“We’re happy about that,” Mason said, “because I’m not sure when I’ve been so impressed by a new hire. We’ve always known you’re brilliant and suspected you could do whatever you decided you wanted to do.” Mason shared a knowing big-brother look with Gabe. “We were right. I don’t think we could’ve found anyone else who could step in the way you did, last minute, learning the company details on the fly, and handling some crucial projects for our business. The company’s future depends on these undertakings going smoothly, and the way you came in and took control, using your renovation experience and knowledge… So far, you’re killing it. Just like we knew you would.”

“It’s like you were born for this position,” Gabe said. “Just took a few decades to realize it.”

Everyone else laughed, but Cole was overcome by the praise, because for years, he’d thought his brothers, especially hard-ass Mason, considered him nothing but a fuckup.

If you took Sierra out of the mix, Cole could admit he was glad he’d taken the job. Though he’d been thrown directly into the fire, it turned out he knew what he was doing, could handle the challenges hurled at him from day one. A lot of that was thanks to Sierra, who’d included him in almost every aspect of her business, from codes and permits to architects and planning.

The intensity of the North Brothers projects—all damn four of them—was tenfold, in part because of the scope of each and in part because there were four at a time, but Cole was handling that too so far.

Mason had accompanied him to the first meetings in Tallahassee, Cole’s getting-his-feet-wet treat, Mason had called it, and though it was said as a joke, Cole found that having the CEO of the company there at his side gave him an appreciation for the clout the company carried. It gave him confidence going forward, knowing his family’s company was respected and revered. And Mason’s confidence in him turned out to be genuine and not something he’d spouted just to get Cole to take the job. Though the oldest North brother had been at his side for those first meetings, Mason had told him numerous times, That’s your call, You decide, or You’re the renovation expert.

“You’re my hero, Colester,” Miranda said, grinning, smacking his knee. “But really, so happy you’re with us now.”

“Hear, hear!” Logan raised his champagne flute as if ready for a toast, but Mason waved him off.

“One more thing,” Mason said, then gestured to Gabe, his eyes on the remaining envelope.