The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO) novel Chapter 23

That’s true. See, he’s a good shrink … he seems to understand.

“What’s wrong with me?”

That’s a good question to ask a shrink, as I want to know.

His face appears above me and I jump a little in fright; I wasn’t expecting him so suddenly, maybe it wasn’t sudden. I have been taking long pauses to daydream between replies. This is a weird angle, but even down here he looks gorgeous.

Why can’t you look ugly from at least one angle, Carrero? Even the odds up a little. Maybe have a double chin or something.

“Nothing … You deserve so much more than someone like him.” He seems serious, and just hot. Too hot.

“I’m part of him … I have his blood … But he didn’t want to know me.” I sigh dejectedly as he moves from above me and on to the couch beside me; he has a glass which clinks with ice and slides it on the low table to my left. He sits near my head so he can look down at my face and he’s no longer smiling. He seems blank.

“Does he want to know you now? Is that why he called?” he frowns once more, watching me pensively.

“He wants money.” I point out as a matter of fact.

Yes, as much as he can lay his grubby little hands on. Filthy, scum bag, gold digger.

“Money?” he pauses to watch me. His tone that of surprise.

“He thinks I’m loaded, because I’m always in the papers … with you … Probably thinks we’re in love.” I laugh at this little fact, but Jake doesn’t laugh, he just goes on watching me and sips from his own mug before looking lost in thought. I can smell coffee and guess he’s not drunk at all.

“Why are you chewing your lip like that?” I ask him, reaching up and prodding him gently in the dimple again. Jake has a touchable face. I’ve never noticed before how much his face cries out to be touched; there’s a beauty about his features, even his designer stubble, that makes your fingers itch to trace the lines and curves. He has a dimple on each side that should be investigated.

“I’m thinking, Emma … stop poking me in the face, woman,” he chides with a frown and I push at it a little harder with my pointer finger, irritated at him calling me “woman”.

Asshole!

“You’re very touchy-feely when you’re drunk, aren’t you?” he catches my finger and pushes it down. He has a cheek calling anyone touchy-feely.

Mr. Hands-On, Carrero!

“You’ve a touchy kind of face.” I smile but spinning starts to take over and I decide to lay still to see if it will pass. I lay watching his green eyes in the dim light and wonder what he’s thinking about. Mesmerized by the way his eyes change with his moods. Sometimes they’re dark and almost brown, other times pale and almost aqua. Normally, they’re a very bright, almost emerald green. When I love them the most.

“Hmmmm.” He looks at me in an odd way, and I can still see the hint of a frown; I stifle the urge to poke it again.

“Hmmmm!” I mimic in a mock deep male tone. “What’s ‘hmmmmm’ all about?”

Jake can be exasperating! I like Jake. I’m glad he’s my boss! I think we get on better than most boss-employees do.

“It’s just hmmm … You’re drunk. You’re making very little sense, and your grabby hands are a little distracting. I think I need to put you to bed.” He’s not in playful mode, which is disappointing.

What does he mean, “grabby hands”?

I hold my hands up in front of me to look but they don’t look “grabby” at all. I was merely having a little feel of a beautiful thing. He sighs, pushing me to note he’s closer, leaning down to peer at my face as if he’s trying to gauge just how drunk I still am. I have the urge to say “Hello” or “Peek-a-Boo”.

“Where’s your hot Crone?” I laugh at my own joke. It’s rather funny.

Miss Crane … Crone … Get it?

He smiles, sighing deeply as though he has no idea what to do with me anymore. I notice that when he moves his jaw in any little way, his ear moves slightly and become fascinated by it. I wonder if all men have this special talent.

Would you call it a talent? Ear wiggling … Special skill of sexiness.