The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO) novel Chapter 262

“I can’t get my head around it.” Jake utters for the hundredth time as we lie in bed, our bodies entwined. My exhaustion has dissipated, giving way to mind-numbing silence after the events of the evening.

We finally have freedom … from her.

We’ve been home for a few hours and yet mostly all we’ve

done is lie together and talk. Hours spent regurgitating

the fact that there is no other baby, wondering how his family are going to react and how different things will be from now on without it hanging over us. It’s still too surreal to really believe and emotions between us have been swirling like crazy.

“I can’t believe it’s over,” I exclaim out loud, hearing him sigh again. A happy heavy relief kind of noise.

“Me either, it feels like it’s been consuming me … us … for months.” He’s lying on his back, staring at the ceiling while I rest my head on his firm abdomen, tracing the tattoos on his inner forearm of the arm across me casually.

“How did she think she would get away with it?” I blanch thinking it through, and turn, shifting up to him, resting my head on the bicep of his arm nestled behind his head and stare at his profile with an inner bubbling happiness. Jake’s naked torso is deliciously on show, the sheets pulled up to waist level.

“That level of crazy has no logic, Emma, I’m just glad Ben had the sense to come see me and not let the festering past stop us.” He sounds calm and stress free for the first time in forever. It’s only taken hours though for it to hit home.

“I can’t believe it.” I say again through the numb disbelief still hanging in the air; after shock, anger, tears, and relief subsided. We have really been through it all.

“Just you, me and tadpole from now on.” He beams turning to face me. His arm shifting under my head, bending at the elbow to make himself into a better cushion.

Jake was angry when we came home, rage pouring out of him like a spewing sewer and it took a lot for him to expel it. He disappeared into the gym for a while, to recklessly punch and kick the of crap out of his boxing bag with deadly precision. But lying here now, calm, and serene, I think it’s finally sinking in that this is a good thing, a happy thing. I know a part of him will feel a sense of loss at the severing of the connection he built up emotionally with Marissa’s baby; in the belief that it was his. Some part of him accepted the child she was having; the anger is his way of grieving its loss, as well as Marissa’s depth of betrayal and deceit.

“I guess it won’t be a tadpole now, if you’d let that doctor look, I’m sure we would have a better idea on what size it is.” I point out with a smirk. Jake touches his fingertip to my nose with an unapologetic smirk.

“I have an appointment for you this week, I forgot to tell you, and I’m still not letting anyone stick a wand up there to see. Male or female.” His furrowed brow and smile tells me he doesn’t care if it makes him look possessive, controlling and slightly overprotective.

“I’m sure it’s not long before they can scan my stomach instead, plus the thought of being impaled by some nasty looking probe isn’t giving me the greatest of thrills anyway.” I cringe at remembering the weird medical implement the doctor was stupid enough to wave around near one very hostile Carrero, and giggle at the memory. The probe, moments from being used in a very different way and leaving the doctor with an unusual walk if he kept waving it within Jake’s reach.

“New obstetrician and a lot more appointments, I just wasn’t happy with the guy all over you.” He grimaces at the memory as though I was somehow assaulted in front of him. I roll my eyes at him with an indulgent smile and stroke his face tenderly.

What can I do with him … Honestly?

“You’ll need to tell your family about this now you know, this thing with Marissa? We need to tell our friends too.” I focus on those soft green eyes and see nothing more than uncomplicated love shining back. Whatever demons he needed to expel, were banished successfully in the gym. That version of him a little too uncomfortable for my liking, reminding me of how easy it would be for someone Jake’s size to hurt someone my size; serving to highlight how gentle he really is.