Her Best Man

By Leila Lacey

Omar Roe and Stephanie Reynolds have been best friends since college. No one knew Omar better than Stephanie. When her parents died Omar and his family became her family. 
Now years later, she's a very successful celebrity event planner, and he is a Billionaire financial whiz and a notorious playboy. 
When Stephanie goes on a business trip, for three weeks after Omar humiliates her…… unintentionally. She decides it's time for her to let go of the fantasy Omar will ever want a curvy woman including her. 
That's when she meets and falls in love with Evan Sutton. Now Stephanie is about to get married and wants Omar, her best friend in the world to be her Best Man. The only problem is, Omar has realized how much he loves Stephanie and wants her to himself. 
Who will Stephanie Choose? The man she has loved since she was in college? Or the man that loves her? 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Leila Lacey
• Release date: Sep 21, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386139133

Leila Lacey

Love comes in many shapes and sizes.  Rising Michigan Author Leila Lacey writes from the heart about the trials and tribulations of love and romance from a plus size woman’s perspective.  With over 12 popular books on Amazon to date, she’s steadily claiming her space as a new romantic fiction author to keep an eye on. Bow down to the curves.  That’s the philosophy that’s motivated romantic fiction author Leila Lacey as she’s wrote over a dozen popular books taking a hot and exciting look at love and adventure from a strong, curvy woman’s viewpoint.  The books have been received with enthusiasm, and it’s clear the best is yet to come for these BBW romances (Big Beautiful Woman). “I think it’s important to present strong, beautiful, curvy women that have amazing female to female relationships,” commented Lacey, on what motivates her.  “If we don’t provide alternative role models for people, they could fall into the trap of not loving who is looking them back in the mirror.  Romantic fiction should entertain, but it should also help build confidence and a great self-image.  I’m trying to cover all these things and more in my books.” According to the author, Lacey had a quite unexpected entry into writing.  Although always interested in being a writer she never explored her skills fully until being convinced to join a writing contest.  Within 30 days she had finished her first novel, won the contest, and never looked back.  An example of a woman with confidence proving to herself, and the world, what can be accomplished when dreams are pursued actively. Some of her most popular books in the plus size women genre include:  Phoenix Rising;  A Very Curvy Christmas; Dr. Black’s Patient; Love’s Legacy; Shelby’s Awakening; and many, many more. Readers have responded to her work with enthusiasm.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

It’s four a.m. already? Stephanie slapped her alarm clock onto the floor to stop the buzzing. She’d had another long night of studying last night and hadn’t gotten to bed until two thirty.Now she had to get up and run errands for her boss so she could get to class on time.

Stephanie Reynolds was in her junior year of college at Fisk University, Majoring in Political Science and English. She was also having doubts about where her degree and career was going. It started when she’d taken her current job with a celebrity wedding and party planner as an assistant. Kasey was amazing to work for, and she’d willingly taught Stephanie so much. After two years of working with Kasey, she loved what she did and really was having less and less interest in politics. Which was what her father expected her to go into.

Robert Jordan Reynolds had been in the US Senate for years and had even considered running for president. He’d always told Stephanie with her brain and her way with people, she would be perfect to make a difference in this country. All she needed to do was lose a little weight.

Always being a daddy’s girl, she’d tried to keep her weight down, even going as far hardly ever eating. Then when she did eat, she would force as much of that as she could back out, by vomiting or taking ex-lax. When she’d turned eighteen, she’d gotten very ill and missed most of her senior year of high school. Her parents then entered her into a rehab program to help her get healthy again.

One of her recovery steps was to tell her father what his pressure had done to contribute to her illness. As much as she hated it, she’d shared her thoughts and pain with her parents, and by the time she entered her freshman year at Fisk, she was well on her way to healing.

Then tragedy had struck when she was going into her sophomore year of college. Her parents were killed in a plane crash.

Without any siblings and any other family to speak of, she had come very close to slipping back into her old destructive habits. However, she’d wanted to honor her parent’s memory and all they’d done for her, so she hunkered down in school, joined the student government and gotten exceptional grades in all her classes.

Now that she was on the verge of her breakthrough. She realized that wasn’t what she wanted for her life, and she knew all her parents would want is for her to be happy. But she had no idea what happy was yet.

As she shuffled to her front door in her Sponge Bob Square Pants slippers and in pajamas, she could hear her neighbor from across the hall talking on the phone. More than likely talking to one of the many women he paraded in and out of his apartment on a regular basis. He was probably trying to prevent the one who was in his apartment currently from hearing his conversation.

Omar Roe was one sexy ass man and he knew it. He was six foot two, caramel colored skin, dark brown eyes and six pack abs. But the thing that turned her on the most about him was his broad shoulders and cannon like arms. There had been many a day she’d caught him in the hall in nothing but a towel and imagined herself in a passionate embrace wrapped in those big strong arms.

But she knew that would never happen for two reasons. He liked women that were a size two and he had referred to her as his chunky neighbor.

Since rehab, Stephanie had put on weight which was actually good for her and was now a solid size sixteen. She actually thought she looked great at this size. She was really loving her figure now. Even her plump tummy andshe’d learned to appreciate the imperfections of her body.She was beautiful—well, to a man that was deeper than a wading pool—which Omar wasn’t.

She opened her door and leaned down to pick up her paper, when Omar quickly squeezed by her in a rush of muscles and slid into her apartment.

BOY! she said spinning in a circle confused as to what just happened.

Omar went down the two steps that separated her front door from her meager sized living room and hid behind one of the support beams. "Shhh," he said.

Just then, his door opened, and a long legged blonde came out of his apartment in an azure blue thong and bra set, with no shame that Stephanie was seeing her naked, nonexistent ass and big fake titties. Umm...excuse me fat neighbor, have you seen Omar? He was gone when I woke up and I can’t seem to get him on the phone, she asked Stephanie.

Did this bitch just call me fat neighbor? Stephanie looked over at Omar who was on his knees in a praying position, begging her with his eyes not to give him up.

It wasn’t hard for Stephanie to make her decision. As a matter of fact I did. He asked me to tell you if I saw you, he thinks your puss might be tainted because he woke up burning like someone had set his dick on fire. So, he ran down to the campus free clinic. Maybe you should toddle on over there yourself, if your narrow ass has the energy, she said before slamming the door in the blonde’s face. She then turned to Omar.Why are you in my living room?

Tainted puss? Really? he asked trying to hide the smile on his face.

Yes, tainted puss. Don’t think you can involve me in your crap. Now get out of my house.She walked past him and got a whiff of his amazing scent it was a mix of Perry Ellis black and ‘let me ride your face until Tuesday morning’. Miss Kitty, I’m gonna need you to settle your hot ass down, ma’am.

Why don’t you like me? he asked, following her into the kitchen.

How am I supposed to think at all, when you’re hot-ass-half-naked-man! I don’t care about you one way or the other to like or dislike you. I do however detest liars and men who play games. Which you seem to do a lot of with the revolving door of women who go in and out of your apartment.To top it off, you have now barged your way into my apartment before I’ve even had my morning coffee.

You been watching who I take into my apartment? he asked flashing her a grin.

It was a dazzling smile she was sure melted panties all over the city. Stephanie just rolled her eyes at him.

He seemed to realize she wasn’t falling for his usual charms which intrigued him. Okay. Okay. I’m sorry. But just so you know, I don’t lie to these women. They all know what they’re getting into with me. I don’t do love, marriage and all that other crap. I’ve seen my mother get married and divorced three times, that shit don’t work. So, if they get attached or decide we are something we’re not, it’s not my fault.

Well, if that’s true, why are you hiding in here until Xena warrior princess leaves? she asked leaning against the counter waiting for her coffee to brew.

You saw her, she was getting attached. When a woman asks you where she can leave an extra pair of undies for just in case times, before you even stick the dick in, you know, this is a crazy one, he replied grabbing an apple from her fruit bowl and biting in.

Yet, you still slept with her? she asked laughing and shaking her head.

Hell, yeah! he replied without pause. "The woman is a gymnast! A GYMNAST! I can tie her into a reef knot and stick my dick in her and she be like...more daddy more."

Against her better judgment, Stephanie could not help but laugh hardily. Get out of my house I have to get my day started! She pushed him toward the door. DAMN IT! Not only does his skin look perfect it feels like silk! She dropped her hands from his back.

Yeah, yeah, I’m going. But say hi when you see me in the hall sometimes, instead of that mean black woman look you give me. I’m really not that bad of a guy. He opened the door and peeked around to see if the blonde was in the hall.

Mmm-hmmm...Not that bad of a guy! She shook her head. Stop calling me chunky and chubby and I might think about it.

Deal! he said extending his hand to her. It was nice to meet you, Stephanie Reynolds.

Taking his hand, she stared at him. She never imagined he knew her first name let alone, her last name. How do you know my name?

He opened his apartment door. The same way you know mine, he replied over his shoulder.I looked at your mail...duh!

She slammed her door and went to get dressed. But Omar was on her mind the entire time. She normally wasn’t impressed by men like him. The ones who are cocky and full of themselves but there was something that was intriguing about him. She just couldn’t put her finger on it. She was on the way out the door an hour later, when she got a text message.

Come to my football party tonight, I think you will have fun even if you like the Patriots...Omar.

She halted and stared at his closed door. Okay, was this man with the CIA? How the hell did he get my cell phone number and know my favorite football team?

How did you get this number? She responded.

Are you coming or not, woman? He replied back.

Stephanie took a moment to think about it, she was taking her last final today, so she would have the time. She decided to throw caution to the wind and replied back...See you at eight.

Stephanie arrived at Omar’s football party that night with hot wings and a twenty-four pack of MGDs.

Omar and his friends liked her so much...they said she was welcome to come to every get together.

From that night on, she and Omar hung out a lot, and by the time they graduated two years later, they were best friends.

CHAPTER ONE

Ten Years Later... ..

Omar!Omar! Stephanie yelled using her key and walking into Omar’s house.

Omar lived in the consummate bachelor pad. It was a breathtaking three level penthouse. Over seven thousand square feet with a spectacular rooftop terrace. It had a circular staircase entrance with flow through ocean & bay views. A separate office, detached media room and maid’s room. Marble and hardwood floors throughout. Private steam room, sauna, rooftop terrace with hot tub & bar as well as balconies on all levels. A private internal elevator, hobby room with full bath.Four bedrooms with six and a half bathrooms something that had always been baffling to Stephanie. Why he needed twice the number of bathrooms was beyond her. She figured it was to hide one delusional woman in, while he got another one out the door.

In the ten years they’d been best friends, she and Omar had changed in a lot of ways. Stephanie now had a very successful celebrity wedding and party planning business. She arranged parties for the top of the A-list. From Blue Ivy’s Birthday party, to the president and first Lady’s Anniversary celebration. She and her company were the go to, if you wanted to have the best celebration there was.

Omar was now the owner and CEO of Westerburn Investments...one of Forbes fifty richest people in the world.

Only two things hadn’t changed in all that time. They were still the best friends and Omar still had a parade of women going in and out of his home, like a revolving door. The only difference was...now the women had become more brazen with him being a billionaire and they all mistakenly thought Stephanie was their competition.

Stephanie had been forced