Sierra allowed herself a minute to imagine going to work every day without Cole at her side. They’d only been sleeping together for a month. It hadn’t been much longer since that fateful evening when he’d volunteered to take her to Kennedy and Hunter’s wedding. It would be an adjustment for sure, on both a personal and professional basis. He’d be tough to replace—he really was that good—but that was her problem, not his.

“Tell me about the four stores. Here in town?” she asked.

Since he was still facing the island, as if he needed to shut her out, she pulled the bakery box to her, opened it, held it out to him. He shook his head, so she went for the double chocolate muffin.

“North Brothers is expanding outside of the state for the first time. Two locations in Florida, one in Alabama, one in Kentucky. I have to be in Tallahassee on Monday.”

“Whoa. They’re not messing around,” she said, smiling, and not just because the muffin was decadent and to die for. Though Cole had not exactly said how much a part of him wanted to be involved with North Brothers Sports, she could tell he did. Knew he’d been trying hard with his family ever since his mom’s heart attack. How could she be anything but thrilled for him?

“Birmingham a week from tomorrow. They want to have those two stores open before the holidays.”

“Do you know how big the reno projects are?”

“I haven’t even told my brothers yes yet,” he said, finally angling partially toward her. “I wanted to talk to you first.”

“Well, thank you. And quit worrying about me. I’m really happy for you. You’re exactly what they need. Mr. Manager,” she added with a raise of her brows.

“You’re not going to let that one go, are you?” he said with the first hints of a smile.

“Not anytime soon. Come here.” She yanked on his arm, pulled him around to fully face her, and threw her arms around him—finally. “Congratulations, Cole. You deserve it.”

She heard him inhale deeply, as if taking in the smell of her shampoo, the way she was breathing in his masculine, clean scent. She closed her eyes and allowed herself a second of gratitude that she still had him in her life, like this. Yes, things were about to get batshit crazy in her schedule, but that was okay. She’d make it through just fine.

And maybe tonight she would have this man back in her bed.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“You absolutely nailed that,” Kennedy said to Sierra a week later—an intense, overpacked week of doing triple duty as she kept the bank project on schedule, interviewed candidates for the foreman position, and put together a formal half-hour presentation for the Eldridge contest.