He’d harbored a grudge all these years, taken issue with not ever being talked to about the company. At eighteen, he’d specifically not wanted to be involved, had made that clear with the chip he carried around on his shoulder, and maybe it was yet another way he’d been a dumb ass—hating his brothers for not including him when maybe they would have if he’d just lowered his defensiveness. Or maybe they really had tried. He didn’t remember it that way. Only now could he start to suspect how his inner rage had affected him so deeply, had dictated his life then and now. The thought didn’t sit well, and he tried to shove it out of his head.

It took everything in him to linger after the food was gone, sitting around at the table, acting like he was listening to the banter, the plans for taking care of the day-to-day for their mom, the ins and outs of her care. The discharge papers and home care instructions were on the fridge clipped to a magnet that said That moment when you realize this IS your circus and those are your monkeys that had been there for as long as Cole could remember. He could read the instructions when he needed to know what to do.

He caught himself bouncing his leg more than once and forced it to stop each time.

Checking the time repeatedly, he made himself stay until 9:15 exactly. Then he made a vague excuse and unceremoniously took off in his truck, heading for anywhere but his apartment.

Chapter Seventeen

Sierra set her laptop on the love seat cushion next to her and curled deeper into the thick, fuzzy, oversized throw blanket.

It was maybe a little chilly to be working out on her balcony at nearly nine thirty on a late October evening, but with flannel pajama pants, a long-sleeved tee, a lightweight hoodie, and the blanket, she was comfortable and enjoying the peace of Hale Street. Peace and contentment with an underlying buzz of anticipation that stemmed from inside of her.

She’d hit send on Dunn & Lowell’s official application for the Eldridge Mansion competition three minutes ago.

Thanks to Cole’s revisions, she felt more than good about it. Their application was strong and showcased the company’s experience and capabilities beautifully. If they didn’t make the cut, it was because the competition organizers were looking for something that Dunn & Lowell wasn’t.

It turned out she could be grateful to Cole on a professional level while wanting to wring his neck on a personal one.