Page 53 of If You Give a CEO a Chance

“Oh my god, you scared me,” I say, trying to sound unaffected.

“Sorry, it wasn’t intentional,” he replies.

I nod, going back to molding the meatloaf into the pans and transferring the loaves into the waiting oven, pretending that I’m not affected by Harrison’s unexpected presence.

As I wash my hands at the sink, the rustle of fabric and movement in my peripheral vision weaken my resolve. I glance over to find Harrison slipping off his jacket and draping it over a barstool. I’m unable to take my eyes off him as he rolls up his sleeves, revealing those damn forearms of his again—strong, veiny, utterly distracting. I swear they should be illegal.

My pulse betrays me, kicking into overdrive, and I bite the inside of my cheek, cursing how he always manages to rattle me with so little effort.

“Careful, or you might turn the kitchen into a swimming pool,” Harrison says with an amused tone.

My brows knit together, realizing my hands are still under the faucet. “Oh.” With a small shake of my head, I turn off the water and grab a towel to dry them.

“Weren’t you supposed to be in Aspen Grove until after the New Year?” I ask.

He smirks. “Missed me that much?”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” I reply with a forced laugh, busying myself with straightening the dish towel.

After everything, I should be immune to him by now, but instead, I’m acting like a teenager with a silly crush. I should be fortifying my defenses, not letting my emotions get the better of me, and opening doors I swore I’d sealed shut.

Dammit.

I was convinced my fixation with Fallon was a result of our time apart, a fleeting illusion that would fade once I got back to New York.

I was wrong.

The sight of her knocks the air from my lungs—her hair falls in loose waves, framing her face, while her ocean-blue eyes and the tilt of her chin exude confidence.

When I walked into the kitchen, I was mesmerized when I saw her singing her heart out. I couldn’t break the spell. Not when I had a front-row seat to the way she moved, carefree and lost in the moment. Her shorts molded to her ass, the fabric hugging every inch of her as she swayed her hips along to the music.

I shouldn’t have stayed away for so long. The reasons I found her unbearable don’t seem to matter so much anymore. Before I left, I was ready for space, but now all I can think about is kissing her again.

“Now who’s the one zoning out?” Fallon says with playful sarcasm. “Good thing you weren’t the one using the sink, or the entire apartment would be underwater by now.” She’s leaning casually against the counter, a smug smile spread across her face.

“You had to have thought about me at least once while I was gone.”

“Oh, I did. Every time I made it through a horror movie without interruptions or strolled through the apartment in nothing but my underwear.” She smirks.

An image of her doing just that flits through my mind, and now I’m wishing I had peeked at the cameras at least a few more times while I was gone to see if there was any truth to her statement.

“Very funny,” I say.

“I’d like to think so,” Fallon says, moving toward me. “Don’t forget, you were the one texting me while you were in Aspen Grove.” My cock stirs as she takes hold of my tie and wraps it around her fist. “Multiple times, if I remember correctly.” She tugs on it, pulling me in.

“You texted back,” I counter, my hand slipping to the small of her back, bridging the space between us.

We’re close enough to share a breath, but neither of us moves away. It’s like the banter, and unspoken tension has finally spilled over, and we’re locked in a silent battle of wills.

Our gazes clash, neither of us willing to surrender as the weight of our unspoken desire lingers between us.

“What are we doing?” she whispers.

“I’m not sure,” I admit.

But I like it.

My finger follows the curve of her collarbone, while my other hand rests on her back. I’m tempted to lift her onto the counter and drag her sleep shorts off to see what sweet noises I can coax from her—still haunted by ones she made during our weekend together all those years ago.

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