The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO) novel Chapter 57

“Eww, hell no. That’s gross. Jake is like a brother to me, there’s literally nothing there at all. No spark—there never was. I mean; I appreciate he’s good to look at, but I just don’t get any butterflies from it, from him. He’s just Jake, and he knows how to annoy me on so many levels, just like my brothers.” She squeezes my arm, as though trying to reassure me and there’s only honesty in that sweet face. “You’ve nothing to worry about from over here! I’m all like eww, no. Jake is not someone I would ever go there with … And I’m like, totally hot for Richard right now.” She grins, and I bat her away playfully.

“You know that’s not how it is with him. He told you that already.” I try and defend our relationship, a slow rise of heat hitting my cheekbones.

“I know, so did you … Three times already. Thou doth protest too much.” She bursts into a childish, but adorable giggle and I try for a subject change instead.

“I can’t imagine you being anything other than you are now.” I’m trying to steer back to our pre-Jake conversation.

“Jake introduced me to all his friends, he would let me hang out with them and come away on trips. He really took me under his wing … I see him doing it with you, and I guess, Sophie, because my mom says she raves about both of you.” Leila’s smile is infectious, but this makes me stop and take note.

Is that what Jake does with me? Protects me like a little sister? No! He kissed me … He touches me in ways that would be wrong if I was his sister …

“Jake and I are just friends, and co-workers … He doesn’t need to take me under his wing.” I respond over brightly, but she gives me a knowing look.

“Whether he does or doesn’t, I know him. He’s very protective of you. It’s really kind of sweet.”

“We have a weird relationship … forced together, I guess, and it’s made us really close.” I know I’m trying to sound nonchalant, but truth is, I’m fluttering from her observations.

“It’s more than that. You forget, I’ve known him since I was seven. His flirty little remarks, his almost aggressive protectiveness of you, and the way he just had to butt in over your hair. Jake doesn’t do stuff like that with girls he isn’t invested in.” Leila stops me with a hand on my arm, turning me to face her. Even though I’m small, I stand taller than her curvy little frame.

“You’re reading too much into things. I’ve been his PA for a year now, we really are completely platonic in every way.” I can’t help the creep of blush at the little white lie; platonic didn’t involve sleep kissing in the slightest. “He flirts with every girl he meets; he can’t help himself. It doesn’t mean anything.”

“No, he doesn’t. He doesn’t have to make any verbal effort at all. Girls tend to throw themselves at him, literally. Jake is all about the hot looks and quick smiles, he never has to try; it’s boring to witness. He rarely breaks out the cheesy come ons, or fast lines, for any girl. Until you … with you he uses so many cringe worthy lines, he’s so obvious. Emma, I think the boy has it bad. You gotta trust me on this.” Leila can’t stop beaming at me, but I shake my head.

“I know Jake better than you think; he’s funny and he’s over-sexed. The flirty lines are just his humor at play because he seriously does not look at me that way. It’s our banter, our friendly to and fro.” I sound a little sterner than I intend.

Who am I trying to convince—her or myself?

She needs to stop with this crazy notion already.

“When you guys finally get over this weird denial, you’re both going through, I want to be maid of honor.” She winks at me and wraps an arm around my waist, ushering me onward again.

“Leila, it’s never going to happen.” Even though the words sound true, a little hard jab in my heart betrays me.

“Jake will figure it out, or you will. Then we’ll see.” She smirks cheekily.

My cell vibrates and it’s a welcome distraction. I don’t like how this conversation is going anymore and would love an end to it. The text is from Jake, informing us that they’re heading to the mainland so to meet them at the bistro for dinner. Leila knows where we’re going, so we go off in pursuit of our driver and car.

* * *

Leila chatters non-stop while touching up her make-up in the car. The journey is short, and before we know it, we’re stepping out onto a scene from the movie Cocktail.

The restaurant is nice and private, it has a beach theme with little palm roofs over each table which spill out onto the sand, near the shore, strung with fairy lights which are twinkling now that the light is fading.