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

It’s not long before the sun dries me off, the glistening heat on my shoulders, warming me through, making me feel lazy and forgetting all about his smoldering looks. We walk a fair bit and skim pebbles on the waves; easy, quiet companionship. I find so many beautiful shells to take home for Sarah and we pass the time with small talk, about Sophie, about work. I never realized how easily we blend when we’re just chilling out. It’s natural, unforced, and we talk about everything from current events, and movies, to what we think is happening on the boat in our absence. I like it; I think he’s right. We needed this. We needed this time to chill and relax with each other again, remove all the pent-up frustration and agitation. Rebuild our easy friendship. I needed this to let go of all the Chicago crap.

“Here, Emma.” I turn back and he hands me his shades again, now the sun has moved higher in the sky. I was shielding my eyes without even realizing. I smile and put them on noting they have a crazy rubber band thing across the back that holds them to your head when swimming. I guess that’s how he kept them on his head on the swim over here and I give him a grateful smile.

“Thanks.” I accept gratefully as he throws another pebble into the water, looking at me oddly. I can’t help but notice the expression, but I can’t decipher it.

“What is it?” I tilt my head to watch him.

“You seem a bit more relaxed now we’re over here.” That’s an understatement; being away from over-sexed women with lusty gazes certainly takes the edge off the atmosphere. I am regretting not coming on this trip as just the two of us. I think I would have preferred it.

“I feel more relaxed,” I answer lightly, without explanation.

“You look it.” He skims another stone, like an expert. I watch him, catch his smile, and return it.

“I’m glad you made me come.” Hard to admit but he was right.

“I’m glad I didn’t have to force you.” His smile turns mocking and that little eyebrow raises as dimples appear.

“Technically, you gave me no choice.” I frown back at him.

a choice with me, Emma, you know that.” His voice is gentle. Irony without meaning it. He has no clue how overbearing he can be sometimes. I just

Sure, I do, Carrero.

I can’t help but

Yes, we should.

kinda hungry too.” I pull off his eyewear to hand them over. Following him to the shore to wade out until the

sessions in the gym lately,

* * *

a pale gray T-shirt, in the mid-day sun. They’re talking about the

up strands of my hair, talking about cutting it short; he frowns when she mentions a real short pixie style, but I shrug

thoughts. The girl is the dictionary definition of a perky blonde. All smiles and cuteness, ample

again and this time lock eyes. I want to

wrong with how it is?” he breaks in with a frown, creasing that pretty

have no clue. Woman like a drastic change every so

it’s not broke, then don’t fix it.” Jake raises eyebrows in reply and his eyes skim my hair,

shake it up every so often. Try on a new look.” This has a comedy battle of two obviously good friends written all over it as

strand, and tucks it behind my ear, his eyes skimming it again as though he’s thinking about something and he doesn’t