If You Give a CEO a Chance (Aspen Grove #3)

Chapter 27

I crouch beside Cat, surprised when he lets me scratch behind his good ear. “I’m going to miss you, little troublemaker.”

“We’ll only be gone for two days. He’ll be fine,” Harrison says, rolling our suitcases to the front door.

I shoot him a playful scowl. “You’re just jealous Cat still won’t let you touch him.”

Cat’s finally warming up to me, but still gives Harrison the cold shoulder. The best part is Harrison pretends he doesn’t care, even though I’ve caught him sneaking treats to win Cat over—with zero success so far.

“Right, because gaining the approval of a moody feline is the pinnacle of my life’s achievements,” Harrison mumbles.

“Cat’s not moody, he just has standards.” I pat Harrison’s shoulder with a grin. “Don’t worry, keep bribing him and he’ll come around eventually.” I grab my coat from the closet and put it on.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” His tone is defensive.

“The variety of gourmet snacks stashed in the pantry say otherwise,” I counter.

The deliveries of fancy cat treats haven’t gone unnoticed, but none of them have won Cat over. It’s clear he prefers my home-cooked meals to those expensive snacks.

Before Harrison can answer, Walter comes out of the kitchen with a bowl of tuna and zucchini mash. “Don’t worry, Miss Fallon, I’ll take good care of Cat while you’re away.” His eyes crinkle with warmth.

He has the day off and was kind enough to stop by before we left to get instructions on taking care of Cat while we’re away.

Harrison’s jaw drops when Cat trots over to Walter, rubbing against his leg, and meows insistently until he places the bowl down.

“Seriously?” Harrison mutters.

“It’s not a reflection on you, Mr. Stafford,” Walter explains. “The staff at the animal shelter call me the cat whisperer. Even the most stubborn ones warm up to me quickly.” He scratches Cat behind the ear before pushing himself to his feet.

“You never told me you volunteered at the shelter,” I say.

Given how open he’s been about his personal life and hobbies, it’s odd that he didn’t mention it sooner—especially after I told him Cat was a stray.

Walter tugs on his shirt cuffs and clears his throat. “It must have slipped my mind.” He glances at his watch, then looks over at Harrison and me. “You two better get going. You don’t want to miss your flight.”

“You’re right. Thank you again for helping with Cat. We really appreciate you,” Harrison says. “Come on, Fallon.”

On the way out the door my phone buzzes in my pocket, and I check to find a new text.

Theo: I have something to run by you when you’re free to chat.

Fallon: Okay. I’m heading out of town but will be back in a couple of days.

Fallon: Don’t work too hard.

Theo: I won’t. Please tell me you’re going somewhere fun and not for a catering gig.

Fallon: I’m going to Aspen Grove.

Theo: With Harrison?

Fallon: Yeah.

Theo: Good for you.

Theo: He better treat you right, or he’ll have to go through me.

Fallon: Thanks for having my back.

Theo: Always.

Theo: Enjoy your weekend. I’m filming this coming week, but I’ll call you when I can.

Fallon: Perfect.

“You coming?” Harrison calls out.

I glance up to find him standing by the elevator with our luggage, holding his hand out to keep the doors from closing.

“Yeah, be right there.” I slip my phone back into my pocket and hurry to catch up.

Thankfully, the plane ride to Aspen Grove is quick, and I savored every minute curled up beside Harrison. Although I don’t think I’ll get used to traveling in a private plane. It may be the norm for him but it’s a luxury I can’t quite wrap my head around. If I’m being honest, this entire situation is surreal, and I’m waiting for someone to pinch me to wake me up from this dream.

You’re my end-game.

Despite the lingering questions about what comes next, Harrison’s admission has played on a loop since our conversation this morning. It gives me a sense of peace to know that what we share is genuine and not a passing distraction for him. That doesn’t mean I’m ready to dive into a serious relationship just yet, not until we’ve had more time to have a conversation about it. As predicted, I’ve gotten attached and my heart is now on the line, which means I have to make sure this is worth the risk before I go all in.

Right now, I’m going to focus on making new memories with him.

When we arrive at the airfield, Harrison exits the plane first, our hands intertwined as he leads me down the stairs. As we walk across the tarmac, he inhales deeply, the tension melting from his shoulders, a stark contrast from his usually tense posture.

“You seem more relaxed,” I observe.

Harrison glances over at me. “I am. Aspen Grove will always be home. Having you here makes it even better,” he adds with a smile.

My stomach flips, and I rise on my toes to kiss him. “Thank you for bringing. When I came for the wedding, I didn’t have time to explore, so I’m excited to see Aspen Grove with you.”

“I’m honored to be the one giving you the official tour,” he says with a playful wink. As we approach a white SUV, Harrison steps ahead to open the passenger door for me and holds out his hand to help me inside.

“Thank you.”

He shuts the door, jogging around to the driver’s side, and gets in.

“You ready?” he asks.

“What about our luggage?”

“It’s in the trunk. The crew unloaded it before we got off the plane.”

I nod, the whole thing still feeling unreal. “Where are we headed? How far is your parents’ house from here?”

“A couple of miles, but we’re not going there tonight. I made other arrangements, and had Cabrina call ahead and make sure everything’s ready when we arrive. I’d rather stay under the radar like we talked about. If my mom finds out that we’re here, she’ll insist we come over and I’d like to have you to myself tonight.”

“I like the sound of that, but I am looking forward to spending time with your family too.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll have plenty of opportunities, I promise.”

I relax in my seat as Harrison starts the engine. “I can’t wait.”

He pulls out of the airfield gates, his tall frame at ease as he takes my hand in his, resting it on his lap, a small smile on his face.

I look out the window at the snow-covered landscape before closing my eyes. Harrison’s family dynamic is everything mine wasn’t—full of affection and love, while mine with my grandmother was cold and distant.

For the first time since my parents died, there’s a spark of hope that I could experience those feelings of warmth and connection again, and it makes me even more excited to spend more time with the Staffords.

“Fallon, are you okay?”

Harrison’s voice has my eyes fluttering open. When I look over, he’s watching me with a concerned expression.

“I was just thinking about my grandmother.” I decide that now is a good time to open up more. “When my parents died, I went to live with my her in London. She disowned my dad when he came to the States and married my mom, and my grandmother couldn’t stand that I was the spitting image of my mom.” I glance out the window at the snow falling. “She made sure I got a good education, but there was no love or kindness to soften the edges. Everything was a transaction with little thought for emotional support.”

I take a deep breath before continuing.

“She had a large social circle but kept me hidden, like a dirty little secret she was ashamed of. I don’t know if it was me or the fact that she didn’t want to admit her estranged son had married a poor girl from New Jersey, and had a kid.” My eyes drop to my lap. “The hardest part was not being able to talk about my parents after they died. They were gone, and all I had left were my memories.”

Harrison tightens his hand around mine, running his thumb along my skin in soothing strokes.

“I’m here to listen always. I’d love to hear more about them.” His offer has me nodding as I look up at him. “Do you have any other family? What about your mom’s parents?” he asks, briefly glancing over at me before turning his attention back to the road.

“Neither of my parents had siblings, and my mom lost both her parents the year she graduated high school. I used to dream of being part of a big family who would spend summer vacations together, have game nights filled with laugher and playful bickering, and be a safe space when I felt lost.”

Harrison brings my hand to his mouth, pressing a kiss to my wrist. “You have that now. Whether we become an official couple or not, you’ll always have the Staffords in your corner. My mom and Presley are already smitten with you, and the rest of my family will love you too. Whatever you need, we’ll be there.” Tears blur my vision as they roll down my cheeks, and I use my free hand to wipe them away. “Fallon, what’s the matter? Should I pull over?” Harrison’s voice is edged with unease.

I wave him off. “I’m okay.”

“You sure?”

I give him a reassuring smile. “I couldn’t be better.”

When I glance out the window, I notice a movie theater at the corner of Main Street with a red brick exterior and a marquee flickering with golden lights. A sign reads Tonight’s Feature: Private Screening. The letters are slightly crooked, like they were arranged by hand.

We pull up in front and Harrison leans over to look at the marquee.

“Are we going to the movies?”

“Yes.”

“But it says it’s a…” I turn to him, giving him an incredulous stare. “Harrison, please tell me you didn’t rent an entire theater.”

He chuckles. “Okay, I won’t.” He drives around back to an empty parking lot. “I wanted us to have our privacy; plus, I’m pretty sure Arachnophobia would clear out any other moviegoers faster than a blizzard warning.”

This man is going above and beyond to make me feel special, and I’m soaking in every minute. From the beginning, he’s paid attention to the little things—like my favorite drink and the first movie we watched together—and it makes me feel seen in a way I never have before.

Harrison shuts the engine off, taking the keys out of the ignition, and gets out of the car, coming around to open my door. He takes my hand and guides me to the back of the theater, ushering me inside.

Fairy lights hang along the ceiling, and the walls feature black-and-white photographs with moviegoers in hats and overcoats. I notice there isn’t a single worker in sight, but follow Harrison who walks over to the concession stand where a bottled water, Diet Coke, bucket of popcorn and a mini charcuterie board covered in plastic wrap is set out with a selection of cheeses, meats, nuts, olives, chocolates, and crusty bread.

“I gave the manager a heads-up when we were five minutes out, and they pulled all of this out of the fridge for us so it was still cold.” He gathers the charcuterie board and popcorn in his arms, nodding for me to get the drinks.

I grab his arm. “Wait. Are you sure this is all gluten-free?” Concern edges my voice.

Gluten-free foods are often mislabeled or contaminated, but I shouldn’t worry so much considering Harrison eats foods prepared by others when he’s out of town and is diligent about his celiac disease.

He gives me a grateful smile. “Don’t worry. Cabrina had it special ordered just to be safe.”

I shoot him a pointed look. “Worrying about what you eat is literally in my job description.”

“Damn, I thought it was because you liked me.” He winks.

I grab the drinks off the counter. “Like is a strong word,” I tease.

“Come on, trouble,” Harrison says, moving toward the screening room. “The manager is going to start the movie soon so we better take our seats.”

The theater may be small, but it does have reclining leather seats, albeit a little worn.

Harrison leads me to the back row, making me feel like we’re in high school looking for a secret place to make out. We settle into our seats just as the lights dim, and I find myself laughing at the idea that he rented an entire theater to watch a low-budget indie film from thirty-five years ago.

He catches me giggling and gives me a quizzical look. “What’s so funny? The movie hasn’t even started yet.”

I bite my bottom lip, fighting back a smile. “Just thinking about us making out,” I answer wryly.

“Thinking about it is fun, but doing so is much better.” He pats the open space in his recliner, and I slide in beside him. I’m halfway in his lap with my legs draped over him, but he seems to like it.

“Comfortable?” he asks, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.

I nod with a grin. “Very.”

We’re so close our lips are almost touching, and I lift my chin to kiss him. His tongue darts out and sweeps against mine as a soft moan passes my lips. I pull away when the movie starts, resting my head against Harrison’s chest. He leans his arm over and grabs a tray of snacks, setting it on the empty seat next to us as we enjoy the film and cuddle.

Since we landed in Aspen Grove, he’s been noticeably more relaxed, free from the usual weight of deadlines and business meetings. It’s refreshing to see him in his element and giving himself the chance to slow down and have a break from his usual work-driven mindset. It makes me wonder how I can help him find a better balance, because it makes me happy to see him carefree and at ease.

Toward the end of the movie, however, I notice Harrison’s body is tense, clutching his stomach.

At first, I think he’s reacting to the movie, but when I look over, he’s grimacing in pain.

A pit of dread forms in my stomach. “Are you alright?” I whisper.

“I’m fine,” he says with a forced smile. “The movie is almost over, so let’s finish it.”

I notice the beads of sweat on his forehead, and his breathing is shallow, each inhale coming faster than the last.

Something is wrong.

“You don’t look okay,” I say, my concern growing. I gently touch his face and watch closely as he tries to hide his discomfort.

“Don’t worry about—” He stops short and bends forward, groaning.

“That’s it, we’re going to the hospital. I think you’re having a reaction to gluten.”

I glance at the charcuterie board, trying to figure out what caused it. My suspicion falls on the crackers. Harrison had a couple handfuls, and if they had gluten, that would explain his reaction.

I’m sure Cabrina ordered our food from a reputable place, and this isn’t on her in any way. Dealing with celiac disease means that even “gluten-free” food, when ordered from a restaurant or prepared in a shared kitchen, can still have traces of gluten, often without them even realizing it. I’ll just make sure to bring our own food next time to stay on the safe side.

I stand up, offering my arm to Harrison, doing my best to keep him steady as he struggles to stand. “Lean on me. I’ve got you.”

“This isn’t how I wanted our night to go,” he mutters as we slowly make our way to the exit.

“I know, hotshot, but we’ll get through this together,” I promise.

The hospital in Aspen Grove is a modest building, nestled on the edge of town. Its exterior is well-maintained, and thankfully the waiting area was nearly empty when we arrived, and they were able to take Harrison back to a treatment room right away.

The doctor that confirmed Harrison was having a severe reaction to gluten. He’s been given an IV to administer fluids and a dose of medicine to ease his stomach pain. I’m seated at his bedside, running my fingers through his hair while we wait for him to start feeling better.

Seeing him like this brings a startling clarity about how much he means to me. The pranks, the anger and lingering resentment seem so trivial now, especially with Harrison sick, and the thought of how much worse it could have been.

“Harrison?” Johanna’s frantic voice echoes down the hall.

He cracks open an eye and glances at me. “Dammit, who the hell called my mom.”

“The nurse mentioned earlier that your mom was listed as your emergency contact.”

“Of course she is,” he grumbles. “She must have had it changed from Dylan to her.”

From what I’ve observed, it doesn’t seem like it would be too difficult for her to get added. The doctor said he lives just down the street from the Staffords and shares a beer with Mike at the local bar every week. One of the nurses mentioned that Johanna volunteers at the hospital twice a week and is well-liked by the staff.

Before I have a chance to move from the bed, the curtain is pulled back and Johanna rushes into the room, her eyes frantic.

“There you are. I was worried sick. Why didn’t you tell us you were in town? I nearly had a panic—” She pauses when she notices me sitting on the bed next to her son.

I remove my hand from his head, folding my hands in my lap.

“Fallon, darling, I’m so glad you’re here.” She comes over to my side of the bed and wraps me in a hug. “I would’ve loved to have you over for dinner tonight.”

“Dear, give the girl some room to breathe,” Mike says when he steps inside the room.

She laughs softly and reluctantly pulls back. “Sorry, I’m just so excited you’re here.”

“We can tell,” Harrison mutters.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart, you’re next.” She rushes over to his side of the bed and draws him into a bear hug. “I was so worried when I got the call that you were here. You were supposed to be at a movie. What happened?”

Harrison runs a hand across his face. “How did you know we were in Aspen Grove?”

She shrugs. “I’m your mother, it’s my job to know where my children are.”

He glances over at his dad. “Make her stop.”

Mike chuckles. “We both know there’s only one way to make that happen.”

“I’m working on it,” Harrison answers cryptically.

I swallow a lump in my throat, wishing we were alone so I could ask him what he means.

“Mom, you could have just called. It was only a mild reaction I’m fine,” Harrison insists. “There’s no need to blow it out of proportion.”

I arch a brow, folding my arms across my chest. “She’s not overreacting. You had a severe reaction, and it could have been a lot worse if we hadn’t gotten here when we did.”

Johanna gives a theatrical sigh. “She’s a keeper,” she declares to Harrison.

He wraps his hand around mine, kissing the knuckles. “I know.”

I lift our joined hands to my cheek, and when Johanna sees, she looks like she’s about to faint. “Once you’re discharged, you’re coming home with us.”

Harrison shakes his head. “No.”

She gapes at him. “Harrison Ford Stafford, you’re not staying in a hotel in your condition. You’ll come home where I can take care of you.”

“First of all, I have Fallon to look after me,” he says, shooting me a smirk. “Second, we’re not staying in a hotel; we’ll go to my place. That was the plan before the unexpected detour.”

She scrunches her nose. “Where is this place of yours?”

“A few years ago, I bought property outside of town and built a cabin there.”

Johanna gapes at him. “How did I not know about this?”

Harrison rubs the back of his neck, giving his mom a sheepish look. “It’s under an alias.”

She purses her lips, narrowing her eyes at Mike. “You knew about this, didn’t you?”

He holds out his hands. “I plead the fifth.”

Harrison rests his hand on his mom’s arm. “I’ve only stayed there a few times. I just wanted my own space, especially since it gets so crowded at your place, and eventually, there won’t be room for everyone when we’re all in town to visit.”

She exhales sharply, her gaze darting between Harrison and Mike. “I’m not happy that you both kept this from me. There better not be any more secrets from here on out, got it?”

“Yes,” they say in unison.

“You’re still coming to Lola’s birthday party tomorrow, right?” Johanna asks Harrison. “She’s been telling all her friends her uncle was a hockey player and can’t wait to show you off.”

God, that’s the cutest thing ever, making me look forward to being there even more.

“We wouldn’t miss it,” Harrison says.

Johanna’s eyes widen. “ We ?”

He gives my hand a gentle squeeze. “Yeah. Fallon and I will be there.” He confirms.

A tear glistens in Johanna’s eye, but she quickly blinks it away. “That’s wonderful news, we can’t wait.”

Neither can I. But my priority tonight is getting Harrison discharged and back to his cabin so he can rest. I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than be the one to take care of him.