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

“Likewise.” She giggles and hugs me again for added measure, her energy infectious and soon we’re walking along, hand in hand, catching up with anything we forgot to add in our emails to each other. Sophie is infectious, her happiness brimming over into every word and mannerism and I can see Leila’s influence in the quirky Converse with animal print laces and the sparkling diamantes on her jeans. Leila always liked a little bit of showiness.

We make our way back to the main house, lost in easy conversation.

“There she is!” Jake’s deep tone catches us both and she beams at him, she doesn’t, however, close the gap between them, the way she did with me and it’s the first time I see she has that same distance with males that afflicts me. It causes me a moment of pain. A flicker of heartache for her.

Jake strides forward, giving her a light hug quickly before releasing her and scooping forward to plant a kiss on me. He unashamedly makes me blush with the sheer passion in its brief touch.

“Well look at you two nowadays.” Sophie giggles with open eyed wonder. “Nice to see that you finally stopped fighting it and just got around to giving her a good kiss.” She laughs as I throw a jab at her shoulder and she ducks away.

“What are you? All of fourteen?” I giggle, affected by her youthful fun so easily.

“Can I just point out, I never fought it.” Jake’s smiles, the face of a boy trying to earn points. “I always tried like a bear.” He slides an arm around my shoulders, coming beside me, his other hand in his pocket. Sophie regards him thoughtfully and smiles with maturity.

“Thing is, with girls like us … Sometimes it takes a lot to trust people. We need the ones who try like a bear to get in.” She throws me a bashful look and we pass a smile of solidarity. A blush rising on Sophie’s face that hints at a double meaning, but I let it slide.

Jake says nothing but kisses me on the temple; no explanation required.

He definitely is someone who tried like a bear.

“So, who’s ready for lunch, because I’m starving?” He cuts in with good humor after a few seconds and is delighted to get two very strong “Me’s”.

* * *

visitor with the Huntsberger family home being a mere walk away from here. Sylvana clucks over her like a mother hen and family and friends pull her into easy conversation on topics they seem to already know about. Arrick slides her in beside him through lunch and it’s easy to see the rapport they have already built, her hesitation absent at his touch. A very brotherly Arrick watching over her the way Jake did for me. I wonder if he’s Sophie’s ‘bear’ that caused the

chicken salad lunch with lots of side dishes. Jake’s beside me with a casual arm around the back of my chair, already full from his huge mountain of food the minute he sat down, while the rest of us picked and made

a little overwhelming but so very enjoyable, a complete contrast to the life I’ve known in my own family. The conversations are littered with fluent Italian as well as English and it seems not one of them knows how to speak without

trailing my back and I throw him a sweet smile.

my plate for the

was starving,” I shrug defensively, wondering if he’s having doubts about me staying

me lightly on the cheek and

due siete così appassionati di belle, mi fa così caldo dentro.” Alessandra gushes toward us, but I can only look in

with a look toward her

laughter, and he shakes his head, leaning in

envious of how we are together … She appreciates people in love.” He kisses me on the corner of the mouth, that rise of inner-warmth spreads through me and makes

said?” I

love you … Because you’re perfect.” He grins and this time it’s me that throws a kiss on him with a smile

man is so smooth

agreement in response. “Hey.” I protest with mock outrage, but he just pulls me into a headlock and devours me with nibbling kisses across the face and cheek which has me squealing for help. No one at

and I can only assume she’s happy that he finally settled down with one woman as most of the table turn and smile at us. It makes me all

with this family talking Italian though when It’s obviously