The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO) novel Chapter 291

“I like it how it is. If you want to change it then fine, it can always grow back.” Jake felt stupid as his tone came out, he sounded more like Emma’s boyfriend than her boss about now and Leila was smirking. The urge to push her face into the lounger was strong; if she still had pigtails he was sure he would tie them over her mouth right now.

“Worried your girlfriend won’t get you all hot and bothered with short hair, Jacob?” Leila leaned over Emma and prodded him in the shoulder. He just scowled back at her, she was pushing her luck today. He could easily pick her up and throw her overboard.

“Shut up, wench. Emma has more sense than to let me be her boyfriend.”

And didn’t he know it?

“Oh right, I forgot. You’re just friends.” The honey-like way she said it made him grimace a smile her way, clenched teeth and warning her off with his eyes. He could see that glint of cheeky amusement and really did wonder why Mrs. Huntsberger didn’t smack Leila more as a child. “I can see that,” she added sarcastically, and he wondered if spanking her now would make any difference.

“Really, we are.” Emma sounded quiet, flustered, and he tried to ignore the crazy going off inside of him, trying not to react badly to something he already knew. He should have been used to her subtle rejections by now.

“Well then, you won’t care if I take her to get it all shorn off then, will you?” Leila threw a defiant look his way and he bit his tongue in a bid to stop bickering, frowning, and glaring. As soon as he got her alone he was going to chew her head off.

Devilish little minx, she knew exactly what she was doing.

“Emma can do whatever she wants with her hair. She’ll always look beautiful.” He got up, walking away before he made good and sat on Leila and tried to pull her ears off or something equally immature.

Brat.

“Someone is not a happy little playboy today!” He heard her say, even though he was moving away to the buffet table and ignored her.

Witch!

No, he’s fucking not. Last thing he wants is Emma changing, she was perfect the goddamn way she already was!

* * *

After lunch, Jake took Leila and Emma ashore on the speedboat kept moored to the cruiser, any excuse to get that thing out on open waters and let rip. He hoped she wasn’t going to come back with some crazy short hair but what could he do? He had no right to say anything. He wasn’t her boyfriend, just her boss and as much as he invaded her life at times, he knew where the boundaries lay.

“Being honest here, mate … I’ve never seen you this way over any chick, what’s so goddamn special about this one?” Daniel frowned his way, genuine curiosity across his face.

“Everything … Nothing … Fuck knows. She’s her. I can’t pinpoint it—just from the minute she walked into my office I wasn’t me … No control, zero ability to function properly, and the longer I know her the worse it is.” Jake was stressed talking about this, he had never analyzed it, he tried not to.

“There must be something specific?” Daniel was maneuvering his position to stare at Jake more fully, going in for the shrink’s approach it appeared. He did seem genuinely curious.

“Which specific thing do I pick … How she looks? How she is? How she makes me feel? … She’s Emma, she’s not got anything about her that’s not great. Except maybe the not wanting me part.” Jake hunched his shoulders and scrubbed a hand down his face.

“Maybe that’s it … Maybe because she’s probably the first woman in the history of Carrero to actually not want to jump your bones?” Daniel said smugly, and Jake considered it for a moment.

“I genuinely used to tell myself that exact thing.” He sighed.

“You’re suffering from some sort of bruised ego, man, chick turned you down flat and doesn’t want the great Carrero boner. It’s reverse psychology or some shit. If she was all over you, then maybe you wouldn’t be interested.” Daniel grinned but Jake knew this was wrong, as much as he wanted to tell himself Daniel could have a point. Maybe in the beginning but not now. He knew that having her once wouldn’t take away this need. If he was right, he would want a one-night stand, and he didn’t. He wanted something meaningful with her.