Smiling, she shook her head. “You deserve what your dad intended for you to have. It’s part of the North legacy he left for your family, which you’re just as much a part of as any of your brothers.” His acceptance said a lot about how far Cole had come, mentally, emotionally, toward making peace with himself, accepting himself.

Cole nodded. “You know what? This isn’t supposed to be about my dad or money or my family. It’s about me and you and how I’m going to be the kind of guy you deserve. You make me want to be a better person. You make me believe I can be.”

“You’re just right exactly as you are.” She pulled him in for another kiss, taking care to show him how just right he was.

Cole lifted her up by her thighs and pulled her onto him in a straddle, his long legs stretched out from the table, her legs curling around him, feet crossing behind his back. The friction between their lower bodies was like a switch, turning on a physical ache deep in her abdomen and between her legs. He stood, forcing her to cling to him harder.

Laughing, she said, “What are you doing?”

With her wrapped around him, he walked around the desk she rarely used and set her butt down on the edge of it. “I’m going to do something I’ve dreamed about doing for years, right here on this desk.” With all of his attention homed in on her and his erection pressing into her, he left no question about what that consisted of.

“Years?” she asked as he kissed a spot beneath her ear, sending shivers of pleasure through her.

He paused what he was doing and met her gaze. “Since the first day I worked for you,” he confessed.

“Time for that dream to come true then,” she whispered, peering into brown eyes that were so full of love it took her breath away.

“That and so many more.” He sealed his lips to hers in a promise.

Epilogue

Four months later

Cole leaned against the newly painted living room wall of the Eldridge mansion, watching his girl shine on camera, doing what she was born to do.

The Eldridge project—and the TV show—were hers now, as they should’ve been all along. A couple of weeks after the “winner” was originally announced, it was discovered that the guy had a previous business relationship with the producer of the show, or more accurately, the former producer, Robert Crum. Neither had disclosed the relationship, and since that went against the rules, Eldridge had gotten rid of both of them and awarded Dunn & Lowell the opportunity. Sierra was embracing the hell out of it, showing Eldridge and the world that she should’ve been first choice anyway.