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

“I don’t know where we are; somewhere Leila brought us. Sarah’s here too but I think she’s dead.” I watch as she slides ungracefully off the bar where her body previously was, and she ends up in a disheveled heap on the floor, behind her bar stool between two men who are seemingly ignoring her. For someone who thinks Sarah might’ve died I don’t seem overly concerned. I trip toward her a little, stooping to see if she’s breathing, almost losing my balance, and nearly fall on top of her. “Never mind. She’s just snoring,” I slur down the phone with a dramatic sigh of relief. I slump down on my knees beside her to peel what looks like a beer mat off her cheek.

Yay, my friend isn’t dead after all. But that is disgusting.

I hold the beer mat out in front of me and squint, looking at the blurry, sticky vile thing, before tossing it casually over my shoulder and rub my hands, on Sarah’s dress.

“For the love of God, are any of the three of you capable of something coherent? Emma put Leila on,” Jake commands, the tone of his voice riling me a little.

You’re supposed to be groveling for my forgiveness, not barking commands, Dick. Asshole. Gorgeous, sexy asshole … But I still hate you.

“Jerk.” I sniff down the phone and I swear Jake growls … like, actually growl.

I find myself sighing and attempt to a walk toward Leila, rolling my eyes, my defiant chin stuck in the air, instantly confused when I’m face down on a leather booth seat after the wall I was using to keep me upright opened into nothing.

“Ouch,” I murmur as my face peels painfully from the seat. I realize my phone is squished to my face, and I can hear Jake rather loudly in my cheek, opening my eyes I’m blinded by the lit screen near my eyeballs.

“Did you just fall? What the hell …?! Emma, hello?! Okay, look, hang up but don’t leave that bar. I’ll find you my way.” It sounds more like a threat and when I go to reply I realize he’s disconnected my call.

Asshole! I didn’t ask you to come for me. I don’t want you to come for me! You don’t know where I am anyway so good luck with that.

I crawl onto the booth in which I’m already lying and curl up on the seat trying to get a hold on these damn infernal tears. I should call him back and tell him to go to hell, but I don’t want to, part of me wants him to find me, to come and take care of me. Wanting him to ignore my pleas to stay away and do what Jake does – Come charging in all dominant mode trying to bend my will to his. If he does that maybe my confusion can take a long walk off a short pier for a while, give my mind a well needed break.

not moved at all but as she’s too far away to get to, I’d rather rest first. I wiggle my feet out of my shoes and drop them on the floor, feeling an odd sense of heartache at this simple act. Jake always took my shoes off for me when I was drunk, he always took care of me regardless of his mood

closing my eyes to block out the wave of people mulling around the bar and floor. For a small place, it’s crowded and really noisy, with a thick foggy atmosphere. Maybe if I just drown it all out for a few minutes then I could get my head straight and get us back home. Take Sarah home somewhere safe, to sleep in a position a little more natural and get Leila off that damn infernal bar so men stop trying

* * *

a lot of noise. Warm fingers trace my jaw and I push my face into them, rubbing like a greedy cat at the touch. I choke on the atmosphere and come to in complete confusion. I find my neck stiff from the angle I’ve been curled up in at the corner of the booth. “I’m going to lift you up okay?” warm, strong, familiar arms slide under my legs and behind my back and I’m hoisted up against the smell of my Jake, the feel of him, his warmth, and his strength like some fantasy dream. I close my eyes, nuzzling into him, wanting this dream to last forever. I want the safe and comforting feel of him surrounding me to last, keeping the horrible ache of not being with him

a hallucination but really him and the pain of what that means right now is sheer agony. I choke back the gulf of

this up

chest feels like it might concave, and my heart has literally stopped beating. He looks beautiful, if a little tired and sexy and ruffled, yet completely here and

it; he found out where we are and came for me. Impulsively I reach out to that beautiful face and poke him in the cheek, checking that he’s real and not some sweet figment of my imagination. I always

the hell did he do that? I shouldn’t be surprised with

My asshole … Jerk! … My

is still too pretty!” I sigh in defeat, looking for something

to hear it.” He smiles at me softly and just lifts me up with a little jerk

coherently as I can, regaining my senses, surprised at the slurring mess I hear

drunk then? How long was I

the car already. He’ll come back for Leila in a sec and I have your shoes here.”

never forget a detail like

I need the words. I need Jake to be the balm that heals my wounds and he needs to find

you were out here in the city somewhere and vulnerable? You may not like me very much right now, bella, but I love you, I wouldn’t just leave you here. I couldn’t.” He pulls me closer and lifts my temple to press against his mouth, closing his eyes and inhaling me, it brings me an odd sense of comfort. “You don’t need to like it but I’m taking the three of you back to the apartment. Not one of you is capable of taking care of the others.” His eyes come back to mine, those beautiful hazy green eyes, with so much going on inside of them. So much translating from him to me