CHAPTER55
He reaches out a hand, ignoring me, and tugs me by the hood so I’m within reach of his arm, putting it back around my shoulders. Only this time it’s loose and casual, and my clothes stay neat and in place. I don’t bother fighting this time; I’m so used to touchy-feely Carrero by now that I’ve stopped caring any more. He has very few inhibitions, having been raised by a touchy-feely Italian family.
Why doesn’t it bother me? It would bother me if it was anyone else.
I guess because Jake is the first man I’ve ever known who touches me without intent. There’s no threat or ulterior motive, like the way that a child touches automatically because they want to and they don’t see the issue with doing it. It’s like the way he constantly flirts or makes suggestions of a sexual nature, yet never follows through. It’s harmless; it’s just how he is. Saying that, however, he’s a constant annoyance at work, forever tugging my hair or prodding me in the side and manhandling me into closets. Maybe I should sue him for sexual harassment, I smile to myself.
Teach him some boundaries, that would show him.
“We need a break, Emma. I’m listless and tense all the time lately … distracted.” His voice is subdued suddenly. I appraise his expression as he seems distant. With his hood still up, he looks more street thug on the prowl and less Mr. Business. There’s an empty, lost expression just under the surface.
I couldn’t sue that face.
“You’re the boss. You don’t need anyone’s permission.” We’re walking along an alley with no real idea of where we’re going, and it has stopped raining. The sun peeks out between the dull clouds, hinting at a better afternoon.
“Maybe somewhere to relax for a week.” He’s looking around, seemingly lost in thought.
“Where do you want to go?” I ask curiously.
“We could be spontaneous,” he answers quickly, and I raise a brow, surprised at the ‘we’.
“Could we now?” I emphasize the ‘we’, making it clear that taking your PA on vacation with you defeats the purpose of a vacation. Not to mention it being odd.
“You don’t want to come?” He looks at me in the way a child would on finding you’re no longer taking them to buy candy. All I can do is shake my head.
“Ummm, why would I come on vacation with you?” I stifle a giggle at his expression.
“Because you work as hard as I do and could use the break too. Because I want you to.”
“I don’t think it’s appropriate,” I hesitate, somewhat amused that he would even suggest it.
He’s actually being serious?
“Emma, we have literally lived in hotels together for the past few months, and you’ve stayed the night in my apartment more than once; why is this any different?”
“Because a vacation isn’t work. It is different!” I’m starting to feel uncomfortable with the direction of this conversation.
Why is he pressing this?
I think of what kind of gossip would fly around the offices if they got wind of us heading off in the sun for a week together, not to mention how it would look if the media took pictures of us together relaxing on a beach, or a boat, or wherever he chose to kick back. I wonder if he ever took Margo on a break.
I should ask her next time she checks in to see how I’m doing. Ask her if she ever got whisked away for a romantic time out.
“Don’t overthink things, Emma.” He lets go of my shoulders and pulls my arm, indicating we should jog again. My limbs are getting heavy, so I follow without hesitation; we should slow the pace to warm down anyway. I guess it also signals the end of conversation, I observe drily, as he jogs ahead making it impossible to talk. Trying to keep up, I follow him as we round the corner and start heading back in the direction of the hotel. I get the vibe from him that he’s sulking, and I stifle the urge to laugh at him.
What the hell? Jake sulks? Actually sulks. Since when? And why? Because I won’t go on vacation with him? Surely, he can’t be pissed at that?
I keep my eye on the straight, muscular shape of his back as we jog and think rationally about this. He has been tenser lately, maybe he’s just stressed. Jake doesn’t sulk. He’s probably just tired and eager to get home. It’s been non-stop lately with so much in the pipeline. And he’s right, we could use a break.
He stays ahead of me at a good pace, so all I can do is jog to keep up as we head back to the hotel via an unfamiliar route, and I can’t help but feel a little miffed at his sudden cool attitude."
