Page 103 of The Christmas Trap

"It’s precisely because I’ve brought it this far that I need to step aside," he muses as if he’s speaking his thoughts aloud.

I begin to season some chicken thighs with salt, pepper, and oregano. In a large pan, I heat olive oil and place the chicken in it. The delicious smell of frying chicken and the sound that accompanies the searing fills the air.

“It’s precisely because you brought the company this far you need to stay on.” I sear the chicken until it’s golden brown, then remove it and slide it onto a plate.

"It doesn’t excite me as much as it used to. The excitement I felt in the early days of leading the growth phase has faded. I don’t feel as charged up as I used to."

I mull over his words as I add a knob of butter to the same pan, then the chopped garlic. I stir it, letting the garlic brown before I add the barley grain-shaped pasta, also known as orzo.

The nutty scent of the frying orzo fills the kitchen.

I add the vegetable stock, then the peppers and broccoli Ichopped earlier. I cover it and let the contents cook before I turn to him.

"Are you saying you don’t want to be involved with the company, at least, not in a full-time capacity?"

“Exactly.” There’s a pleased expression on his face.

I feel unreasonably happy that he approves of my question. It’s almost euphoric. How weird is that?

"I want to focus on what I love." One side of his mouth tips up.

"Which is working with military vets and, of course, startups?”

I remember the satisfied look on his face when he shared how he employed people from the forces and preferred to fund startups that provide better intel for troops.

“Exactly.” His eyes light up. “I want to move away from the day-to-day. Managing Human Resources, employee remuneration and office systems, not to mention tracking sales, finalizing marketing campaigns, etcetera, etcetera." He wrinkles his nose like he’s smelled something bad.

"So the stuff that keeps the company running smoothly?” I roll my eyes.

He chuckles. "I prefer the fun stuff."

"Like dealing with high-growth new ventures?" It’s not something I enjoy.

He, on the other hand, thrives on the challenge.

"I find these interactions adrenaline-filled." He raises a shoulder. "I love the thrill of finding a new idea that could make a difference to the world, then testing it from all angles and deciding which enterprise to back. It gives me the rush of completing the deal. And the satisfaction of backing a company from the start and building it up. It’s almost as good as—" He frowns.

A confused expression enters his eyes.

"You were going to say as good as sex, weren’t you?" I scan his features.

"I was"—he lowers his chin—"until I realized, it's not true anymore."

"Oh." I swallow. A sudden heat fills my chest. Is he implying that—nah, surely not. Not when he said he could never fall in love with me.

"Making love to you is the most sublime feeling in this world. It’s as if I’ve been waiting my entire life to be inside of you." He looks genuinely confused. And I can’t help feeling sorry for him. Because my instinct tells me what he can’t admit to himself, let alone to the world. That he’s falling for me. As I have for him.

I nestle the chicken into the orzo. Then cover and lower the flame so it can simmer.

"You sound like it’s not something you expected."

"On the contrary." He guides me to one of the barstools next to the island. Before I can protest, he hoists me onto it.

The way he handles me like I weigh next to nothing makes me feel protected. It gives me the confidence that this man can take care of me. It’s the ultimate turn on.

He prowls over to where I’ve left my glass of wine. Returning with it, he places it on the counter. Then slips onto the stool next to me. Turning, he parts his legs and drags my bar stool forward into the space.

"Whoa." I squeak. Not sure why, but I feel nervous.