Page 26 of If You Give a CEO a Chance

Lila is a hopeless romantic, longing for when she finds her Prince Charming. She’s shared how difficult being a wedding planner can be, coordinating other couples’ perfect day while she eagerly waits for her own happy ending. I may not share the same idealistic views as she does, but my greatest hope is for her to find someone who embraces her sense of adventure and encourages her to explore the world beyond Starlight Pines. She deserves nothing less.

Fallon: And mine, lol.

Lila: At least you have eye candy in a three-piece suit.

Fallon: Trust me, Harrison’s grumpy demeanor cancels out any hotness happening.

Lila: Ah, still trouble in paradise, I see.You should consider asking him why he left after your weekend together. It might bring you closure.

Fallon: I’m not going to beg him for an apology. If he wants to fix things, he’ll have to bring it up.

Lila: Remind me to never get on your bad side.

Fallon: Impossible.

Still groggy, I rub my eyes and shuffle toward the bathroom, the soft light spilling from the hallway as my only guide. Halfway there, I freeze, my stomach lurching when I notice the swarm of shadows spilling from beneath the closed bedroom door. My pulse quickens as I make out the unmistakable shape of dozens of spiders. My hands tremble, and my phone clatters to the floor.

“This can’t be happening,” I squeak, my voice barely audible over the thundering of my heart.

My legs carry me backward, until I bump into the bed. I don’t hesitate to leap onto the mattress, wrapping the comforter around me like a flimsy shield against the advancing army, growing more menacing by the second. It’s like I’m stuck in one of the horror movies I’m obsessed with and that keeps me awake long after the credits roll, second-guessing every shadow. Only now they’re real.

“Nope, nope, nope,” I chant, covering my face with my hands and squeezing my eyes shut.

I could really use some backup right now, but I stay frozen, gripping the comforter like a lifeline as I exhale slowly, reminding myself this probably isn’t the apocalypse, even if it feels like it.

When my breathing finally slows down, I risk peeking through my fingers. The spiders remain eerily still, and their glossy surfaces catch the light. A mix of relief and embarrassment crashes over me in equal measure. Sliding off the bed, I inch closer, kneeling down to pick one up. Plastic. Great.

Not caring to control my reaction, I throw the door open, stepping on several more spiders on my way out.

“Harrison,” I shout, storming down the hall.

He’s in the living room, reclined on the couch, reading the newspaper. Who the hell reads a physical newspaper anymore?

“Yes?” he asks calmly, adjusting the reading glasses perched on his nose.

Oh my god.

I’m briefly sidetracked from my mission at the sight of his five o’clock shadow and those infuriatingly sexy glasses.

“You wear glasses?” I cringe at how obvious the question sounds.

“They’re for reading. Do they bother you?” he asks, tilting his head.

Not in the way he thinks.

“No, just curious.” I shrug.

He leans back in his chair and directs his stern focus on me…mainly my attire.

“Is there a reason you’re wearing a hockey shirt? Andonlya hockey shirt?”

I blink at him, snapping me out of my trance. “Huh?” I glance down at the oversized T-shirt falling to mid-thigh. My cheeks flush with embarrassment. At least I’m wearing panties underneath, but it’s not like it makes a difference since he can’t see them.

When I moved to the States, I lived with Jeremy before he broke up with me. He got a bunch of gear from the Stormbreakers when he signed on, including a bunch of T-shirts, and I snagged this one. It has no sentimental value whatsoever, but it’s super comfortable, so I kept it.

After we broke up, I got a job as a server at an Italian restaurant. That’s where I met my old boss, Theo. He was the sous chef, and when I took an interest in cooking, he showed me the ropes. To save up for culinary school, I picked up several gigs with catering companies. That’s how I met Harrison, serving drinks at an event for the Huskies.

“I’d appreciate it if you don’t wear that shirt again,” Harrison says, his jaw tight.

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