Page 89 of If You Give a CEO a Chance

I stride toward her and wind my arms around her waist, tugging her close. “Good morning, beautiful. You were supposed to be in bed when I woke up,” I grumble.

“Guess you were eager to find me since you’re running around shirtless,” she says, gesturing to my bare chest.

I cup her face, brushing my thumb along her jaw, and give her a heated kiss. “You took my shirt, so I didn’t have much of a choice.”

“I could get used to watching you walk around in nothing but your boxers,” she murmurs against my lips.

My mouth curves into a satisfied smile as my hands roam down her back. “If you would have stayed in bed, you would have gotten a far better view.”

“I’ll have to keep that in mind for next time,” she replies coyly.

I like the sound of that.

“How come you’re up so early?”

“I made us breakfast. Come eat before it gets cold.”

She steps out of my embrace and goes over to the oven to pull out two plates with avocado and egg toast, drizzled with olive oil. As I take my seat, she carries the food over to the counter and places them down next to a cup of coffee and a bottle of Diet Coke.

“It looks delicious, but you don’t have to cook every morning if you don’t want to.”

The line between our professional and personal lives has been obliterated, and I don’t want her to feel obligated because she’s worried about her job.

“I actually cook for myself. I enjoy it immensely. You just happen to reap the benefits of my passion,” Fallon says smugly, pulling out the chair next to her and patting the cushion.

I slide into my seat and watch as she twists the cap off her Diet Coke, taking a long sip.

“I’ll never understand your obsession with that stuff.”

She creases her brow. “Just the other day, you said you were hooked,” she reminds me.

“I wasn’t talking about the Diet Coke.”

Hell, I can’t even recall what it tasted like. All I could focus on was Fallon, and the undeniable fact that I was completely gone for her.

She gives me a knowing smile. “I’d get an IV of it if I could, and I don’t want a lecture about how unhealthy that would be.” She slides the bottle in my direction. “I think you need another taste.”

I stare at it suspiciously before taking a cautious sip, only to spit it out. “How the hell do you drink that shit? It’s like drinking a cleaning product.”

“Better than drinking sludge,” she teases, nodding toward my untouched coffee.

“Touché.” I grab the fork next to my plate and get to work on my breakfast.

After a few minutes, Fallon breaks the silence. “When we were at the game, Presley told me more about what happened after you quit hockey when your dad had his heart attack, and how you stepped in to help him at the company.”

I chew slowly, giving myself a chance to think. Naturally, Presley would choose the most sensitive topics to talk about with Fallon. It’s not that I want to hide the truth from her, but it’s not something I like to revisit often.

“Yeah, it was either me or one of my brothers, but neither of them was in a position to take it on. My dad was going back to work, whether anyone liked it or not, and I wasn’t going to let him risk another heart attack from all the stress.”

Fallon’s eyes soften. “That must have been a difficult decision since you love hockey so much.”

“It was,” I confess. “My siblings moved forward, following their passions, while I left mine behind and took on a career and responsibilities I never wanted.” I set my fork down, turning to face her. “Don’t get me wrong, I’ve grown to enjoy it for the most part. Being CEO of Stafford Holdings has its perks, and I’m proud of the accomplishments I’ve made, but it comes at a cost.”

“Like not smiling much?” Fallon teases.

I chuckle. “Among other things.”

For starters, working around the clock and not allowing myself personal time outside of co-owning the hockey team. It’s never been a priority since all my goals revolved around the business. However, for the first time in forever, I have a reason to want balance and to make room for Fallon. Now I just have to find a way to make that possible.

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