Taming The Wild CEO novel Chapter 108

C H A P T E R 3 7 : T H E C H I M E A N D L O S T M E M O R Y

E L L A S T A N F O R D

“I do know how much they care and I love having your brothers around especially Reed, he is most fun,” she said with a small grin.

Javier groaned. "And he is the player amongst us all." He moved to the living room after hanging his coat and took a seat on the couch.

"Really?" Ella could not help but laugh after watching the expression on his face. "He is charming."

"I know. I have seen him charm his way into many women's pants. I honestly do not know how Liesl could stand him." He shook his head.

Ella bit her lip. “Well, no matter how charming your brothers are, I am okay now, at least physically. As for my memory, well—” Her voice caught. “You said yourself that there is nothing I can do but wait for it to come back. But in the meantime, you need to stop having people babysit me like this. I know you have a job, responsibilities that need your attention. You need to quit worrying over me and go to work.”

Javier let out a heavy sigh. "What did my sister tell you?"

"W-what?" Ella looked every bit startled.

Tilting his head to one side, he regarded her as if he was waiting for her to confess. "What did Clarabelle tell you?"

"Why do you assume that she did?" dodged Ella, not really answering his question.

"Because I know that is the only way you found out about the situation at the office." He took a deep breath and rubbed his face. "Damn. Only God knows what the hell my sister is thinking or trying to gain by telling you."

At last, Ella caved in and decided to confess. "She is worried about you. You went to work every day but you did not seem to pay attention at what you do."

“I told you, it has been slow at the office. I only need to take care of a few minor things.”

“Really? Remember what I said about hiding the truth from me.” She took a pause then came from a different angle. "You have to go to Los Angeles and you should go for a week as planned instead of trying to squeeze your schedules into three days."

“Ella, I am fine,” Javier told her.

“Are you?” she asked, standing.

“Yes.”

“Then why do you look exhausted?”

“I did not sleep well last night,” he admitted. He tensed as she circled the couch to stand behind him. As she did so, he caught her scent—that mix of flowers and sunshine and Ella—and it filled his head.

“Is that why you are so tense?” she asked, resting her hands atop his shoulders. She began to knead the stiff muscles in his shoulders.

“Look, you don’t have to do this. I—” The protest died on his lips as she worked on a particularly tight knot and he groaned.

Ella laughed, and the carefree sound had him sucking in his breath.

“Whatever it is you’re thinking about, stop it. You’re tensing up again. Try to shut off that brain of yours for a few minutes and relax,” she commanded.

“Yes, ma’am.” But that was easier said than done. Because even while her fingers worked out the kinks in his neck and shoulders, a new type of tension began to build inside Javier—one that had nothing to do with his work schedule or worries and everything to do with wanting Ella. When she slipped her fingers beneath the collar of his shirt to massage his shoulders, Javier’s throat went dry at the feel of her hands on his bare skin. Leaning his head back, he looked up at her smiling face. And heat streaked through him like lightning.

The smile slid from her lips. Her brown eyes darkened as he reached up, entwined his fingers with hers. “Javier, I—"

At the sound of his laptop chirping to inform him that he just received a new email, Ella stilled. She pulled her hands free and stared over at his discarded bag next to his feet. Frowning, she pressed her fingertips to her temple. “That sound. The notification bell. I remember—”