It took a moment for the words to register, for her mental whiplash to take hold. “A job?”

“Special projects manager, he’s calling it. They signed deals for four new stores, all of which need to be renovated. I’ll be overseeing them.”

“Cole, that’s fantastic,” she said, meaning it, and not just because he wasn’t breaking up with her. “You’re finally going to work for North Brothers.”

“One thing has driven me since the day you hired me—I never wanted to let you down. And now I am, and I’m sorry—”

“Are you kidding me? Don’t you dare apologize. You’re going to work with your family. You need to work with your brothers.” She was genuinely happy for him, knew what a big thing this was, how many years it’d taken for him to be able to do it. And she couldn’t discount her relief that he wasn’t dumping her. His new job would certainly solve the issue of whether or not they were open about their involvement at work.

“I’m leaving you in the lurch,” he said. “I can give you two weeks, but I’ll need to take a day off here and there because Mason has me jumping in right away out of necessity. I’ll put in extra hours when I’m here, whatever I can do to help.”

“It’s okay, Cole. We’ll figure it out. Whatever you need to do for your new job, do it.” She went around the island to him and put an arm around him from the side, since he made a point of not facing her. “I’m so stoked for you. This was such a long time coming.”

He exhaled noisily and shook his head. “I feel like shit for leaving you. You’re in the middle of the bank job, in the last stage, the most crucial one, of the Eldridge thing, and now you have to hire too. Maybe I can help with that.”

“I’d take your help, but I don’t think you’re going to have time, Mr. Manager. I’ll be fine.” Working long hours, but fine, and that was the truth. She’d brought the contest on herself, and she didn’t regret it a bit, with or without Cole. The bank renovation was going well and, so far, on time. The only thing she’d be adding was a hire, since she knew without much thought that none of her guys were ready to take on foreman responsibilities yet, and she’d figure that out as soon as she had a few minutes to breathe.

“I wouldn’t have taken it right now if it didn’t seem like the exact right opportunity. In fact, I’d told him and Gabe multiple times I liked where I was working.”