But her? She was a complete enigma.
“Career oriented? Can be lonely.” He felt stiff and uncomfortable and tried to release the tension in his
body by moving his shoulders, his seat on the edge of his desk wasn’t as comfy as his laid-back
posture suggested and he was barely keeping himself still. Too much nervous energy running riot.
“I’m never lonely, Mr. Carrero … I’m an independent sort of person who doesn’t need assurances or
company from other people to be happy.” He stopped and regarded her answer, momentarily quietened
again. He wondered if that meant there was no boyfriend lurking in the background and felt slightly
happy at that thought.
“Oh, Emma, that’s not the way a young girl like you should live her life,” said Margo warmly. “You’re so
pretty … You should have young men romancing you around New York.” Margo leaned out, touching
the girl, and Jake could only frown, he didn’t like Margo’s suggestion at all.
“Sounds like you’re trying to talk her out of stealing your job, Margo.” He laughed, mostly at himself for
his stupid reactions or wherever his goddamn head was. He sure as hell didn’t want to be romancing
her around New York either. He didn’t do romance—ever! He didn’t do any sort of long-term thing and
knew his capabilities were to fuck and forget. That’s why he couldn’t go down this route with her, he
needed a PA to replace Margo and he needed one now.
Margo was itching to let go of the reins and as she had handpicked this one, it put all question of
anything else far out the window. He would just have to get used to the idea that Emma was out of
bounds for eternity and maybe he should start looking to small curvy blondish girls to distract him for a
while. His body certainly piqued an interest in that direction ever since she’d walked through his door.
“No. Emma knows I value her here. I think she’s a perfect fit.” Margo turned to Emma, an obvious show
of affection on her face that only strengthened Jake’s mindset. “Not too sure how much you’ll like it
once Jake starts running you ragged, mind you.” She winked at her and placed a hand on him. Jake
knew Margo too well. It was a warning gesture … A Margo special. She’d been reading his body
language, knowing Jake was normally far more relaxed than this—she was telling him no!
“I’m sure I can handle the demands.” Emma lifted that chin again, and he found himself sighing softly in
defeat. It was for the best if he just put this chick on the “No-go” list.
“Despite Jake’s public playboy reputation, Emma, I’m afraid he’s a bit of a workaholic … Surprising I
know, but you’ll get used to it, you’ll certainly rake up enough air miles in the next few months.” Margo
smiled Jake’s way and with a knowing look and a very forceful pat on his arm, he took his visual telling
off graciously. Out of bounds, eyes off!
He damn well knows it without your insistence, Margo!
“You’ll soon get fed up with seeing the world,” he said, but couldn’t get that stupid frown off his face, the
urge to glare at Margo for reading him a little too well. “And the inside of hotel rooms.”
Yeah, hell, he wanted to throw that in there, just for the reaction. See if she was completely immune to
being in a bedroom with him, for his own amusement.
“I’ve seen enough of those to last a lifetime.” Margo waved her hand and gave Jake that raised
eyebrow look. He was being told off again, and she wasn’t impressed with him right now; it seemed she
was also ending this little introduction. “Right, we have work to be getting on with … Emma, you’re with
me for now.” She gestured to the door behind Emma and waved her onward, with one more warning
scowl his way, which only got her rewarded with a smirk. The girl smiled back again, only not the
beautiful, real one of earlier, more of a relief that it was over, and Jake felt that tug of disappointment
that she’d been relieved to be getting away from him.
Definitely out of bounds.
“To our working relationship, Emma,” he said half-heartedly, trying to figure out how long it would take
to get used to her in this place and stop having a serious dog-humping reaction to her. He hoped it
would be sooner rather than later and he was already mentally going through his little black book for a
look-alike to quell the frustration.
If he had a look-alike, he was pretty sure she wouldn’t be so damn appealing right now.
She turned to the door with Margo to leave and Jake almost groaned out loud, catching himself quickly
as his eyes connected with possibly the most perfect ass in a tight gray skirt he had ever seen, his
body most definitely reacted this time. The door was swiftly shut after they left, and he exhaled fully,
unaware he had been holding his breath for a moment.
That girl was going to be the death of him.
He had always been an ass guy, and she had got the first perfect ten score he had ever given out.
Standing up quickly to adjust his trousers, which had gotten too tight all of a sudden, he caught Arrick
grinning at him.
“The fuck you smiling at?” he said in an irritated tone, his mind still following that ass out mentally, not
impressed with his own stupid display for the last God knows how long she was in here.
“You! Never seen the great Carrero unravel quite so magnificently in the face of a little girl.” Arrick got
up and wandered to him casually, the same Carrero saunter as his. He shoved his brother’s shoulder
playfully.
“Fuck off, that was definitely no little girl … That was a born siren if I ever saw one. Work is about to get
a lot fucking harder for me.” Jake slumped back down on the desk and pulled over her drink, smiling
stupidly at the perfectly shaped mouth her lipstick had imprinted on the side and turned the glass so he
could down it from the same spot she had touched.
That’s weird, Jake, fucking weird.
“Not my type, but I see the appeal; she’s cute … I’d say marriage material though, so definitely not
worth your time.” Arrick shrugged nonchalantly at him.
He regarded his brother critically and frowned hard.
How the hell he had got that much from her without barely looking her way once, he would never know.
But Arrick did have his skills at reading people too; maybe the foggy lust haze had clouded his
temporarily and Arrick seemed completely unaffected.
“Fuck no … Marriage is definitely not on the table at all.” Jake put her glass back down on the table
with an arrogant crack of the neck. Pushing all thoughts of that tiny little temptress out of his fuzzy
brain.
“I need some goddamn sleep so I can get this head straight, lock the door, the couch is mine and I will
fight you for it.”
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