The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO) novel Chapter 257

The DJ nods at Leila and seems to put on whatever request she has made as she moves back with a satisfied fake smile on that little face.

The sound of Pink “So What!” starts flowing across the room and I know Leila is trying to convey to Daniel that she doesn’t care one iota about his presence. She’s in full defensive mode and the walls are up. Her song choice is one of attitude and I don’t need you.

So definitively Leila She’s obviously found her spark again and Daniel better bring his backbone.

She turns to saucily saunter away from the DJ booth and I’m drawn to the fact that Daniel is almost upon her, catching her arm mid-stride, she recoils and tries to haul it from him. But he just keeps a strong hold tugging her back with him by the wrist to the booth. His arm stretched out as she tries to go the opposite way, but he keeps a firm hold of her while leaning into the DJ and saying something. He holds out what looks like a hundred-dollar bill then the music is cut instantly. As soon as the softer notes of a new song starts Hunter turns back to the deathly still, glaring, girl in his grip.

Ed Sheeran “Thinking Out Loud”, waves across the room and I can’t help but smile. Hunter is taking my advice, doing this the softly, softly way. I could almost applaud him right now; instead of bringing his wild cat back to heel he’s sweeping her off her feet. He should have done it this way long ago.

The only thing on his face right now is fear, and I watch in fascination. Her little chin lifts and bristles with defensiveness, his body sags and he becomes completely submissive to her, almost in response, reading her.

Daniel is not being his usual dominant, cocky self with his little fury girl. He’s reaching inside showing her a part of him that obviously existed when she was sixteen years old, when he’d made her first time with him memorable. A part of Daniel I’m guessing no one ever really gets to see.

Jake slides in next to me, placing two beers on the table, sliding an arm around me and joins in on watching The Hunter and Leila Show.

“I told him to stop with the games and just talk to her, like a normal person; to stop acting like this was all some “casual see where it goes bullshit” and just be honest with her,” he says huskily.

Games huh? Not so long ago I knew a certain guy who was rather partial to our little games. That guy seems to have calmed down nowadays though.

I smile up at him, warmly, receiving a kiss on the forehead as a reward before my eyes snap straight back to the couple that I really want to sort things out.

Leila tries to tug herself away again, but Hunter won’t let go, despite her resistance her normal fire is absent, and she turns her body instead, so she can look away from him. He only steps closer so he spoons her, his hand instantly moving to her hair, gently brushing it away as he leans in saying something in her ear. His whole manner is soft and agonizingly sincere, and I can’t help feeling like we’re getting a glimpse into something deep and meaningful. The music flowing over the entire bar only adds to the heart tugging scene before me, the song, somehow, crazily Daniel.

Whatever he’s saying is having some sort of effect as Leila’s lip starts to wobble, and she bites on it to stop herself from crying. The music obviously giving a helping hand as her defenses start to crumble, lifting that chin again, tensing her body to try to resist. He lets go of her arm and runs a trail of fingers from her wrist to her shoulder, still bent in low, talking directly into her ear. She physically trembles and I smile, knowing exactly how Jake can make me feel by doing that, knowing Leila has zero chance with Hunter if she does love him. Brief tender touches have a way of going straight into your soul.

Daniel stands up straight, walking around her so they’re face-to-face. He tilts her chin up on gentle fingertips, softly. Leila stiffens and presses her lips together hard. She’s trying to stop herself from crying, stop herself from submitting, but Daniel is obviously doing an amazing job with whatever words are flying from his mouth. He has an expression of sheer adoration on his face as he moves in, slowly lowering himself to her height. He looks nothing like the boy I met so long ago, smug, and cocky, checking me out. Instead, there’s the softness of a heart on show, desperation to win back the woman who makes him whole. It pulls a little tug of emotion from my chest.

It’s obvious to the entire room that Daniel Hunter is well and truly deeply in love with Leila.

He delicately cups her jaw with one hand, brushing back stray hairs from her face with the other, he’s still saying something to her. In fact, the whole time they’ve been standing there, while she’s been in defiant silence, he hasn’t stopped talking to her. Her body is slowly loosening its stiff resolve.

A tear rolls down her cheek and he wipes it away with his thumb gently, kissing her where it was. There’s a body flicker a little at the contact. He leans in lower, bringing his mouth achingly close. Sarah and I are locked on, with bated breath watching and waiting. Captivated by every beautiful moment unfurling across the room, mentally pleading with Leila to let him in.

Jake’s drinking his beer, casually stroking my shoulder, not as fascinated by this emotional scene as we women are. I nudge his thigh and point, urging him to look and take some interest in what’s happening here.

Daniel and Leila are really connecting.

I glare at him as he smirks and shakes his head at me. He’s obviously a typical man after all, having no clue or care right now and looking moderately bored. Watching him means I’m missing them, so I flip my gaze back to the pair feeling Jake’s hand run across my head, petting me, because once again I’m so devastatingly adorable to him. I sigh, eye rolling at his typical guyness, and wait with bated breath.

Daniel is so close to her that their mouths are almost touching, he’s still talking, still moving painfully closer. Edging in, softly, keeping her eyes locked on his.