my whole day”

Something in her voice—the way she said his name, the genuine appreciation—settled the restless energy that had been eating at him all day.

“That was the point,” he said. “Get some rest, P.”

“You too.” She said it soft, just before the line went still.

Giovanni smiled in the dark, phone still pressed to his ear long after she'd hung up. His boys would be clowning him if they could see him right now. He shook his head and laid back to watch the game. Wednesday couldn’t come fast enough.