That Forbidden Love

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Blurb:

A forbidden, unlikely couple, interracial, billionaire romance book. Jazmyn Tucker and Zack Whittaker are total opposites. Singer Jazmyn thrives on seeking out exhilarating escapades. However, Zack spends most of his time in the office, devoting his energy to scaling his billion-dollar company to new heights.

When fate brings them together, an unmistakable attraction sparks between Zack and Jazmyn. His usual business-centric mindset takes a backseat as he’s swept up by her charm. Jazmyn finds herself equally drawn to Zack’s intense nature, leading them into a passionate romance that pulls Zack away from his business-first lifestyle.

However, when Jazmyn meets Zack’s mother, their relationship hits a potential roadblock… Will Zack’s family welcome Jazmyn with open arms? And can Jazmyn and Zack navigate the blending of their very different cultures? Find out in this ‘black woman white man’ romance story by Lila Lucas.

Chapter 1

Jazmyn

The sound of the alarm felt like it came from a long distance away, but the persistent, ingratiating ring jerked Jazmyn out of a Xanax-induced sleep. It took every force and willpower, accompanied by lots of grunting, in between incoherent curses to drag herself upright and rest on the bohemian styled headboard.

Rubbing at her bleary eyes, she struggled to make out the intricate details of the off-white and burnt orange painted bedroom she’d designed herself last summer as a stark realization came hurtling in.

The Jefferson’s foster center’s Botany Picnic was scheduled for that morning and Brianna was going to murder her in cold blood if she dared be late!

“Damn!” Jazmyn jumped out of bed instantly and narrowly missed stepping on Bishop, her furry Saint Bernard who yelped and dashed out of the way in a hurry, where he stood giving her a look akin to exasperation.

Every trace and vestige of sleep was gone from Jazmyn in a matter of seconds as her eyes landed on the electric guitar-shaped bedside clock.

11:25 AM.

She was thirty minutes late and knowing her best friend, Brianna; she was probably fuming right at that moment while trying to get the children organized and ready for their monthly picnic at New Orleans City Park.

The sudden ringing of her cellphone at that moment jolted Jazmyn from her semi-frozen state. She hurriedly snatched it up from the bedside table and grimaced as Brianna’s name flashed on the screen.

“Hello, girl!” Jazmyn piped up as her thoughts raced in a flurry, trying hard to sort for the perfect excuse to tender.

“You just got out of bed, didn’t you?” Brianna’s flat tone came through the receiver accompanied by a banner of silent accusations.

Jazmyn gave up the pretense immediately as she hurried to the closet. Her best friend knew her like the palm of her hands and nothing got past the little witch easily.

“I overslept, I’m sorry Bri. Are you at the center yet?”

“Of course. I got here over an hour ago.” Jazmyn felt Brianna rolling her eyes just then and couldn’t stifle a peal of laughter.

“Jaz get your sh*t together and come meet me at once. The children are hyped as usual and Kennedy wants to know if you are really coming.”

Jazmyn’s laughter collapsed into a fond smile. Kennedy Sinclair was one of the kids at the foster center she’d gotten quite attached to recently, and the light in the soft-spoken dark-haired girl’s eyes, whenever they met, warmed her insides.

“I’ll be there in less than thirty minutes, sergeant. I trust you can hold the fort till then?”

“You are a clown Jazmyn; I wonder why I put up with your annoying ass.”

“Uh, because you love me and I’m the best thing since Charles Fraser kissed you in freshman year?”

Brianna responded by hanging up immediately; the end dial tone, sending Jazmyn into an uncontrollable fit of laughter. If there was one thing her best friend really hated, it was reminders of the few times of her life when she’d lost her firm hold on control.

Now an advertising exec and part-time counselor, Brianna prided herself in making firm decisions and approaching life sensibly, unlike Jazmyn who plunged into life and uncertain situations head-on like a raging bull.

They were opposites in every aspect, but the way they cared and loved each other.

Brianna was the sister she never had and Jazmyn was eternally grateful for the way she and her family had accepted and treated her like family ever since the first day they’d met in college at Shreveport.

There would be hell to pay when she finally arrived at the foster center, but Jazmyn didn’t mind because the kissing jab had been truly worth it. Unsettling and ruffling Brianna Miller’s feathers was one of her favorite things to do.

It was a bit of payback for the blonde’s voice of reasoning and strict policing of her life, despite the fact that Jazmyn knew she’d be a big mess without her guidance.

Upon signing up as volunteers at New Orleans city’s foster center two years ago, both of them had created a range of engaging activities for the children and the bi-monthly picnic was the most anticipated one of them all because of the great deal of fun involved.

Being a ward of the system herself up till the age of sixteen, Jazmyn understood immensely the excitement and relief that came from fixtures and structural activities for the children at the center.

At times in their company, it felt like she was staring at a mirror of her younger self and it always made her heart constrict with emotions for being able to provide the only things she’d sorely craved growing up; consistency and care.

Riffling through her closet, Jazmyn laid out a bohemian knitted skirt in multiple shades of brown and a cream tank top before dashing into the bathroom for a quick shower.

The softness of the pink bath rug under her feet upon entering the white and baby-pink tiled room didn’t just usher clarity but brought the day’s activity into a clearer perspective.

Today was the center’s first-ever picnic with a totally different activity unlike what the children were used to, and she honestly couldn’t wait to see what their reactions would be to the change.

Usually, on the picnics, they took the children to amusement parks and wildlife centers, after which they sat down to a huge feast of food which was mostly donated by volunteers, caseworkers and foster families.

On their weekly lunch date last week, Brianna had suggested they infuse some form of fun learning activity on the picnic outings to help the younger children hone and tap into their talents and hobbies.

While sipping an early Mai Tai, Jazmyn had listened as her nerdy, plant-obsessed friend rambled on about activities like gardening and plant grooming, arts and crafts, music and theater sessions which she felt Jazmyn could handle beautifully as an award-winning musician – a favorite tease and hype technique Brianna had mastered over the years to get whatever she wanted and it worked every single time.

The insufferable little chit.

Jazmyn knew it wasn’t really a manipulative skill because it was borne out of love because Bri was and had been her biggest fan ever since she made the scary decision to become a performing artist after college.

Her best friend had been there since the first audition, the first gig and all the challenges encountered on the journey to becoming Jazmyn Tucker; lead singer and founder of Louisiana’s popular indie music band, Pulse.

She was the only one who had enough patience, wit and strength to put up with all her crazy shenanigans and harebrained antics. Sometimes it was a huge wonder how the petite blonde managed it.

Feeling more refreshed and awake, Jazmyn toweled herself dry and stared at her reflection in the mirror, grimacing at the state of her dark red twist braids pulled into a haphazard bun atop her head.

Due for a wash and retwist, she’d initially planned to spend the rest of the afternoon at the beauty salon ahead of her gig at Bourbon Street Indie Fest tonight but the band was scheduled to meet for a last-minute rehearsal and there was absolutely no way to combine both activities.

The only way out was to boycott the picnic and call her personal hairstylist, Becky Shaw, but the thought of doing that was downright crazy and made her stomach churn.

There were a good number of children looking forward to seeing her today after a whole month of being out of the state on multiple shows and Jazmyn couldn’t bring herself to disappoint them, most especially, Kennedy Sinclair.

Dressing up in record haste, Jazmyn let down her braids and applied a little mascara and gloss to highlight her facial features.

Blessed with rich cinnamon brown skin which only required minimal organic skincare and almond oil to maintain oftentimes, she disliked applying makeup except it was absolutely necessary and opted for a fresh-faced look every single chance she got.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t always a possibility with a career as a musician, especially in the highlight of early summer where there was a gig to play every other day.