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.”

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

I could take her out. Then casually run into you both, that way she would have no choice but to see you and she wouldn’t suspect that I side with you and set her up.” I smile

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

us 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

I going to do with

we could meet you at the other side.” His intense look boring into me, makes me sigh. He’s

We’ll see.

worse the bigger this gets, aren’t you?” I point at my slightly fuller stomach, decidedly less flat these last couple

it.” Jake lifts his eyebrows at me as though challenging me on the subject

to see her this way?” Jake gives up on making coffee and leans on the counter

Oh man. Hot flushes.

much already.” Daniel sighs and drops his head into his palms between his knees and scratches his head, then sitting back up he looks at Jake, then at

can we do this? I can’t stand the agony of

toward the elevator outside the apartment door, his hands cup my jaw leaving me with a kiss that curls my toes. My

call you when I land okay?” He brushes

you.” I sigh against him, my arms around his 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. There’s nothing in this world that feels like a full-on

sneaking off to Chicago until I’m back. Promise me.”

night and again this morning he predictably used his “sexpertize” against me and had me screaming out in agreement that I wouldn’t go. I

really am pathetically submissive when

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

meet here you know?” His voice hitting a slightly edgy

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

do know I’m putting a curfew on this, right? No alcohol, minimal dancing and home in bed by ten.”

not, Mr. Carrero. You sound