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

I don’t expect to see any of the others up at this hour, most of them stayed up long after the chopper left and I’m not sure when they finally went to bed. It had been a traumatic night for all of us and Leila was particularly hysterical.

I manage a few pages of my book before my eyes get heavy and lay it across my face to shield myself from the sun; a nap would be good. Five minutes of shut eye. Exhaustion finally catching up with me and I don’t need to try and force it as I start to slide away.

* * *

I’m vaguely conscious of the fact that the shadowing cover on my face has been slid away, but I’m still sleepy and don’t want to open my eyes to be assaulted by the glaring brightness. A warm sensation runs across my cheek, igniting goosebumps and removes the tickling hair which has been bothering me in the mild breeze. Now my sunscreen has been taken from me, I’m starting to waken fully and register that my book has been removed. I blink my eyes open groggily, faced with a dark figure leaning over me, the sun behind its head. I know without focusing it’s Jake. I can just tell.

“Hey,” he sounds husky, like he’s not long woken up.

“Hey.” So do I, except, I really have just woken up.

“You shouldn’t sleep in the sun,” he scolds gently, and I blink up at him, trying to make out his face, but I can’t.

“I didn’t intend to.” I know that’s not entirely true; truth be told, I didn’t think about it. It annoys me that I can’t make out his face, as it’s so cast in darkness in contrast to the blazing circle of light behind him. I squint and pause at the smooth movement as he slides his sunglasses on for me.

I smile involuntarily, like I always do when he does this.

Oh, Jake.

“Want to go somewhere?” His voice is uncharacteristically quiet, and he seems to be looking off to the side at something, distracted. It makes my heart expand with a pang; I hate seeing him so deflated and the urge to fix him unravels inside of me.

“Such as?” I push softly.

why he’s

here.” His

wrong about Daniel. Maybe he’s not okay and Jake’s mulling it

Hunter?” I ask gently. I don’t like Jake this way and he’s making me edgy. He turns back to me and visibly

a risk when you swallow as much as he did.” He says it lightly,

query. I have

one of his friends, in their teens, drowned after a boat party. I wonder if it still hurts him. The thought makes me long to wrap my arms around him and squeeze it away. Take away this somber mood he

will we go?” I change

watching the horizon, distant and distracted. I don’t think there’s any chance that he’s

get him out of this funk, and maybe going out will do that. I move to sit up and he gets out of my way

I get changed?” I motion

my floaty dress and sandals with no hint

the length of me again so I smile and indicate I’m

* * *

look. I grab my bag and chuck in the normal essentials; cell, book, sun cream, sunglasses, despite Jake’s being on the dresser.

back on deck quickly. Now I can see him standing and not cast in shadow; he’s in jeans and a T-shirt, with that superman body, his hair is still damp. He’s had a shower or been for a swim before he woke me. He appears relaxed and casual, as usual. I’m always in awe of the way his clothes sculpt his powerful body, it should be illegal to

I close the gap between us, he automatically ruffles my hair, lingering to twirl a strand before he makes me follow him down to the lower floor behind him silently. He seems in a better mood already as we head

* * *

seductive. Seeing a man capable of driving an expensive, powerful machine is a turn on. He drives fast, but I don’t feel unsafe;

companionable silence through forced proximity and I’m glad of it now. Scatterings of meaningless small talk

and get lost for a moment in the memory of how his kiss had felt last night, of how it had made me feel. Allowing myself the brief memories before guilt and shame push them away. He glances my way, catches my eye and smiles, all soft and relaxed and I can’t help but return it shyly. Sometimes he just looks so young, welcoming, and I forget that he’s