Choosing The Wrong Baby Daddy: All In The Family, #1

By Sophia Jenkins

Drama is something Desiree Jackson wants to avoid. As a struggling single mom, she wants to focus on taking care of her baby. She does whatever she has to do to make ends meet—even if it means working the pole. With a deadbeat ex, who broke her heart, she isn't looking for another relationship. That is until she meets the sexy, wealthy Rashad Moore, who seems to have developed an unexpected interest in her. She sees the opportunity to use Rashad to exact revenge on her ex and his new woman.

The problem is, she wasn't expecting such a strong attraction to the irresistible businessman. Rashad lights a fire inside of her that she's never felt before, and each moment with him leaves her wanting more. Desiree wants to be with Rashad, but their relationship comes with too many issues. He makes a shocking proposition that she can't turn down and decides to go for it. But is it all worth the drama?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sophia Jenkins
• Release date: Nov 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386210924

Book preview

Chapter One

"That’s it. Work it. Just like that. Yeah, baby. Now, bring the right hip forward just a bit. Yes!"

I fought back a smile, thinking how sensual the set of instructions sounded. Maybe it sounded that way because I was severely sex deprived. Hands on my hips, I did as ordered and thrust my right hip forward.

Beautiful! I’ve got what I need. The photographer straightened from his crouched position and gave me a smile.

A loud applause captured our attention. A curvy, barely-five-feet-tall African-American woman with streaks of gray in her neat bun clapped her hands again excitedly. Excellent. Outfit change, Desiree. I know it’s late, but I have just one more dress I want to get in. You don’t mind do you, Dave?

The Caucasian man with the auburn pompadour gave Mrs. Stewart a tight smile, turned the camera in his hand, and shook his head. Not at all.

He was such a damn liar. Dave wanted to get out of there as much as I did. Mrs. Stewart turned to me. You alright with that, Des?

Of course, Elaine. So, I was just as much a liar as Dave was. Fuck me. I was bone tired, but there was no way I going to refuse Elaine Stewart a damn thing. That woman had given me a job and practically saved my life. When I was in desperate need of money, she hired me without a formal interview and gave me an advance before I started working. So, if she wanted me to put on another dress and pose for the camera, I was going to do it. If she wanted me to do backflips and twirl on my head in the dress, I would do it. Hopefully, I would nail the shot without much effort because there was another job that I needed to get to. Thinking about it made the exhaustion weigh down on me a bit heavier.

With a soft sigh, I stepped off the set, barely avoiding the standing light that looked like a huge umbrella.

Whoa, careful there, Des. You alright? Dave sent a sympathetic smile my way.

I’m fine. Just kind of sleepwalking.

Don’t worry, this last shot shouldn’t take too long. You can go home and get some rest.

I conjured up a grin before disappearing behind a Chinese-style divider to undress. Elaine appeared with a red and pink floral print summer dress draped on a hanger. Here it is. You like?

Wow, Elaine, that’s beautiful. I love the print.

The woman smiled shyly. She always got a little timid over compliments of her work. She was a kick-ass designer for plus-sized women, and she got her start a little later in life. She’d told me the story a million times. After raising her three children, she’d finally gotten the chance to pursue her dream and had opened a boutique for women on the bigger side of the fashion spectrum. She hadn’t expected things to take off the way they did, with her designs in demand all over the country. Now, it was a mini-empire, and she hired a few girls, apart from the store employees, to model and do frequent photo shoots for advertisements. We also participated in fashion shows to show off her new clothing lines.

Thank you, she gushed. If you like it. It’s going to do well. You’re a regular fashionista.

I wouldn’t say that. I did know how to put myself together, but I didn’t quite have the money to keep up with the latest costly fashion. Plus, I was more interested in the culinary arts. I got into the dress that hugged my torso snugly, showcasing my generous breasts and indented waist. Though the dress showed my hourglass figure, it flared at the bottom and swung around my thighs. The floral dress was casual and classy. Elaine verbalized precisely what I was thinking.

Look at that. Classy-casual. Of course, it would look amazing on you; you’re a classy woman.

A nervous giggle escaped me. Classy my ass. Sure, I carried myself in a manner that would deceive people into thinking I was classy. I wondered what Elaine would think if she knew that after I left the photo shoot, I was off to a gaudy strip club. Yes, along with modeling for Elaine’s brand, I was a stripper. It wasn’t something I was proud of, but it helped to pay the bills. I wasn’t exactly making millions as a small-time model, and I had a baby to take care of.

It’s your clothes that give me that air of class.

Nonsense. It’s all you. Elaine tapped her chin. Tell you what, keep that dress after the shoot.

Oh, no Elaine, I couldn’t. You’ve already given me so many things. I had a closet full of Elaine’s creation. That was how I maintained that look of class she spoke about. I could never have afforded to buy half the fancy shit in my closet. I was grateful for her gifts because at least I didn’t walk around looking like the spokesperson for poverty or a stripper, but another dress was just too much. It’s too much Elaine. This looks expensive.

It is. But you’ve earned it. You stayed behind to help me out. Allow me to thank you.

I hesitated a moment then nodded. Alright. Thank you, Elaine. There was nothing wrong with her showing her appreciation. I did volunteer to stay back when the other models rushed out.

She smiled and disappeared, allowing me to finish up. I slipped into the sophisticated but sexy nude stilettos and studied myself in the full-length mirror. My makeup needed to be retouched, and I supposed an updo would work better with the outfit. Smoothing my hands down the dress, I twirled, wishing I was really the woman that would be portrayed in the photo to be taken. Wealthy, sophisticated, and carefree. Well, you know what they say, fake it till you make it. Of course, I wasn’t certain that I would ever make it. Letting out a breath, I stepped from behind the divider and went over to the makeup artist Elaine had hired for the day.

Clarita was a lovely Puerto Rican twenty-something lady with an infectious laugh. She was a regular face at many of our shoots. Dios mio, chica! You are wearing that dress.

Thanks, Clarita. It’s gorgeous, isn’t it? Elaine did her thing with this one.

It’s not just the dress, honey. You make the dress. With a figure like that, even I’m drooling, and I’m not into chicks.

My giggles filled the open space, drawing Dave’s attention. He looked in our direction and smiled. Mhmm, Clarita hummed. You got white boy over there checking you out, girl.

What? Dave? I lowered my voice to a whisper. Hell no, he isn’t checking me out like that. I eyed him again with a frown. It was possible that he was interested. I mean, he did give me more attention than necessary, even when the other girls were around. But surely… Nah, I don’t think so. I shook my head vigorously and sat down.

Whatever, girl. Clarita sucked her teeth and got to work on my face. You don’t need much done, just a little more powder and lipstick. Maybe I’ll put your hair up.

That’s exactly what I was thinking.

She gathered my curly black hair and pinned it up into a loose bun. All I needed was the right accessories, which I was sure Elaine had already chosen. I would be out of there