The Carrero Heart - Beginning (Friends to Lovers)

The Huntsberger house is transformed, the huge adjoining dining room and family room has been emptied through the day and now styled with floral arrangements and seating which pours out into the gardens from the wall of veranda doors. It’s looking like a huge function room in any classy hotel.

Leila has always insisted on using “home” for her parties. I think it’s the little bit of sentimentality and that this place signifies safety and happy memories for her. It also means strictly no paparazzi for any of the more well-known guests and we can monitor who gets to come in and let everyone relax to have an enjoyable time.

Food is being laid out in the adjoining TV room, music blaring from the sound system outside and a huge marquee, housing a bar and extended lounging area is set up. I can see a wooden floor for dancing inside as well as in here. They have gone big and bold for this one, the place is bursting with friends and family galore and even though it’s early in the evening, the house is crowded.

I work my way out through the room from the hall, Christian and Jenny are mingling already, welcomed with open arms into the Huntsberger family last night over dinner and drinks, and obviously feeling right at home already. Jenny is in tight conversation with Nathan in one corner, looking decidedly cozy together and uninterested in milling guests, and Christian is in an adoring group of Carrero women, nieces and cousins galore, all fanning for his attention, so I leave them both to it. They both seem to be happy with their current situations and I am still trying to find myself a level of sanity to get through tonight.

I make a beeline for the outside area, pushing among friendly faces that stop me to hug and smile my way, comment on how much I have grown and changed of late. The same old repeated affections and I smile and persevere. Pushing between two burly Carrero men, with trademark dark hair, wide shoulders and those green eyes. I manage to squeeze out the other side, only just, with effort, looking back apologetically and walk straight into the hard-muscular back of another male in a tux with an “ooft”.

“Sorry I wasn’t looking where I was …” I trail off as Arrick turns my way with his hazel frown and devastating smile, temporarily catching my breath in my throat. I immediately hit that zombie-like state of “I do not know how to behave” and do that awkward little eye avoidance flustered thing. Jake leans in past him and grins at me. My heart deciding now is a great time to flutter crazily, while my stomach churns into knots and my palms get instantly sweaty.

“Still as graceful as ever, Sophs.” Jake winks and Arrick hands me a glass of champagne smoothly with a half-smile, as though everything is completely normal and not at all weird in the slightest. I accept it carefully, so as not to touch his fingers and try to appear relaxed, despite the conga of nerves running through me. Arrick seems more chilled tonight, and a slight haziness to the green in his eyes suggests these two have already been drinking the bar dry before the party got into full swing. I turn the glass, raise it with a quick smile and sip on it gratefully, suddenly overcome with awkwardness and unable to stand his eyes on me.

“Just looking for Leila.” I raise a brow and look around, straining on tiptoes to see over the hordes of super tall people and avoid looking directly at him. His presence has me all edgy and light-headed and even though I have the urge to run away, I stand my ground in a bid to prove I am over this. Arrick raises his chin and looks around too.

“She’s over there, wrapped around Daniel and already looks pretty smashed.” He raises his glass, pointing with it into the crowd of tuxedoes and sparkly dresses. One thing my family know how to do is party in grand fashion. I try and follow his direction, turning my head but I am not tall enough to get any real view of her, even in strappy heels and I’m aware that if I stretch too much, the sparkly silver, short dress I am wearing will hitch a little too high. It’s not fitted, more of a floaty style so will be a risky move. I sink back onto my shoes defeated and turn back to them with a sigh.

“What’s new for Leeloo?” Jake smirks, also looking up and over the people around them, also tall enough to view her from his standing point and seeing what I cannot. I try to stretch some more, in a second attempt to see and fail miserably, cursing my height for the first time in my life.

“Guess I will wait till she finds me then.” I smile their way and catch that tiny eyebrow flicker and a slight frown from Arrick, almost fleeting by as his eyes meet mine and then disconnects. I turn back and catch Jake hauling at his bow tie around his neck as though it’s strangling the life out of him and pause, glass midway to my mouth, waiting to see if he dares to pull it off.

“Leave it alone.” I reach out and slap his elbow, throwing him a scolding look, knowing fine well what he’s doing. You can almost set your watch by how long it takes Jake to discard any form of tie at an event.

“I hate these things; I feel like Emma has tied a rope around my neck.” Jake squirms some more, pulling it so much it comes loose, and then looks like a wicked schoolboy who just broke a vase. That pleased twinkle in his eye at his naughtiness, pretty sure he has an excuse now. “Oh well, guess it comes off now then.” He smirks, pulling it a little more, but I only shake my head at him, ready to remind him how bat shit crazy Leila will go if her party photographs are less than perfect.

and hangs it like a dead animal from one hand and I honestly think he might dump it on the passing tray of drinks. The two brothers

until the photographer has done the rounds before doing that, at least

but starts redoing his bow tie once more, a little look of defiance in that green gaze as he mumbles under his breath and can’t shake my glare. I turn my attention back to Arry, who is watching me a little too closely for comfort and try not

practically touching mine and eyes locked to mine intensely. He takes my glass to hold for me. I hesitate a moment, before sliding his tie in around his neck, putting my arms behind him carefully and avoid touching him much, to bring it around and start tying it the way my mother showed me, many a time. I focus on his tie, not the suffocating closeness and way he’s looking at me. Fiddling with clumsy fingers because he is too damn close like this and his expression is so soft it’s killing me. I can smell everything that is him, feel his gentle breathing on my face, and close enough to graze my nose across his. My own breathing deteriorating, as are my nerves. Arrick is staring right at my face, his hazels practically boring a hole into my eyes and making it near impossible to think straight at all. I re-tie it twice as I make such a mess while under

and struggle to keep myself in check. My legs are turning to Jell-O and my insides a washing machine on spin. Tying it neatly, I give it one last tug and impulsively smooth my hands across his

and it’s almost like breathing to me, the way I instantly reverted to Sophie of old. Arrick seems to take a moment, leans into my palms, before he

going on with me. Small shallow inhales to cool the torrent of

you see that you can

obviously. Jake kind of looks a little smug and I wonder what his game is, but at least he distracts me and draws my attention to him and gives

with real affection in my tone, a topic that instantly relaxes me, and glad of not only a change but a reason to move back and look at Jake instead. To give myself room to breathe. Noticing his tie is crooked I gesture him over and click my fingers for him to scoot down to my height too. Jake dutifully obeys, and I straighten his tie before patting him on the cheek with a cheeky wink, and a

a tray, as though he has decided he’s getting hammered tonight. He instantly seems

Stop caring.

makes my heart race as though I have something to hide. I wonder now really what he is doing. He has that knowing look in his eye, smug yet cool with a hint of “all-seeing” about him. I wonder if he has told Arrick that he maybe thinks Chris is gay but

or why he would still carry on the ruse for no purpose when it affects his brother, who is his best friend. I also start questioning Natasha’s lack of appearance, I was sure she would have shown up by now and yet, he is here solo, except for Nathan, who seems to also be AWOL,

the question as best I can, smiling widely and hoping to make it look like my usual cheeky faced self. Avoiding any eye on eye contact for more than seconds while I find my acting hat and push

answer. I look away, scanning the room while downing my champagne,

to keep face. Dumb, so

family for that matter, after meeting his camp side last night and hearing all about his boyfriend, and I doubt Jake’s “Gaydar” is that broken. He was chatting to Christian long

an eyebrow my way, sarcastic toned and that hint of smile hits home immediately that, yes, he knows; he is fully aware.

an “I know what you’re doing” look that makes me narrow my eyes at him. I wonder why he is allowing his brother to still think that Christian and I are a couple. Giving him a questioning look, he just shrugs behind his brothers back, throws me a little head shake with a

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