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

Daniel contemplates this for a moment as I watch in absolute silence. Jake’s ability to read people and situations has always impressed me. His ability to sometimes understand the female mind must be a rare gift for a guy? I’m sure not many men have his level of understanding.

“Why did I have to fall for the one who drives me so fucking crazy?” Daniel sighs, returning to picking at his thumb nail absently, staring at his hand with a complete utter lost boy look on his handsome face.

Jake gazes at me intensely from the kitchen.

“It’s not love if she can’t get under your skin and make you a whole lot of crazy.” He smiles, winking at me, and I can’t help but smile back especially when he opens the fridge and starts fixing me a tropical alcohol-free cocktail that I’ve been craving like mad lately.

Now that’s the man I love right there.

“Leila has always got under my skin but dating her has made it so much worse.” Daniel admits, seemingly confused that finally loving his girl would intensify what she does to him.

“Is the therapy helping?” I nudge in with a lighter, warmer tone, and Daniel turns to me, expression a little young and tired and more than a little bewildered.

“Yes, I guess, and no … Well it’s bringing up a lot of shit I need to deal with, but Leila’s been with me twice and when she’s there I dunno, it doesn’t mess me up as bad.” He shrugs, as though just the thought of her brings him some peace and the sudden flicker of heartache that runs across his face is a give-away of the fact he’s just realized it as the words came out of his own mouth.

“You know she won’t always be this way, she just

doesn’t trust you not to run again.” I soothe, a little more sympathetic at the real pain I’m seeing in his tropical blue eyes.

“Thing is, for the most part, I don’t actually mind Leila’s kind of crazy. She’s feisty and wild and stroppy as shit. Man, she’s got a temper and a hell of a right hook. I kinda dig it though … It’s the silences and not letting me near her when we fight that’s killing me. Not knowing what’s going on in that head of hers and having her freeze me out of her life.” He sighs again and just looks tormented.

“She’s hiding.” Jake interjects. “She’s probably just as messed-up as you are right now.” His husky soft tone as he watches his best friend gives me all sort of horny thoughts, and I shift to a sitting position crossing my legs. I catch Jake’s smirk and realize he knows exactly what I’m thinking about.

Jerk.

Daniel frowns, staring emptily down at his hands; he has a fidgeting tell like Jake has, and he starts picking at his other thumb nail.

“I don’t know how to do this, Jake … but I don’t want to just walk away. I’ve spent years trying to run from how I felt about her, but I can’t outrun it anymore. I can’t do it … I need her … But I know her, she won’t see me or talk to me.”

best way to deal with Leila and an idea hits me, a self-serving, killing

run into you both, that way she would have no choice but to see you and she wouldn’t suspect that I side

Mr. Protective-father-to-be is thinking, I focus on him intently, seeing that frown

almost as soon as we arrive, and molly coddle the shit out of me, Jake, so don’t worry about my being out on the town in such a delicate condition.” I smirk at him and he has the nerve to smirk back only confirming what is running through

going to

you at the other side.” His intense look boring

We’ll see.

I point

his eyebrows at me as though challenging me on the subject before he

Jake gives up on making coffee and leans on

Oh man. Hot flushes.

palms between his knees and scratches his head, then sitting back up he looks at Jake, then at me with so much pain in

this? I can’t stand the agony

sitting room, as Mathews takes his luggage past us toward the elevator outside the apartment door, his hands cup my jaw leaving me with a kiss that curls my toes. My hormones perking up to say hello, giving me the usual warm tingling

brushes his nose against mine and lightly kisses

neck, I reach up to be wrapped around him tightly. He slides his hands down my sides and around my back pulling me in further still.

Chicago until I’m back. Promise me.” He narrows his eyes at me, and

this morning he predictably used his “sexpertize” against me and had me screaming out in agreement that

pathetically submissive when he gets me

agreeing because you’re agreeing to Operation Leila and taking me on a night out when you return.” I smirk at him. His green glare hits me again, he isn’t too enamored with the finer details

for them to meet here you know?” His

lazing about and being housebound is getting old. I’m so bored.” I sigh and give him my

I’m putting a curfew on this, right? No alcohol, minimal dancing and home in bed by ten.” He is focusing on my

think not, Mr. Carrero. You sound like a