The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO) novel Chapter 304

“Go to my room and get some money from the vanity and pay the guy for the ride … Just take whatever’s there.” He patted the crewman on the back knowing he was trustworthy and left him to speak the native tongue of the local to pay him for the kindness. Jake was too tired to deal with any more, he wanted to find Emma and check she was okay, tell her that he was back and then go to bed. He was exhausted and almost dead on his feet.

“Ricardo?” He turned to the young man quickly “Where is Miss Anderson?” he asked pointedly.

“Up on deck, sir, she was on the loungers about five minutes ago.” The young man nodded his way, receiving a pat on the shoulder as way of thanks and Jake headed for the stairs to the upper deck. It was early even for an early riser like Emma, suggesting she had probably waited on him all night and that didn’t make him happy at all. She would be as tired as him.

“Emma?” he called out as he got to the top of the deck and could see her laid out on the double lounger like an angel resting on the clouds. God, she was a sight for sore eyes, and just being back within ten feet of her relaxed every taut muscle in his body. He felt like he had been tense waiting to get back to her and could finally breathe now that he could see her.

“Hey.” She smiled shyly from her position on the lounger as he walked forward intently, she just looked too inviting to not go to her and all thoughts of anything else swam from his fuzzy head. She was like a constant lure for him, pushing sense aside. He slid down beside her on the lounger with a satisfied sigh, his body giving way to the comfort of lying down. He sprawled alongside her, not caring if he draped all over her, too fatigued to move, and lay on his front. He buried his face in his arms to block out the light and felt like he could fall asleep instantly beside her, the smell of her and her nearness was like being home, and now his brain was shutting down with relief.

Despite his brain closing down slowly, he could feel her breath on his arm and her eyes on his profile, silently looking at him. He could sense her, her shyness at saying anything vibrating his way and as much as he wanted to just sleep he wanted her to be okay about last night too.

“I’m still awake,” he mumbled, sliding an arm out across her waist with his eyes closed, pulling her to his side so he could snuggle into her and kill this insane need to stare at her. He wanted to know what she was thinking, but he didn’t have the energy to do anything about it. He moved his face nearer her neck so he could tuck his forehead against her hair and inhale all the sexy goodness and subtle tropical scent that was just her. He had missed her like crazy.

“You smell good,” he muttered almost incoherently, still with eyes shut and sleep trying to overtake him. He could feel her slowly beginning to tense her body, her breathing becoming shallower and the tell-tale signs of Emma going into PA mode, all business and no emotion.

Fuck, he didn’t need this version right now.

“Thanks,” she muttered a little tightly. Jake sighed internally that she wasn’t even going to give him five minutes to rejoice in last night before ripping this to shreds for him. He smiled against her naked skin with a little hint of defeat, smiled because he knew her only too well.

“Are you ever going to just learn to let go, Miss Anderson? When you’re sober.” He sighed again, wishing she was still drunk for at least a little while.

“What do you mean?” She sounded irritated, maybe a little surprised.

“I can feel you … stiffer than a board … why so formal after last night?” He smiled again. Teasing her might be more fun than an argument right about now, not that he could do much. He had no use of his limbs anymore. He felt her movements and the tell-tale motion of her twisting her hair anxiously, her cute little annoying habit of nerves on show.

Goddammit, Emma.