Chapter 50

“Why is that?”

“Saves you having to wine and dine leggy blondes on short notice, when you can’t be bothered or have a hangover.” I smirk. Inwardly glad he has no date with him tonight.

“I guess. Although that stiff double whiskey sorted me right out.” He’s smiling, he seems relaxed tonight despite his earlier weirdness and there’s that casual laid back energy.

“What’s with that anyway?” I ask curiously.

“What’s with what?” he looks over my head and nods at someone trying to catch his attention - ever sociable Carrero. Back to swaying with me to the music, he seems distant suddenly, but I know he’s trying to avoid my gestapo questioning.

“The lack of leggy bosoms lately?” It’s been in the back of my mind, his lack of playmates and sleep overs for weeks now.

He shrugs and spins me around, pulls me back into his arm playfully and lightly smacks me on the butt. I throw him a mock alarmed look; the tug of his grin is not lost on me and I get that warm fuzzy feeling in the pit of my stomach at his good mood. He’s so much more mellow since we landed.

“Lost your sex drive or merely misplaced it?”

“Nope.” He’s smiling, but that guarded look is back with my probing, he’s being deliberately evasive, pulling out that tug of irritation at him.

Oh, so we’re playing the one-word answer game, are we?

He looks amused at my dry expression.

“Bored?” I press.

“So, so … Just taking a break.” He shrugs and looks over me again, this time winking at another attention grabber.

For goodness sake.

“You do that, do you?” I cock my head to the side, studying his chiseled jawline, the sparkle of his mystical eyes in this light. He looks particularly handsome tonight.

“Sometimes.”

I doubt it very much. I’m pretty sure in all the years I researched his social endeavors, I have never seen a break in the flow of women, but maybe some of them were just stand in dates, like me. PA and assistants when he couldn’t be bothered.

“Are you sick?” I know I’m prying but I live with him and I know how much he likes to roll in the sheets, and by my calculations it’s been a while since the last one. A long while.

“Not that I’m aware.” He throws me a quizzical glance with raised eyebrows that says, “Where are you going with this?”, but he’s still smiling. He catches my hand and holds it to his forehead with a furrowed brow.

“Do I feel sick?”

I pull my hand free and shake my head at him in exasperation. We go back to swaying, but my brain is still mulling it over.

“You’re not? … You know?” I hesitate as the telltale heat runs up my cheeks and I curse myself for asking this.

“What?” he’s laughing now, I think he knows what I’m going to ask and it’s absolutely hilarious to him. He has that amused look on his face, the all-knowing eye.

How does he do that?

“Having man problems?” I blush furiously.

Why am I even asking this, god? I’ve become as nosey as him! And as inappropriate!

“No … No “man problems”, Emma. Don’t worry, my libido is still intact and waiting for you to name the place. Why are you so interested in my lack of sexual partners?” He shakes his head, locking eyes with mine finally, being direct.

“It’s just … I’ve worked for you for a while now and it’s the first time there’s been a lull in … playtime.” I answer, my skin on fire and I suddenly wish I never started this line of interrogation. I am practically squirming with awkwardness.

Why do I care so much anyway?

“You’re keeping tabs? Little bit jealous, maybe?” he smirks at me, a twinkle in those alluring eyes.

“No!” I flush and realize my cheeks are flaming now, I must be bright red. He’s smirking at me as he moves me around in time to the music and pulls me against his jaw so we’re resting easily. Giving me a break from his interrogation and instead enveloped by his warmth against my face. He moves my body against his expertly, slowly moving us.

“I just need a little break from demanding, stroppy women … even casual sex can be a hassle.” He shrugs, flatly.

“I see. So, am I just the stand in date from now on then?” I ask seriously. A tingle of annoyance in that fact.

“Never! You’re always my number one girl.” He throws me a mock shocked look, as though I’ve offended him. “I don’t know why you’re complaining. I don’t think I’ve seen you warm to a single female I’ve dated,” he states as a matter of fact, then spins me and brings me back to his face, tipping his chin down so his nose grazes my shoulder when he pulls me in. His breath fans my naked skin as this dress is strapless, and it makes me goose bump all over. It’s a little red number and far too molded to my body for my liking. He presses his ear against my ear intimately, the new position meaning my face is almost buried in his shoulder and neck, closer than moments before. I’m a little breathless and to anyone watching, this is not a platonic pose. Especially as this dress is all cleavage, and Jake’s looking directly into it.

“I didn’t know I was meant to?” I stumble over the words, conscious of the fact I’m suddenly light-headed. Overly aware of how well our bodies fit together and how sexual this feels.

“You’re not … It’s up to you … Either you like them, or you don’t, it doesn’t matter … not one of them is permanent.” He moves back to his previous hold, giving me some breathing room again and I exhale with relief. He lifts his hand from my waist and waves at someone behind me then returns it back to its warm spot on my body. Pulling me in a little closer if that is possible. I’m practically part of his body like this.

“What do you see in them?” I’ve mulled over this every time I met one, never seeing the connection and I can’t stop asking dumb questions. He raises his eyebrow, followed by a smile which says “really?”, and I feel stupid.

Okay, so he’s a man! And they’re all drop dead gorgeous, with scantily covered, lithe bodies, and huge boobs; every one has been stunning, in that fake, plastic over-manicured way.

“I mean besides that?” I falter drily.

“Nothing … hence why they’re all temporary. None have your cute little face, perfect figure, or sexy little personality.” He throws me another flirty grin. I think eye rolling has become my most used facial expression since meeting him and his cheesy lines.

“So, another deliberate move by smooth Mr. Carrero then?” Another premeditated game play? Maybe we’re not so different after all, both control our lives so fluidly.

“Pretty much.” The music tempo changes slightly, but it’s still a slow song so he lifts my hand in his, a tad higher, checks his watch and puts his arm back to its previous position. He’s getting bored being here, all the Jake signs coming out. We’ll be leaving soon at this rate, but I want to know.

“So, you avoid people you might actually want to make more permanent?” I press on. Like a dog with a bone.

“Mmm-hmmm … makes sure I don’t get too involved … Waiting on you to hurry up and confess undying love, Bambino.” He winks at me, flexing his eyebrows knowingly.

“You’re exhausting, you know that?” I sigh again, exasperated by him at times. “So? What is your type if it’s not leggy boobs with killer nails?” I push, smiling shyly. Determination pushing in. His eyes flicker to me seriously for a moment, then he shrugs.

“Someone real. Maybe short, blonde, blue eyed with a name like Emma.” His grin is over the top, full on charming Carrero and I resist the urge to bop him on the head. He’s never serious about this stuff. Ever! I exhale heavily.

“More real than fake boobs and Botox you mean?” I ignore the comments about me, despite the little elevated heartbeat it has erupted and swipe them aside as another joke.

“Something like that.” His short answers are starting to drive me slowly insane; I think he’s deliberately trying to be obtuse and pull a reaction.

“You’re not giving much away,” I pout, a little huffily.

“What do you want to know exactly? I thought I already described the perfect woman … did I forget pushy and nosy?” he spins me again and now I’m back in his arms, but able to see his face properly form how he has me in his arms. It’s like he’s avoiding eye contact now.

“If I believed you for one minute, Carrero! What’s your type, if you wanted more than just sex? Brunette … red head, short … curvy? What?”

He frowns down at me, spins me under his arm and pecks me on the cheek with a quick kiss almost like a shut-up motion.

“It’s not so much about looks, Emma … It would be someone I can hang out with, who doesn’t bore me … Someone with an IQ larger than her bust size.”