CHAPTER26
He’s serious.
“I forgot you don’t mess with the staff,” Daniel laughs smugly. I miss whatever look passes between them as Jake stands in front of me.
“I don’t mess with good girls. Period.” Jake turns, throwing me a cavalier wink, and my heart stops mid-beat.
He thinks I’m a good girl? What does that even mean? Boring, uptight? What’s wrong with good girls?
“Amen to that!” Daniel cuts in, and both men high five in a show of male camaraderie. This time I don’t quell the urge to eye roll and catch Jake grinning back at me.
I experience a swell of relief as he turns and places a hand on the small of my back to guide me out, signaling this meeting is done. It’s the first time that skin contact has been acceptable between us as he guides me out of the room, along the hall, and finally to the row of gold-colored elevators, leaving Daniel behind in the room to do whatever with his date.
“I’m sorry I answered for you,” Jake says, glancing at me in the elevator. There’s an apologetic downturn to one eyebrow that’s kind of cute. “I just don’t think any good would come from dating Daniel Hunter; I know him too well.” The look of conviction and honesty is endearing.
“I don’t want to date Daniel Hunter,” I smile tightly, suddenly warm and a little claustrophobic, but also deadly serious. Daniel is a creep.
Why does Jake have this knack of tilting me off keel? I don’t like it.
“He’s bad news with women,” he frowns at me, watching me closely, and I have to look away for a second to stop the heat rising up inside of me from showing on my face.
“Bit like you then?” I smirk and catch the full width of that jaw-dropping smile from the corner of my eye. It’s unexpected and makes me smile too.
“I’m not bad news for women; I know how to treat them, whereas Daniel does not. He’s a typical playboy; he doesn’t care whose feelings he hurts.”
Irony.
He slips an arm around me, pulling me in against him, shielding me as we leave the elevator amid more flashes and clicks. This time I anticipate it and am more relaxed about the contact. I keep my eyes on the floor and try not to react to him, which is hard, considering he has me pressed very securely to that muscular frame, and it’s not exactly unpleasant. He feels solid.
Outside I look up, blinking harshly as the sun glares cruelly at us, and I lift my hand to shield my eyes. He slides his shades from his head onto my face in such a fluid movement that I’m taken by surprise and don’t react. He registers nothing on his face, just guides me to our car as it pulls up, and he deposits me in the back before following me in. I suddenly get a little inkling of how the women he dates must feel; he’s attentive and in control, with great manners. He’s a gentleman. Pretty surprising for a guy who loves himself.
Very smooth, Carrero, unexpectedly smooth.
I hand the shades back in the dark confines of the car, and he pushes them back on top of his head with a smile, a nothing-but-thanks kind of soft grin.
“Back to the office?” I enquire as I grab my briefcase to offload my notepad. I’m glad to be back in here and back in normal territory.
“Not yet. I’ve some things to do and I figure we could use the bonding time. Margo agreed we should get better acquainted.” He looks out the window as we move off, watching the photographers fall back with disinterest, the tinted windows concealing us fully.
“Why? I’m only your PA.” I’m surprised and too quick verbally to curb my stupid question. I know I should never quiz the boss.
“And that job entails a lot more than typing, Emma. I know you’re used to working for the execs on the lower floors, but I’ve certain tasks that my staff undertake. It’s why I took you on a recommendation and didn’t just dip into the temp pool.” He studies my face seriously.
“Tasks? Beyond those of a PA?” I ask carefully, feeling obtuse and cursing myself for it.
“You’ll accompany me on business trips, dinners, and such. Sometimes I prefer my PA to an actual date. Less hassle. Your being unmarried and having no kids are part of the reason Margo singled you out from the list. She recognizes that you’re career oriented and like to go above and beyond for your position.”
Above and beyond? What the hell does that mean?
“List?” I query instead, trying to not mull over the fact he sometimes replaces dates with his PA, trying not to read anything into what he just said.
“There were more than thirty employees recommended for your role.”
“I’m not surprised. I guess this was a job worthy of fighting over.” I blanche realizing just how lucky I was to get picked."
