The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO) novel Chapter 13

Got over his porn star pretty quick.

Daniel takes in my appearance rather obviously.

“She’s not your usual type?” he smirks as the two men greet warmly. Eyes openly undressing me.

“She’s definitely yours though.” Jake smirks, nodding toward the disinterested bimbo, reminding him of their purpose here and Daniel grins. I instantly dislike him.

He’s tall and well built, like Jake, but he has sandy blonde hair and dark brown eyes. He’s handsome in a classic American way but something about his features make him seem shifty. Sleazy maybe.

The other girl looks bored; dark hair cascading over fake breasts, standing tall in stilettos and a short playsuit. She’s picking at her red nails as we move on, following Daniel back into the hotel.

Jake keeps hold of my hand, casting a glance back at the lenses pointed in through the glass entrance, he throws an arm around my shoulders shielding my face from view and I inwardly freeze. My lungs contract and refuse to function.

“Try to relax … You’re tense.” He smiles down at me, close enough that most would assume he kissed me lightly and I know he’s trying to give this impression. I hold my breath, suddenly assaulted with how good he smells and feels so close to me. It’s unexpectedly sensual and the intimate closeness sends me into all out-panic mode.

I react without thinking, to lift a defensive hand to his chest as my heart pounds crazily, ready to push him. I’m overwhelmed and scared. I don’t like the proximity; instinct taking over. He grasps my fingers with his free hand and holds them gently, shielding my reaction and making it look like something else entirely.

I focus on my breathing trying to block out the creeping fear running over me.

Don’t fall apart, I scold myself internally. Hold your shit together, Emma. It’s only pretend and he’s barely touching you.

“I have a room.” Daniel winks at us as though implying something is going on. I almost pass out.

“I figured I would have a use for it afterwards.” He throws a glance toward the leggy, bored, supermodel, who looks like she’s as excited for that as she is about being here. I grimace and flush at his insinuation.

Jake releases me when we’re in the confines of the elevator and throws me a smile, like it’s meant as praise, but I don’t respond, too busy trying to calm my pounding heart rate and trying to get my breathing to normalize.

We get to the desired floor and follow Daniel; he already has his key card in his hand.

“I took the liberty of ordering a breakfast menu … I know you like to eat, Jakey boy.” He grins Jake’s way and gets a smile in return.

“I’m starving, and I’m sure Emma needs to eat too.”

I nod shyly. Shellshocked and quiet while recovering. I hadn’t had time to eat this morning, but I’m not sure how he could even know that.

Finally, in the hotel room, I feel stupidly disconcerted. It’s knocked me for six. Jake’s hands on me have left permanent heat where he laid them, a lasting sensation as though they are still on me. I give myself an internal slap and pull myself together as best I can.

I need to stop over thinking this.

Chapter 5

I sit and pay attention as we eat from the breakfast buffet; the business merger sounds promising and I take key point notes on things he will want to recap. I listen intently to them thrash through proposals and possibilities with enthusiasm and can see that these men are genuine friends. They have a rapport you can only find between men who know each other well. Sarcasm and banter interlaced with business talk. Jake is one of the ‘guys’ when he’s around Daniel.

I can’t help but notice as I’ve been sitting cross legged that Daniel Hunter has not concealed his open appraisal of me, his eyes following my legs and arms intrusively as Jake outlines some points of business. He makes my skin crawl and I’m doing my best to ignore him. I catch Jake glance my way a couple of times, with an unreadable expression before he looks back at his friend.