The Baby They Bonded Over

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Blurb:

A Black couple, fake boyfriend, billionaire, pregnancy romance story. Nadia is determined never to let anyone gain the upper hand… Especially not her relentless ex-boyfriend-turned-stalker, Paul.

In a bold move, she enlists the help of her sister’s best friend, Jeremy—a striking billionaire—to play the role of her new romantic interest. But little did they know, their fabricated relationship would soon ignite into a blazing connection, fueled even further by the unexpected news of an impending baby…

And now her life has taken an even more complicated turn! Will a baby bring them closer together? Or will a relationship forged for convenience ultimately crumble under the weight of reality? Discover now in this African American, fake relationship romance novel by Simone Iwu.

Chapter 1

Nadia Allen’s reflection stared back at her from the large window of Babes & Bosses Beauty Boutique. Her dark chocolate skin was flawless with a body to match. She resolved to get back into the gym before she lost any of it. She gave herself a quick wink and headed into the salon. Working for the shop had been a dream come true for her. They hired her fresh out of beauty school and the last few months had been nothing short of amazing. Nadia was learning a lot about the beauty business, and herself. It’s too bad that her choice in men was the only area where her intelligence was lacking.

She strutted by some ladies who sat under hair dryers and up to her station where her client waited for her impatiently.

“Girl! Why do you even bother making appointments if you ain’t gonna keep them, Nadia?” the curly haired woman spat before Nadia could even greet her.

Nadia sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes, “Charlene, I know you ain’t talkin! If I’m on time then you’re late, if you’re here on time then I get in late, but either way we even! Besides… I’m only ten minutes late.”

“Twenty! Now come on! I need to get up out of here. I got a dinner to go to tonight and I ain’t bought nothing to where yet!”

“Ain’t my fault! Beauty takes time, pain, and-,” Nadia rambled as she detangled the head of hair in front of her.

“And a decent hair stylist who won’t take her sweet ass time getting to the chair!” Charlene cut her off.

“Where you going tonight anyway?”

“That new spot, Ronaldo’s. This guy offered and I said yes.”

“So it’s just dinner? Not a date?” Nadia questioned with a smirk.

“Not a date at all! He’s into me but I’m not feeling him. But I see somebody who’s feeling you!” Charlene chuckled at the man standing in front of the salon window.

Nadia looked at her ex-boyfriend, Paul, like he has three heads. Paul’s tall physique was often shortened by his baggy jeans and sagging t-shirts, his handsome face drowning under the brim of a fitted baseball cap, and his hazel eyes always squinting to see from underneath the hat. Today, however, he stood tall in front of the boutique. His pants were around his waist, his button up shirt was crisp, and he held his hands up to the window and peered inside to get Nadia’s attention. The women laughed and giggled while Nadia did her best to ignore the man desperately trying to get her to look his way.

Nadia stared at Paul only once to give him the nastiest look she could muster, letting him know she won’t be wooed. Her client giggled along with the other women. Paul screamed a few inaudible words through the glass. The ladies laughed at him some more and glanced to Nadia waiting for her to give in. She refused to acknowledge Paul any more. He’s been a giant pain in the ass since she ended their relationship. He’d showed up at the salon, at the gym, and even at her favorite coffee shop.  His behavior was borderline stalking but she still found him irresistibly cute so she’d been putting up with it. Nadia knew that she needed to move on from Paul, but it was so hard, especially, when he did sweet and goofy things like this.

Nadia looked up to the window to see what Paul was doing and now he has a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates.

“Nadia! Stop playing, and let that fine ass man in here so we can hear him beg for your forgiveness!” one of the women under the dryer shouted. She got some applause and even a few shouts in agreement.

Nadia rolled her eyes, “Y’all were not there for my relationsh*t! Yeah, he’s all sweet now but what about tomorrow? Hell, what about later today when he changes his mind. I ain’t with the games!”

“Don’t be so cold!” Charlene scolded. “That’s how women end up bitter and lonely. Let that man in and at least hear him out so he can let this shop, and you, get back to business!”

Nadia huffed and puffed before waving Paul inside the boutique. He smiled his charismatic smile making the other women swoon as he walked by. He smelled of that wonderful Polo cologne, and his muscles bulged underneath his button up. He wouldn’t break eye contact with Nadia as he strolled toward her chair. He was aware of Charlene sitting there but didn’t bother to greet her.

“Hey baby,” Paul leaned toward Nadia for a kiss.

She backed away out of his reach, “Don’t hey baby me! I told you about coming here or anywhere I’m at! You’re embarrassing me!”

“Aww, don’t be that way, Dia,” Paul feigned a whining voice. “You know how bad I need you in my life! All that other sh*t is behind us. Let’s start over. Come on, just give me a minute to talk to you… alone.”

Nadia kept working her comb and scissors through Charlene’s hair as she cut her eyes at Paul’s request. She knew exactly what he wanted to do when he got her alone. But that was not going to happen. Not today, and if she was strong enough, never again.

She stared him straight in his beautiful hazel eyes remembering what attracted her to him in the first place. But those beautiful eyes were the eyes of a liar. “One, you know I hate it when you call me that! Two, whatever you gotta say, you can say it out here.  Everybody gonna find out anyway. And three, we can’t start over because all that other sh*t is behind you! I forgive you, Paul, but I don’t forget. I ain’t no fool. We’ve done this too many times already. We don’t work well together.”

“We work very well together,” he smirked devilishly.

“See you can’t even take this conversation seriously! You don’t respect me and you didn’t respect our relationship! We can’t keep doing this. I don’t have the time or the patience. You’re free to do as you wish. You do what you want anyway. Just leave me out of it!”