Chapter 26
I wake to the sunlight streaming through the windows, and a quick look at the clock shows it’s past seven, much later than my usual 5:00 a.m. wake-up time. It must be due to barely getting any sleep last night. Pampering Fallon in the shower by washing her hair and body led to another round of sex. Afterward, I carried her back to her bedroom and fucked her doggy-style on the already crumpled sheets. My hand gripped firmly in her hair, the curve of her back on display as I drove into her, leaving imprints of my teeth on her neck and shoulder. She’s insatiable—and thankfully, so am I. We’ve missed out on too much already, and I refuse to waste another minute.
When we finally collapsed from exhaustion, I held her in my arms and watched as she drifted off to sleep. Nothing feels more right than holding her close, and it reminds me why I was captivated with her from the start. She quiets the storm in my head, making everything else fade into the background.
As much as I want to pursue a relationship with Fallon, there’s a real possibility she doesn’t want the same thing. For all I know, she could consider this a temporary fling, or something to pass the time until her next big adventure.
I push aside my restless thoughts and concentrate on the present. When I roll over to her side of the bed, I panic when I find it empty.
What the hell?
My mind races as I climb out of bed, panic clawing at my chest when I find the bathroom empty. I’m brought back to ten years ago when I thought she had ghosted me, and the hollow ache I felt when I never heard from her. A reminder of the past decade that I had to live without her.
It makes me think how hurt Fallon must have been when she woke up and discovered I was gone, with no explanation. At least today, I know she couldn’t have gone far—or so I hope.
My anxiety builds with every step, and when I get to the kitchen, only to find it empty. My irrational fears suffocate me, making me think about what it might mean to lose Fallon, and how everything could come crashing down in an instant.
Where could she have gone?
“Looking for me?” I spin around when I hear her melodic voice.
She’s in my T-shirt from last night and looks fucking edible. Where I once found her choice of clothing bothersome, it now only adds to her allure, especially when she’s in my clothes.
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.
“Would you change things if you could?” she asks, her voice edged with a touch of uncertainty.
I shake my head. “No. It might not have been my first choice, but taking on the role of CEO has brought me closer to my brothers. And my dad’s pride in the company’s recent growth has made it all worth it. If I’d kept playing hockey, my career would have long been over by now. Luckily, as part owner of the Mavericks, it allows me to stay connected to the sport I love and participate in the monthly charity events.”
I hadn’t intended to share so much. Normally, I keep my feelings to myself, but if I want a real chance at winning Fallon’s heart, I need to be willing to open up to her. Fortunately, she makes it easy with her genuine kindness and the way she appreciates what I’ve done for my family.
Which only adds to the regret of how I treated her before. Even when we bickered, she was easy to talk to, but I was too stubborn to see past my pride and admit it.
I glance at her, my expression softening. “Fallon,” I say softly, covering her hand with mine. “I owe you an apology for how I left the hotel after our weekend together. I shouldn’t have gone without an explanation. I’m deeply sorry.”
She smiles, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. “There’s nothing to forgive.” Her tone is earnest. “I’d have done the same thing if I were as close to my family as you are.” She glances down at her plate, nibbling on her lower lip. “If I had found your note, there’s no telling what would have happened. In the months after, you were helping your dad at the company, and I started culinary school. As much as it hurts to accept, I think everything turned out like it was supposed to.” She glances over at me as she brushes a strand of hair behind her ear.
I hate to admit it, but she’s right. Even with good intentions, there’s no guarantee we would have seen each other again or survived the strain of a long-distance relationship. Not when the past ten years of my life revolved around Stafford Holdings. Work still dominates my time, but it doesn’t seem as important, compared to the beautiful woman next to me and the possibility of a future together I’m willing to fight for.
“What about now?” I ask Fallon. “Are things falling into place how you want them to?”
We’ve avoided discussing what comes next, but we can’t put it off forever. I’ve already lost her once, and I won’t let it happen again. I’d rather deal with her doubts now than deal with them later when it might be too late.
Fallon nibbles her bottom lip, glancing at her plate. “I’m enjoying our time together very much. But I took a huge leap of faith moving to New York to start a new venture, and I don’t want to risk being distracted from making my dreams a reality.”
My chest tightens as her shoulders slump. I may not be able to predict the future, but I can give her the reassurance I couldn’t before.
I lean in, cupping her jaw, guiding her eyes to mine. “I’ve lost you once, and I won’t let it happen again. Even if it takes a lifetime, I’ll wait for you because you’re my end game.”
Fallon’s breath hitches, and I wonder if I’ve gone too far. But I’ve never been one to stand on the sidelines and hope for the best. This time around, I’m not leaving any room for doubt about what I want.
“You mean it?” Fallon asks.
“Every damn word.” I press a kiss to the back of her hand, causing her cheeks to turn red. “I have somewhere I want to take you.”
We’ve barely ventured outside the apartment together. I want to show her that I’m serious about us, which means taking her somewhere that holds a special place in my heart and inevitably bringing her around my family. But first, I want to savor some alone time before introducing her to that chaos.
Fallon wipes her face with a napkin, pausing when she notices me staring at her. “What is it?”
I flash her a mischievous grin. “We’re going away for the rest of the weekend.”
A flush creeps up her neck as she stares at me slack-jawed.
“To where?” she asks.
“Aspen Grove.”
“What about Cat?” She motions to the feline who’s just sauntered into the kitchen, casting a disdainful glare my way. It’s obvious who his favorite human is, and it’s not me.
“He will manage on his own for the most part. He only retaliates when we try to intervene.” Hell, he still hisses whenever I try to approach him. “We’ll have Walter check on him throughout the day and put him in your bathroom at night. It’s only for a couple of days.”
Fallon sighs, running a hand through her hair. “You can’t ask your doorman to watch our cat.”
A smirk tugs at my lip, hearing her call Cat ours . I’m still apprehensive about having a pet, but it’s obvious he’s here to stay.
“Walter’s more than just the doorman, he’s a friend,” I say.
Fallon’s expression softens, so I know I’ve said the right thing. She and Walter have become close since she moved in, and I’m grateful he looked out for her when I was too busy being an asshole. From what she’s shared, she hasn’t had much of a support system since her parents died, but that ends now.
Between me, Walter, and the whole Stafford crew in her corner, she’ll never face anything alone again.
“We can ask him, but I don’t want to pressure him to say yes.”
I take her hand, guiding her from her seat to my lap, my palm resting on her lower back. “I spoke to him last night—he’s more than happy to look after Cat while we’re gone.”
Her tongue darts out before a slow smile spreads across her lips. “Okay, but only if he’s fine with it. I don’t want him to feel pressured.”
“He’s not” I assure her.
“Are we going to see your family while we’re there?” she asks.
“Only if you want to. I have a place outside of town so we can avoid them if you’d rather not spend time with them yet.”
Even when just a few of us are together, things can get intense, and I don’t want to overwhelm her during our first visit together.
She raises a brow. “Do you think your mom would let us skip out on stopping by if she found out we were in Aspen Grove?”
I laugh. “Good point. We’ll just have to keep it a secret.” Which could be challenging since she knows most everyone in town. “She’d probably call a search party if I don’t stop by for my niece’s birthday tomorrow. Lola is obsessed with hockey as of late and wanted me to teach her and her friends how to play. But I can always stop alone for a couple of hours, if you’d prefer to stay at my cabin.”
“I’d love to celebrate with Lola at her birthday party,” Fallon smiles.
“Great, it’s settled then,” I say enthusiastically, kissing her before taking our plates to the sink. “We’ll leave this afternoon, but I’d prefer to wait until tomorrow to let my parents know we’re in town. I have something special planned.”
Fallon tilts her head, her gaze locked on mine. “What is it?”
“It’s a surprise.” I come around to her side of the counter and kiss her on the forehead.
“I’m not a big fan of surprises,” she mumbles.
“Says the queen of pranks.”
“Correction. I don’t like surprises when it comes to me .”
“Don’t worry, you’ll like this one,” I promise.