The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO)

I pick up my fork, starting to eat again now that my temper has improved along with my appetite. Feeling light and merry now, and ravenous once more.

“I like you when you’re like this.” He nods over at me, a happy expression on his face, eyes almost twinkling.

“Like what?” I look up innocently, the steak is so tender that I’m now savoring every mouthful. Appetite fully restored.

“More relaxed. PA mode on hiatus. When you forget to play cool.” It sobers me slightly, he has a way of making me forget myself when we are kicking back and much like now, it startles me. I don’t like letting that mask drop, I don’t like people seeing too deeply. Especially not him.

“It’s hard to focus when you ply me with alcohol,” I return a little too quickly, trying to reel in my controlled facade once again, pushing the glass away from my plate.

That’s enough wine.

“Maybe that’s why I do it.” He smiles softly, but it makes me suddenly uncomfortable. I ram food into my mouth and stare across the restaurant, looking for a diverting topic.

I gesture toward the far window with my fork, and he turns to look at what I’m pointing at spotting the movie star too, he looks back at me shrugging.

“He’s an asshole … I’ve met him. He’s a bit of a diva, and I mean look at him; he’s wearing a god-damn flower brooch … If that doesn’t scream closet gay, then I don’t know what does.” He shrugs nonchalantly, but for some reason this makes me laugh unexpectedly and causes me to choke on my half-chewed steak. I erupt into a coughing fit which has me grabbing for my wine, in an effort to dislodge the lump in my throat before I die.

“Jesus, Emma, don’t have a coronary over seeing some asshole Hollywood big shot.” He’s laughing at me now and I throw him a pained look. I gasp for air, thumping my chest to push my steak down and inhaling heavily.

“Fuck you.” I manage weakly, with a smile.

“Swearing at your boss is good grounds for dismissal … gross misconduct.” He jokes and tops up my glass again with a wink, highlighting the fact I just drank it all without meaning to.

“So, fire me.” I throw back, slugging down my red wine and finally clearing the food that is still caught in my throat and intent on half killing me. Not caring about intake while choking.

fire my future wife!” he acts shocked and grasps his chest in a mock horror response before he chucks his fork down on his plate, also finished with his food. I ignore the wife

me with a questioning brow. I shake my head; I’ve drunk too much wine,

I get up, chucking my napkin on the empty plate. I take it without hesitation and let him pull me with him, then immediately wonder when this stopped being weird. When we started holding

me without repulsion coursing through me? Or questioning

our loosely held fingers. It’s become something as familiar as being around him now. Maybe it is

Jake is never anything but a complete gentleman, well, minus the man handling, but even

* * *

is chaotic. For the first time, I’m glad of my assistant,

He’s now sitting with his shirt pulled out, unbuttoned at the collar and his sleeves

papers from the left side he’s been through and pile them neatly into an open box file, before laying out some stapled contracts he needs to sign to send down to legal. He smiles up at me briefly, leaning back so I can move the papers in

companionable silence, straightening and removing things from his workspace so he can take the new ones. Noting he’s done with the Hunter briefs; I scoop them up to take them. We have gelled this way for a while now, anticipating each

pauses on the cell, throwing me a soft

“Yes?”

to Seattle for tomorrow, early as you can. We’ll need hotel rooms for the next five days and a car.” He moves his cell into his neck some more

his title when we’re in front of company, or he’s

Another trip!

a week of grueling work with men in suits

* * *

as I sit in a temporary office. So far, I’ve been in there several times with files, coffee, and whatever else he asks of

focus; if this meeting runs over any longer then it’s going to be a late night and we have flights to catch in the morning. I have an hour on the subway to get home to Sunnyside as it is

his face, I wonder what he’s up to. A second later

sent you an iTunes

email and find