The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO) novel Chapter 55

It’s not long before the sun dries me off, the glistening heat on my shoulders, warming me through, making me feel lazy and forgetting all about his smoldering looks. We walk a fair bit and skim pebbles on the waves; easy, quiet companionship. I find so many beautiful shells to take home for Sarah and we pass the time with small talk, about Sophie, about work. I never realized how easily we blend when we’re just chilling out. It’s natural, unforced, and we talk about everything from current events, and movies, to what we think is happening on the boat in our absence. I like it; I think he’s right. We needed this. We needed this time to chill and relax with each other again, remove all the pent-up frustration and agitation. Rebuild our easy friendship. I needed this to let go of all the Chicago crap.

“Here, Emma.” I turn back and he hands me his shades again, now the sun has moved higher in the sky. I was shielding my eyes without even realizing. I smile and put them on noting they have a crazy rubber band thing across the back that holds them to your head when swimming. I guess that’s how he kept them on his head on the swim over here and I give him a grateful smile.

“Thanks.” I accept gratefully as he throws another pebble into the water, looking at me oddly. I can’t help but notice the expression, but I can’t decipher it.

“What is it?” I tilt my head to watch him.

“You seem a bit more relaxed now we’re over here.” That’s an understatement; being away from over-sexed women with lusty gazes certainly takes the edge off the atmosphere. I am regretting not coming on this trip as just the two of us. I think I would have preferred it.

“I feel more relaxed,” I answer lightly, without explanation.

“You look it.” He skims another stone, like an expert. I watch him, catch his smile, and return it.

“I’m glad you made me come.” Hard to admit but he was right.

“I’m glad I didn’t have to force you.” His smile turns mocking and that little eyebrow raises as dimples appear.

“Technically, you gave me no choice.” I frown back at him.

“You always have a choice with me, Emma, you know that.” His voice is gentle. Irony without meaning it. He has no clue how overbearing he can be sometimes. I just laugh and shake my head in exasperation.

Sure, I do, Carrero.

“We should be getting back; the others will think we don’t like them.” He’s watching me, and I can’t help but notice the way the sun glistens on his skin, shadows falling under prominent muscles, making him look all the more chiseled.

Yes, we should.

“Sure, I’m kinda hungry too.” I pull off his eyewear to hand them over. Following him to the shore to wade out until the water lifts our feet from the bottom and break into a swim behind him.

We swim back leisurely, and he stays close to me; I think he’s worried I won’t have the stamina to do it, but I prove him wrong. It’s exhausting, but all those sessions in the gym lately, the early morning jogging, has been doing me wonders. I’m glad that I prepared my beach body ahead of time, without knowing I needed it. It makes lounging with Jake, in barely any clothes, less mortifying.

* * *

We spend lunch on deck with the rest of the party, eating chicken Caesar salad and drinking wine, relaxing on the padded double loungers on the main deck. Jake’s beside me, leaning toward Daniel’s bed, his strong back covered in a pale gray T-shirt, in the mid-day sun. They’re talking about the New York Giant’s game they recently went to at the MetLife Stadium, while I’m leaning toward the bed with Leila and Richard, engrossed in girl talk and making plans. Leila agrees to take me to the mainland for some girly shopping, and to source a salon to cut my hair.