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

Felicity makes a beeline for his room with her overnight bag, eyeing us weirdly, but he makes no attempt to follow. As she disappears his expression changes back to full blown frown mode.

“Who was it?” serious, no-nonsense boss tone.

Ughhhh!

I should have known better … He’s hard to palm off even on a good day.

God dammit, Jake.

I turn away breezily, I know he won’t let up … he’ll cancel dinner and stay here if I say nothing. There’s no point being evasive when he has that look on his face, so I resign myself to caving.

“My sperm donor.” I wave an airy hand as though I’m saying something non-important, but I can already feel the tension in my face. I’m glad I’m looking toward the open door of my room away from him and pull out my cell to cradle in the charging dock on the table beside it.

“Your father?” he sounds surprised.

You and me both.

“Yep.” I look around quickly for a distraction, so I don’t need to turn and look at him. I spot his personal tablet on the table nearby and lift it to scroll iTunes, to turn on music. It’s the best I can muster when he’s moved so close.

“You’ve never mentioned a father.” His tone is serious and gentle, body a little too close for comfort.

“I don’t have need to. There’s nothing to mention … I don’t know him.”

“So, why is he calling? It didn’t sound like nothing, Emma. You definitely didn’t sound happy.” He’s moved closer to me, invaded by his body heat emanating against my spine. So close he is touching me.

shock okay … I’ve met him once in my life and it was brief. I don’t know why he’s calling.”

at fourteen when he thought my mother had struck gold. A simple picture in the paper about the “feed the homeless” charity she runs but he’d been disappointed to find that she was as penniless as the charity itself. Sadly

He thinks I’m loaded

against my hair. I move away

sweetly, moving further from him to give myself some much-needed distance, and finally managing to look at him.

to think better of it and the frown on his brow lets up as though the thoughts have floated away on the

he winks and there it is, back in full swing, that

you for such suggestions, boss!” I

again, fingers twitching at me as though making threats. I swat him away, he’s not against threats of tickle torture in times

need them to leave. I hate feeling vulnerable in front of anyone, especially him. I need to

is never

and shoves me into my room so that I almost lose my balance and he laughs at my angry scowl. Turns

turns and blows me a kiss and a wave before walking across the suite to his own room

talk about this, not with him, not with anyone. I want to

room with Felicity before I shut my door quickly. Leaning back against it for a moment to steady my nerves and reel a little from

he was, calling me after all this

off. I won’t succumb to

* * *

and breathless and figure I maybe should have gone easy on the temperature gauge. My head’s swimming a little, and I’m

feels good to be able to chill out and have some alone time though. I mulled over the call enough in the shower and I’m tired of thinking about it. I’ll have to screen my calls from now on, maybe change my number. I’ll need to call my mother; I have an inkling that she was behind him getting it

a goddamn sob story. She needs to

pages a lot over the last few weeks on Jake’s arm at various functions. I guess he figures I’ve hit a goldmine and wants to see what he can get out of me. I

a prick. A money