ROMANCE: Billion Dollar Question (BWWM Billionaire Bad Boy Romance) (African American Alpha Mail Order Bride New Adult)

by Aisha Brooks

  Jada smiled. “I don’t think we’re ready for that. But perhaps we could compromise?”

  “What do you have in mind?”

  Maybe we could find a modest home in a diverse neighborhood where Serena could have friends of many races and ethnicities. I was thinking in the Camden area or Powderhorn. Both of those places have lots of diversity, parks and nice homes.

  “I’ll get my realtor on it right away. We’ll make the choice together.” Jada agreed.

  One month later, Jada and her mother moved into a three-bedroom bungalow in Camden. Dallas bought it, had it renovated and updated and even paid for movers to do all the heavy lifting. Jada kept resisting his financial help, but eventually allowed it.

  Dallas asked Jada’s mother if she could watch Serena one night for just a few hours so he could spend some time with Jada. She happily agreed.

  Dallas brought Jada to The Blue Nile for dinner.

  “Ah, good memories here,” Jada said.

  “The best,” Dallas agreed. “I hope you’ll sing again for me tonight.”

  Jada smiled. “Anytime. You know I love singing.”

  “The pianist is ready for you.”

  “You didn’t!” Jada said.

  “Of course I did.” He walked her to the piano and helped her sit on a stool next to it.

  Jada sang several jazz standards. The crowd was so pleased with her singing, the owner actually asked her if she would consider making it a regular gig. She promised to think about it.

  At the end of the evening, before they left the restaurant, Dallas kneeled at Jada’s feet and looked at her.

  “Jada, you have made me the happiest man in the world. Will you consider marrying me?”

  Jada beamed. “Yes, Dallas, I will marry you.”

  They embraced and the crowd at The Blue Nile applauded.

  Dallas moved into the bungalow. They spent weekends and most of the summer at the mansion on Lake Minnetonka. Serena had the best of both worlds. She was surrounded by a loving family with strong, moral values, a welcoming neighborhood and all the money she could ever need or want.

  Billion Dollar Love

  A BWWM Billionaire Romance

  This deliciously dirty story is a part of Aisha Brooks’ super-charged, highly lewd collection of love and lust, written in 2015. Those who attempt to steal any part of this goldmine and take it as their own risk being a fiery, hot death from a hunk bearing copyright notices—and she’s not about to play with you.

  This is a work of fiction—although we wish that people like this really existed, it’s nothing more than a figment of a very, very overactive imagination. Any resemblance to someone you know, a place you love or a thing you hold dear to your heart is nothing more than a craving in your heart that these carnal desires and actions were true!

  It goes without saying that this book oozes with erotic sex appeal, and is filled to the rafters with a smorgasbord of acts that you certainly wouldn’t tell your grandmother about. Bodice-ripping, panty-dropping and glasses-steaming, the scenes contained herein are wickedly naughty!

  Although all the saucy characters are flirting with forbidden desires and sometimes taking the naughty fruit they really shouldn’t be, all are consenting adults over the age of 18 and not blood-related. What they are is passionate and eager to explore their carnal desires all day long.

  In short, this book is going to get you very, very hot!

  © Aisha Brooks

  All Rights Reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any many whatsoever without the express permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locations is purely coincidental. The characters are all productions of the author’s imagination. Please note that this work is intended only for adults age 18 and over. All characters represented are age 18 or over.

  Table Of Contents

  Introduction

  Chapter 1: The Lie That Led Me To You

  Chapter 2: The Secrets That Keeps Me From You

  Chapter 3: Just for Today

  Conclusion

  Introduction

  “I'm not sure, Debbie,” Amy said taking another slow swig of her wine. “I think I'm just one of those people who are meant to be single. Look at my past! It started in high school with Ryan. He cheated on me with Sandra on our senior trip.”

  “Please, stop!” Debbie laughed taking another sip of wine. “You're not in high school anymore or even college! You're two months away from being thirty! I was there for it all. Well, not that particular part of it, but I know the stories. You've retold them all a hundred times at least, but not every guy is like that.”

  “Maybe not,” Amy shrugged, “or maybe some are just better at not getting caught.”

  Amy studied the table cloth and waited for Debbie to make her next argument. Her now happily married best friend had been relentless on finding Amy her own Mr. Right since she had gotten married six months ago. She was already feeling tipsy, but took another drink of the wine anyway. It was going to be a long night if Debbie didn't relent and let her be happily miserable. Amy had to stifle a laugh at the oxymoron. Was contently miserable a better term?

  “What are you laughing at?” Debbie asked arching a brow.

  “I think I'm tipsy,” Amy laughed.

  “Girl,” Debbie said drawing out the r in the dramatic way that had always annoyed Amy.

  “You're done past up Tipsy Street and are headed to Smashedville.”

  “You're right,” Amy nodded finally seeing a way out of the awkward conversation, “I should call a taxi to take me home.”

  “Not yet,” Debbie grabbed her hand. “There's this guy I know at work.”

  “Nope, not happening,” Amy shook her head laughing. “I'm laughing, because you've been trying to get me drunk all evening so I'd agree to this lunacy, but it's not happening, Debbie. Chad leaving me at the altar to fly off with his secretary into the sunset was the last straw!”

  “You're a romance novelist! You're not allowed to give up on finding love!”

  “I am too. The smut I write in my books are just that: Fictional smut and gooey romances. None of it happens. If it did, I would be out of a job. Women read them to escape to a world where forever exists and men love them more than the Boob Job Betty's that work in their offices.”

  “Look, I'm not asking you to marry the guy! It's just dinner. What's that going to hurt?”

  “Possibly everything.”

  “Please, Amy,” Debbie said. Her voice rose several octaves as she whined. Amy shook her head as her ears began to ring. Her best friend certainly knew how to press all of her buttons.

  “Cole really wants to meet you.”

  “How does Cole even know about me?”

  “You can ask him yourself Friday night at six. I may or may not have already told him that you agreed to go out with him.”

  “Debbie!” Amy protested and slapped the table.

  “He's a good guy, Amy, and that's exactly what you need in your life.”

  “Fine!” She said giving in. “I'll have dinner with him, but that's as far as it's going.”

  Once safely away from Debbie and tucked into the backseat of a yellow taxi car, Amy had to fight back tears. It had been over a year since Chad had broken her heart and left her at the altar, but the wound felt fresh every time she thought about it.

  She watched the city streets blur by and wondered would the city nights look different if she were with her soul mate. Amy swallowed the fit of giggles that threatened to bubble over her plump lips.

  Soul mates, now I know I'm smashed!

  Chapter 1: The Lie That Led Me To You

  Amy crossed her legs and then uncrossed them. The clock read a quarter til six. She had convinced herself to step into her favorite little black dress and matching heels. Her hair and make-up were done too, but she wore an undeniable look of dread. She
studied her ebony reflection looking for imperfections in her makeup. It was flawless. Amy never left the house unless it was flawless. Foundation, concealer, eye-liner, eye shadow, lipstick, and a half dozen other products acted as her shield and her war paint.

  She tapped her long manicured nails against the tile of the bathroom sink and then lifted them for inspection too. Then she glanced back to her reflection. Despite the flawless makeup, Amy could still see the woman Chad had left at the altar. She was hiding behind the facade and she felt naked. The men she'd dated since then knew it too and more than one had taken advantage of it.

  “Not this time,” she told her reflection. “I'm ready for it. I know the game and I know the lines.”

  The doorbell rang and the sound echoed throughout her small apartment. She gave reflection on last glance before switching out the bathroom light. The sound of her heels tapping against the hardwood floor of the living room comforted her. She took a deep breath and silently cursed Debbie as she opened the door.

  “Damn!” was the only thought she had when she found herself face to face with her blind date for the evening.

  Cole stood at least six inches taller than her five foot seven frame and his broad shoulders and strong arms filled out his Armani suit like it had been crafted just for him. He wore a confident smile that told Amy that he knew the effect his good looks had on women. His bright blue eyes were smoldering when they met her gaze.

  “Amy?” he said extending his hand.

  “Cole,” she nodded attempting to hide the chemistry that was brewing just below her surface. Amy extended her hand and Cole took it. His hand engulfed hers and was warm to the touch. Instead of shaking it, he gently lifted it to his lips and pressed them softly against it.

  “It's a pleasure to finally meet you,” he said. “I've been trying to convince Debra to introduce us for ages.”

  “Ages?” she asked.

  “Ages,” Cole chuckled, “or at least since you were her guest to the company's Christmas party last year.”

  “That's odd,” Amy said shouldering her purse. “I don't remember seeing you there.”

  “I must have been just another face in the crowd,” Cole shrugged.

  “I doubt that,” Amy said as she locked the door. “You're the type of man to make your presence known.”

  “My charm must have failed me that night.”

  The elevator ride to the ground floor was thick with an awkward silence. Amy grasped her purse and kept her gaze in front of her. Her date for the evening didn't need any additional ego stroking. She could feel his eyes on her, but she didn't look in his direction.

  Cole offered her his hand as he stepped out of the elevator. Not wanting to be rude, she took it. Her hand rested lightly against him as they walked to the car. His body heat radiated into her flesh and she blushed.

  “A limo?” Amy asked. “Don't you think it's a bit much to rent a limo for a first date?”

  The question came out before she could swallow it down. Debbie was always telling her that the filter between her brain and mouth was broken. She studied the black shiny stretch limousine before her with contempt. So that was his thing. Amy had dated his type before. She

  rolled her eyes. No amount of money was going to impress her.

  “Actually,” Cole said as the driver rounded the car to open the door for them, “it's not a rental.”

  Amy laughed as she slid into the backseat.

  “Really?” she arched a brow.

  “Yes,” Cole nodded. “I considered bringing my own car, but decided on the limo thinking it would allow us not to be interrupted.”

  “Interrupted?”

  “By driving,” Cole nodded, “Red lights, stop signs, other drivers. They all detract from conversation. If you like, we can swing by my place an exchange vehicles.”

  “No,” Amy shook her head. “We're already in route. Let's just get this evening over with.”

  “I have a feeling that Debra may have been less than honest with me about some things,” Cole said rubbing the back of his neck.

  “She does have a way of glossing over details,” Amy nodded.

  “She's a great employee, but I'm beginning to think she is a horrible matchmaker.”

  “We can end the evening early, if you like,” Amy offered. “No hard feelings.”

  “That's not what I meant, but you've looked miserable since you answered the door,” Cole sighed. “Debra told me that you were looking forward to tonight.”

  Amy took a deep breath and studied Cole's expression.

  “Debbie is a chronic liar at times.”

  “So I'm learning.”

  An awkward moment of silence danced between them. One had been nagged into the date and the other had been lied to about the other party's interest. Amy looked out the window at the busy city streets. She could feel Cole looking at her and felt guilty that Debbie would go to such extremes to play matchmaker. The evening had already began and she was dressed to kill after all. Maybe, just maybe the evening was still salvageable.

  “Let's start over,” she smiled turning to face Cole. “Hi, I'm your date for the evening. I'm Amy and my best friend is Debbie, a well meaning liar. I'm reluctant to be here, because her matchmaking has proved to be disastrous in the past.”

  “Hi Amy,” Cole laughed taking her out stretched hand in her own. His warmth spread through her body. “I'm Cole. I'm Debra's boss at work and while she's an ideal employee, I believe her social skills could use some improvement. I know I have my work cut out for me, but I plan to make this a blind date you don't soon forget.”

  Cole kissed her hand again. This time his lips lingered against her flesh and she blushed.

  At least he's a gentleman.

  Half an hour later found the pair sitting at a table in a restaurant Amy had never been too. The atmosphere was soft and romantic with nice linen table cloths and candles dotting each table and on a shelf along the walls.

  “Debbie also didn't tell me that you were her boss,” Amy laughed nervously as the waitress walked away.

  “At work, she threatens to use the stapler on people who call her Debbie.”

  “Double agent and a traitor.”

  Another awkward silence settled between them. Amy studied Cole's well defined features. He looked at ease with himself and the silence and she hoped she did too. She rested her hands on the table and tried not to fidget too much.

  “So you already know what I do for a living,” Cole said.

  “Not really. Debbie wasn't very forth coming in information.”

  “I'm the CEO of Amni.”

  “Oh.”

  Amy fought back the nervous habit of biting her lip. Did Debbie think she was looking for a rich man to be a plaything for? In their younger days, Debbie had often talked about finding a sugar daddy. At the time, Amy had thought she was merely joking. Now she wasn't so sure.

  “What about you? Amy mentioned that you were a writer, but not where you worked.”

  “I'm an independent contractor.”

  “What do you write?”

  Amy crossed her arms and quickly uncrossed them. She didn't want to appear to be closed off and more than one therapist said that her body language told everyone to go screw off.

  “Novels,” Amy shrugged. “Nothing fantastic, but novels.”

  “I've never heard of you so I'm assuming you write under a pen name.”

  “Yes, I do. For that's a private matter. Very few people know me by my pen name and I feel that gives me more creative freedom.”

  “So you write things you wouldn't want your parents to read,” Cole laughed.

  Amy gave a noncommittal shrug.

  The rest of dinner didn't go any smoother. Amy had to swallow a sigh of relief when the server finally brought the check. Cole asked too many questions that Amy wasn't willing to fully answer.

  Inside the limo Amy closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She knew she was purposefully keeping him out despite the fact at least a
small part of her wanted to let him in.

  “I really enjoyed tonight,” Amy said as they walked into the lobby of her apartment building.

  “No, you didn't,” Cole laughed. “You spent the whole evening acting like an interrogation victim rather than a date.”

  “Sorry about that,” Amy said unable to bring herself to meet his gaze. “It's just that I'm a private person and..”