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

We’re walking hand in hand, fingers entangled, along the sunny pavement in the crisp morning air toward the house Jake wants to buy. It’s almost a replica of the Carrero family home, yet instead of warm sandy brown roughing on the outside it’s brilliant white with palm trees gracing the front of the manicured lawn in an arc, it’s beyond gorgeous and postcard picture perfect.

Two storeys high with modern clean lines and large windows under a sloped tiled roof. It looks so much bigger than the Carrero family home because of the bright colors and straight manicured lines of the surrounding lawns. It’s neat and modern looking in contrast to the flower beds and bushes of Sylvana’s gardens.

It reminds me of Jake’s apartment in small ways. His neat masculine style and bold edgy taste but somehow this has a much homelier quality and a long sweeping drive up to a very beautiful, dark wood, grand front door.

The agent meets us at the open door, a man in his late 30s sporting a side parting, with smoothed back hair and expensive suit. He ushers us inside proficiently with a huge grin. He has a tall slim frame and very cheesy smile with wandering eyes as I approach behind Jake, still being pulled by that possessive hand.

“It’s a blank canvas to put your stamp on.” The man beams at us, leading the way through the white marble, neutrally painted hall, identical to Sylvana’s, to a modern black granite kitchen with white units and steel appliances. He sweeps an arm around the expanse as though encouraging us to look around.

“That’s what we want ideally, a place to mold into our own.” Jake’s eyes flick to me with a smile then walks forward to properly look around the kitchen, letting me go so I can stand and admire it all. He likes to cook, occasionally, and I can imagine him in here making pancakes on a Sunday morning for me like he normally does.

The thought warms me through my stomach, and it rises to my cheeks. I can see Jake happy in this room,

it’s his kind of taste, enough modern and high-tech to

satisfy him yet still warm and welcoming into the heart of the home. I can imagine small chubby legged children sitting around the long low table near the huge wall of patio doors looking out into a massive manicured garden with an outdoor pool.

In the distance, there is an outdoor garage in the same gleaming white and a row of steel doors, suggesting he could fit a lot of cars in there. I have no idea how many cars Jake owns seeing as he keeps them all over the place; his apartment complex, the Carrero business buildings, parking under the apartment, and I know he has a car here as well at his mother’s home.

“Any chance we can do a walk around alone first?” Jake throws back to the agent who is standing close to me, smiling a little too charmingly. The normal urge to recoil at his attention has been replaced with an empty ignorance and lifted chin. I find his interest in me more of an irritation that an outright sense of repulsion.

don’t compare to Jake

Jake frowning in that I’ll beat you glare now that he’s spotted where Mr. Agent’s attention is placed, and I smile at my jealous boy

Some things never change.

free.” He beams

under his breath as we move back out into the hall away

for looking at me?” I slide my other hand around his arm

I shake

jealousy in his

almost identical to next door. Large spacious lounge, big open formal lounge, both with huge windows and great fireplaces dominating one wall,

far along the long

half a dozen large bedrooms with en suites and equally fabulous neutral décor. The house is grand and airy. It’s more than big enough to house a very large family, there’s

bedroom. This one housing an en suite with large jacuzzi and gorgeous view of the

need.” I blink around at the sheer size of this one room. Sarah’s whole apartment in Queens could fit

of them.” He smirks and runs a hand over my abdomen with his flat palm and I gape at him in complete horror. He giggles at my reaction, giggles, yet I’m still standing open-mouthed in shock that he might intend on having an army of kids. Right now, I’m on one and one is almost just bearable

people to come stay over. I’m sure moving out here would mean Sarah and Marcus would want to come and see you occasionally. Plus, Leila lives in the city and even though her folks are nearby I’m sure she’d want to kick

full walk-in closet as part of me jumps up and down inside with a happy dance which urges my feet toward the walk-in. I quell the urge to be swayed over by a momentous

make-up lighting. So weak, Emma … But look at how

Let me get my head around this one Jake … One right now!” I frown at him sternly, trying very hard to pull my head out of the vast space for lots of clothes and shoes and wonderful accessories. He turns and walks back to me, placing his hands on