Ian threw a dart at the board he had set up in his office. Like the previous three, this one bounced off the cork after gouging out a strip.

“Dammit.” He probably shouldn’t be throwing them while seated in his chair, but whatever.

The hurt he’d seen on Rosa’s face after he’d said what he’d said still ripped its talons into him. He was such an ass. Eight years, and he hadn’t grown up one little bit.

There was a knock on his door, but before he could call out, his mom breezed in.

“Hi, honey. You look like crap. What’s going on?”

Shaking his head, he stood up and went over to kiss her on her cheek which she held out for him. “Hi, Mom. Just trying to figure out how badly I’m fucking up.”

“Language. Do I need to call your father?”

“For my language?”

She gave him the stink eye. “No. Do you want to talk with him about business?”

“We’ve talked about it. I know he supports me in whatever decision I make.”

She sat down in one of the visitor chairs she’d picked out during the last redecoration. “Then what’s the problem?”

He angled the other chair so he’d face her and sat down. “What if I make the wrong decision?”

She reached out and put her hand on his wrist. Squeezed. “Honey, tough decisions mean that none of the choices are fully good or fully bad. Something’s going to hurt no matter what you choose. If it was an easy decision, you’d have already made it.”

“I thought I had made it last night, and then Larry cornered me, and Rosa and I fought.”

Her brows rose at that last revelation, but she focused in on what she knew was more important in that moment. “What did Larry say?”

“He found out about FSC’s threat to pull the contract if I don’t agree to stop being political with company resources. He has a point, Mom. Not having the FSC contract will make things harder and we won’t be able to do as much as we could if we had them.”

She was quiet for a few moments. “I can’t make this decision for you, Ian. You know the resources the company has available. You already know your dad supports you no matter what.”

“I know, but would Granddad have understood? Especially if it means that Larry wins?”

“If Larry continues with his suit, that’s on Larry. I know he probably thinks he’s doing what’s best, but he’s always been nipping at the edges. Your grandfather was a good man and loved all of you, but he agreed with your father that you should succeed as head of the company. He wouldn’t have said that if he didn’t believe it. I wish he was here so he could give you the same peace of mind, but I know whatever you choose to do, he would have supported it. Listen to your heart, Ian. It’s a strong one.”

He closed his eyes. The weight hadn’t lifted but hearing those words from his mom helped. “Thanks.”

“Now. What’s this about you and Rosa fighting? Lottie called me this morning to tell me that Rosa had a job offer in Philadelphia, and she’s taking it.”

He sat up straight. Fuck. He’d been beyond harsh in what he’d said to her, but he hadn’t expected her to leave so soon. “She’s moving to Philadelphia? When?”

“Lottie didn’t say, but she implied that Rosa’s doing everything she can to get things moving. Apparently, Rosa’s got it into her head that Lottie needs as much financial assistance as possible. I don’t know why. We raised a good chunk of money last night. And your father and I decided that we would match what was raised. Not that we’re telling Lottie or Rosa that. I know the Donnelly pride.”

He ran his hands through his hair. Goddammit. He was an ass. After last night, she was probably planning on cutting out of town without ever telling him.

“What did you say to her?”

He winced. “I’d rather not tell you. Do you know where she is?”

His mom got that crafty look in her eye that she had anytime she’d manipulated his father into the exact plan she’d wanted. Damn it. “The pharmacy. Lottie’s doctor called in a change to her prescriptions.”

He leaned over and kissed her. “Thanks, Mom. I’ve got some things I need to clear up here. I’ll call you later, okay?”

She patted his cheek. “You always were a smart one.”

“Not as smart as you raised me to be.”

As soon as she left, he closed his door again and drafted his response to FSC, stating that as they valued family ties, so did Stroman Industries—and that the company was open to doing business with them again when they were ready, but Ian wasn’t abandoning his advocacy efforts. This country needed leadership with values, and if that meant being political, so be it. He sent that off to the company attorney to review.

He then called Larry. “Listen. I’m going to keep this short. I’m sending a letter to FSC through the company attorney telling them that I’m not stopping what I’m doing. If that means you continue with the suit, so be it. Be careful, Larry. You’re choosing money over family. I’ll always love you, but we have to stand for something, and I know the company will stand true in the long run even if we take a hit in the short term.”

He hung up before Larry could say anything.

With a quick note for Jimmy, who’d left his desk, he headed out into the sun to corner Rosa.

Feeling like she’d accomplished something—despite spending the night fighting off tears and ugly dreams reliving Ian’s multiple rejections of her—Rosa poked around the shelves of Antonelli’s Pharmacy, looking for the things her mom had requested.

The bell above the door tinkled.

Moments later, she spotted Ian’s head moving up and down the aisles. She ducked. Could she get out of here without him seeing?

“There you are.”

“Fuck.” She closed her eyes and hoped that he was only a figment of her imagination. When she opened them, he was standing in front of her. No luck.

“We need to talk.”

She glared at him. “We talked last night. I don’t have anything to say to you.”

“Mom told me you’re moving to Philadelphia.”

She laughed a little and, even to her, it had a hard edge. “So? It’s not like you care.”

He raked his fingers through his hair. “I care, Rosa. I care a lot.”

“You said, and I quote, ‘Good thing you’re not staying in town then.’ That tells me you don’t actually care.”

He squeezed his eyes shut to the point where creases formed around his eyelids. “I’m sorry, Rosa. So sorry. I have no excuse for saying those things to you.”

“Then why did you?” Her voice caught, and she felt tears forming again. She furiously wiped her eyes. She would not break down in tears here. Would. Not. “Never mind. I don’t need to know.” She turned and hurried to the front of the store. She could come back later for what Mom needed. When he wasn’t here. Maybe head out to the big box store.

He grabbed her shoulder, but she shook it off.

“Hey, Rosa? You okay?”

“Fine, Mr. Antonelli. Ian’s leaving.” She turned and looked him dead in the eye. “Aren’t you, Ian?”

His lips firmed. “Yeah. But we have to talk. I’ve got some things I have to say to you.”

“I don’t want to hear them.”

“Please, Rosa. One last time.”

She swallowed. She should stand strong against the pleading tone of voice. But her resistance crumbled. “Fine. Meet me at Mom’s.”

He nodded and left.

She paid for her purchases and headed back to her mom’s. Ian’s SUV was parked in front, and he was sitting in it with the engine still running. As she parked in the driveway, he got out and met her at the side door. There was a note taped to the storm door.

Out with Elaine. Be back by dinner.

She ripped it from the door and held it up to Ian. “Are you responsible for this?”

“No.”

She let out a sigh. “I guess we have some privacy then.”

He didn’t say anything, only followed her into the house. She put the bag from the pharmacy on her mom’s bed and went back to the living room. Ian had sat down on the couch. Instead of giving into temptation to sit next to him, she chose Mom’s recliner.

“What did you want to say?”

“I’m really sorry, Rosa. I have no excuse for saying what I did. It was mean.”

“It was.”

He nodded. “Mom stopped at my office today and said you took a job in Philadelphia.”

“Word gets around quick.”

“You know Denning.”

She let out a short laugh. “Yeah. I do. Why do you care?”

“We have something, Rosa. I don’t want to fuck it up.”

“You did, Ian. No one talks to me like that. I respect myself too much to put up with assholes.”

He closed his eyes but nodded again. “I understand.” He stood up. “I told FSC to stuff it. I was more polite, but I’m not giving up my work.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“I also told Larry to go ahead and continue with the suit if he wants. I’m holding on to the company no matter what.”

“Good for you.” Did he expect her to cheer for him?

“This isn’t for you, Rosa. It’s for me. But, if you do decide to give me another chance, all you have to do is call. Even if you’re all the way in Philadelphia. I’ll find a way to come to you as fast as I can.”

It was her turn to close her eyes. The devotion she heard in his tone and in his words ripped the last of her resistance to shreds. When she opened them again, he was at the door. “Ian. Wait.”

He turned around and she went over to him. Hugged herself around her middle. “You hurt me.”

“I know, Rosa.” He held up his arms and didn’t do anything but leave them open to her. Her decision.

She took a step closer and leaned her body against his. When she’d first decided to have sex with him, she knew she’d regret not taking advantage of the opportunity to enjoy his body. Now? She’d regret giving up the opportunity to see what they could be together. The strength of his embrace as he rocked her smoothed the jagged edges of her emotions a little.

“I am so, so sorry.” She felt his lips press against her hair.

She let out a breath. “I start in two weeks.”

“That’s fast.”

“I have to find an apartment out there.”

He kissed her temple again. “Want me to help look?”

“Yeah.”

“Are we going to be okay?”

“Maybe. We can give it a shot. I’m going to have to come back and check on Mom.”

He let out a long sigh. “As much time as you need, Rosa.”

She snuggled in closer, and felt his arms tighten around her. Denning had never truly felt like home to her in the past, but maybe it could in the future.