Page 55 of If You Give a CEO a Chance

I rub my neck. “That’s what I was trying to tell you earlier. Cat isn’t mine.”

Fallon blinks rapidly, her expression hardening when she registers what I said. “Excuse me?”

“I’ve never seen that cat before.” I nod toward the scruffy creature, noticing that part of his left ear is missing, only seeming to emphasize his rebellious streak. “And I sure didn’t leave him with you while I was away to mess with you. You think the guy who lost his mind over some plants and throw pillows would be willing to trash his own apartment just to prank you?”

The chaos Cat has caused is almost enough to push me to the brink. But I remind myself that once he’s gone, replacing the furniture and curtains and fixing the floors will be simple enough.

That’s not the mindset I would have had two weeks ago. I’d have been in full-blown panic mode, angry at the state of the penthouse. However, despite Fallon’s frustrations with Cat, Ican tell she’s fond of him. He’s a handful, but I’m glad she had someone to keep her company over the holidays, even if he’s a mischief-maker.

Fallon’s eyes widen as she swats my arm. “Are you serious? Why wouldn’t you tell me when we spoke on the phone?”

I shrug. “I figured I should handle it in person, and seeing your reaction is definitely priceless.”

She rolls her eyes, throwing her hands in the air. “Oh my god, you’re insufferable. Don’t you dare ask for an apology about your hockey stick. You’re not getting one after this stunt.”

I cross my arms. “Wouldn’t expect one anyway.”

In the past, I’d be furious with her, and make sure she knew it. However, I’ve got more pressing issues to deal with, like Cat wreaking havoc on my apartment. It’s just a hockey stick and I’ll be the first to admit it was a damn good prank.

“I’ll have Cabrina call animal control first thing in the morning. For now, we’ll keep the cat in the bathroom before he can cause any more trouble.” I move past Fallon, mentally mapping out how to corner the thing without losing a hand.

She grabs my arm, stopping me. “Wait! You can’t call animal control.” Her voice is panicked.

“Why not? In case it escaped your notice, there’s a stray cat lounging in my penthouse.” I gesture to the furry intruder who’s now sprawled out on a cushion in the corner as if it’s his personal throne, indifferent to the mess he left behind.

I press a hand against my face and inhale sharply. “Fallon, please don’t tell me you’re thinking about keeping the cat. We have no idea where he came from.”

I’m still convinced there’s no way he could have strolled into the penthouse alone. That means someone had to let him in, or he must’ve followed one of the delivery people through the lobby and into the elevator without being noticed. Which is hard to believe.

Fallon plucks a nonexistent piece of lint from her apron before lifting her gaze to meet mine. “What if I do want to keep him?” She casts a glance at Cat with sympathy in her eyes. “He’s definitely a stray with no other place to go.”

“Too bad. I have a strict no-pets rule.” I move around Fallon to grab a paper towel and scoop up the muffin Cat left behind, tossing it into the trash. “Especially not one who thinks it’s okay to tear up furniture and treat the kitchen like his playground.”

Fallon squares her shoulders, moving toward me. “Cat is staying,” she declares.

“What if I say no?” I counter, closing the remaining space between us.

She doesn’t flinch or waver. If anything, her resolve only strengthens as she stands her ground. “Cat stays, or we both leave.” She’s so damn passionate. It’s both exhilarating and exasperating.

I’ve wanted Fallon gone from the start, so why am I hesitating to let her walk out the door and take the cat with her? The obvious answer is her cooking. It’s out of this world, and after not having it for so long, I admit I missed it.

Yeah, that’s definitely the only reason I don’t want her to go. It has nothing to do with my inability to stop thinking about her. Or how badly I want to trace my hand along her jawline and feel the pulse in her neck against my thumb.

I rake a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply. “Fine. Cat can stay for now,” I mutter, my patience wearing thin. “But you need to take him to the vet to make sure he’s up to date on his shots and doesn’t have fleas. We also have to figure out how to stop him from causing damage. If he ruins any more furniture or messes with my meals, he has to go.”

“Oh, thank you, Harrison.,” Fallon exclaims. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”

I freeze when she throws her arms around me.

Her appreciation sends a ripple of warmth through my chest, leaving me feeling unexpectedly content. Unable to stop myself, I wrap my arms around her and lean into her hug.

“You’re welcome.”

It’s strange, but with Fallon in my arms, everything else falls into the background. I stop worrying about the flood of emails in my inbox, the financial reports waiting for me, and even Cat’s destruction. All I can focus on is the warmth of her body and the soothing rhythm of her heartbeat against mine.

She goes rigid when she realizes we’re in each other’s arms and slowly removes her hands from my shoulders. I’m forced to let her go when she steps back.

“Sorry, I got carried away,” she says, glancing at the ground.

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