Color Blind (BWWM Interracial Billionaire Single Mom Steamy Romance Novel)

Color
Blind
 

Color
Blind
 

By Vivian Ward

Copyright 2015 Vivian Ward

All Rights Reserved

This book is a work of fiction. Any similarity to real people, places, or events is strictly coincidental. This book may not be reproduced or distributed in any format without the permission of the author, with the exception of brief quotations used in reviewing the book.

Chapter One

“
I’m so worried about my baby girl,” I said to Rachel as we bussed the table.
 

“
Oh God, what weird thing has she done now? She hasn’t tried bungee jumping from the tree with her jump rope again, has she?” Rachel laughed, recalling the story as she’d heard it a few months back.
 

“
No, no. It’s nothing like
that,
but I’m worried about her. At first she complained how much her knees hurt her, but she can be so goofy. After a few days, I took a peek and they were both swollen.”
 

My coworker nodded, “What do you think happened to her?”
 

“
I have no clue. It started off with her knees and then she began complaining that her back was also sore, so I thought she fell and must have injured herself, but
I think
it’s something else.”
 

“
How come?” she asked.

“
Because she ran a fever two days ago, but it’s been intermittent. There’s nothing wrong with her, she’s not ‘sick’. She doesn’t have a sore throat, runny nose, cough or other cold-like symptoms.” I said, placing a
tub
of dishes near the dishwasher. “Let me grab that table. Sherry just seated a customer in my section; I’ll take his drink order real fast.”
 

I headed toward the Caucasian gentleman placed in my area. I couldn’t help but notice how handsome he was. His piercing green eyes stood out against his tanned skin. I approached the man smiling as she did with all of my customers.
 

“
Good afternoon. What would you like to drink?” I asked as he looked over the menu.
 

His glance turned to me and returned a warm smile, “I’ll have a Dr. Pepper, please.”
 

“
I’ll go grab that for you.”

I headed into the kitchen and motioned Rachel over to me.
 

“
Do you see that guy in my section?”

“
Yeah! Talk about a hunk! You should so get his number!”

“
No way! I don’t want another relationship. I don’t have time for that. Plus he’s a white guy, my family would flip the hell out on me.” I said, rolling my eyes.
 

“
If you didn’t work so much, you’d have the opportunity! Think of little Nevaeh, doesn’t she deserve a daddy?” Rachel joked.
 

“
No, she needs her
momma,
” I stated as I left the kitchen with his drink.
 

“
Here you
go,
sir. Are you ready to order or would you like to look over the menu longer?”
 

“
Yes, I’ll have a grilled chicken salad,” he remarked as he returned the
menu
.
 

“
You got it, and my name’s Kimberly. I’ll be your server today. Just call if you need anything else.”  
 

After I had
served
the gorgeous stranger his lunch, Rachel and I spoke near the counter, where we couldn’t be heard.
 

“
What are you going to do about Nevaeh?” her
co-worker
asked.
 

“
I have no clue.
I think
that maybe she fell, but it’s hard to tell with her. She does the strangest things.”
 

“
Yeah, she does.”

“
When I go on break, I’ll call to schedule her a doctor’s appointment. It sucks because ever since we had to get healthcare coverage, my paychecks have been next to nothing.”
 

“
I know what you mean,” Rachel agreed.
 

“
Well, after paying insurance on both of us, my last check was a whopping $18 after all of my deductions and taxes. It hurts we’ve been so slow.”

“
Tell me about it!”

“
Oh, be right back again. I think he needs another drink.”

I walked over to the table. It was impossible take my eyes off of the man sitting in my section. He was so well dressed. I wondered why he was sitting alone. He had to have a girlfriend or wife—didn’t he?
 

“
Hi sir, would you like a refill?”

“
Yes, please. It’s been so hot outside, I was dying of thirst. Tell me your name again?” he inquired.

“
Kimberly,” I smiled at him. “And I’ll return with your soda. Dr. Pepper, right?”
 

He nodded his head. A few moments later, I returned with his beverage and headed to the counter to continue chatting with Rachel.
 

“
Okay, where were we?” I asked as we rolled silverware inside of napkins.
 

“
Oh, we were just bitching about how we work for peanuts.”

“
Right. You better hope that kid of yours doesn’t pop out soon. He needs to stay put until business picks up!” I teased my friend.
 

“
Well, he’s still got eight more weeks,” Rachel commented as she rubbed her belly. “I can’t wait to meet him. I hope he doesn’t have his dad’s big ears,” she laughed.
 

“
Hold on again, he’s leaving. I need to
clean
that table real quick,” I said, nodding my head toward my section.
 

“
Kimberly, thank you for the
wonderful
service today,” he reached into his pocket. “I’d like to leave you with a tip in exchange for your phone number,” he grinned at her with a $50 bill in his
hand.
 

“
Oh, um, thank you, but I don’t give out my number.”

“
I wanted to take you out this weekend. Give me your number,” he said taking out his cell phone.
 

“
I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I began to pick up his dirty dishes and walk away. “And you can keep your tip.”
 

My heart skipped a beat as I walked away. This wasn’t my typical kind of guy, yet I was so drawn to him. My father had been shot and killed by a crooked white cop. There was no way in hell I’d ever consider dating a white guy. My entire family would disapprove of that kind of relationship, despite his wealthy appearance. No amount of money would ever change my family’s opinions on interracial relationships. Plus, this cocky rich guy
who was trying to shell out a generous tip was most likely out of my league. I’d dated my fair share of thugs, which is why I’m single now.
 

Once, I dated a guy who worked at a gas station—for six weeks. When he lost his job, he came up with a reason we should “take our relationship to the next level” and ended up living on my couch for three months after I broke up with him. Then there was Troy, who was Nevaeh’s dad. He was a piece of work. The relationship between us started out great until I discovered he had anger issues. We had been dating for about a month when he became angry with me for not being home when I said I’d be there. He kicked in and dented my front door. After a few apologies and his excuse of having a bad day, I was dumb enough to forgive him. A few months later, I wound up expecting—with Nevaeh—and that’s when everything grew ugly.
 

Knowing that I was pregnant, he knew he had me on a hook and that I wanted him to stay; his true colors came out. Sometimes I would come home to my living room all smashed up and other times I’d find my dog beaten. I tried to work things out for Nevaeh’s
sake
but decided that this was not the environment I wanted my daughter growing up in. I mustered up the strength for a restraining order and kicked Troy to the curb.
After the sheriff’s department removed him from the residence, I never
saw
him again.
 

I didn’t bother filing for child support since Troy hardly worked. I also knew that he was the type that even if I
applied
, he’d likely quit his job to elude making payments. Additionally, I worried that he might feel a sense of entitlement to my daughter if he paid and try to weasel his way back into our lives. I wanted no part of that. As a result, I began working
full-time
hours as a waitress and pick up extra shifts as much as I can.
 

Lorraine, my life-long friend, helped me; we’ve been best friends for almost 20 years since we were nine years old. I am very particular in who takes care of Nevaeh—I wouldn’t let just anybody watch my baby. My daughter is my pride and joy; my whole world.
Lorraine
and her husband
Tyrone
babysit any chance they
can to
help us out. They love Nevaeh and would do anything for us. They’re wonderful towards my little girl, treating her as if she was their own child. He even built a swing set in the backyard for Nevaeh during the times she was there, which was practically every day.
 

I marched back into the kitchen, leaving the hot, cocky customer standing at the table with a $50 bill in his hand. How dare he demand my
phone number like that?
He
don’t
know me! Who the hell does he think he is?
 

“
What’s wrong?” Sherry asked as she watched me try to compose myself.
 

“
You see Mr. Handsome out there?” I pointed to the table he was now slowly walking away from, “He was trying to demand my number so he could take me out this weekend. I told him I don’t give my number
out,
but he got all cocky and arrogant. I think he was even trying to bribe me with a $50 tip!” I explained.
 

“
Are you for real?” Rachel asked, checking out his ass as he walked away. “Girl, you’re crazy! That man’s got to have some money! Look at his suit and
God
, look at that body! You know he works out,” she laughed.
 

“
Well, I don’t care how much he works out or how much money he has. Some men need to learn respect. Just because he’s got money doesn’t mean he can walk up in here and demand phone numbers.”
 

“
What? Why not?” Sherry challenged.
 

“
Because you can’t.”
 

“
Girl, if some rich dude was asking me for my number, I’d give it to him. Why don’t you go out to the parking lot and give it to him before he leaves
?” Sherry asked.
 

“
I’m
busy,
” I announced.
 

“
Doing what?” Rachel contested.
 

“
Working and taking care of Nevaeh. I don’t need no man in my life, especially a white one. My momma would skin my ass if I ever brought him home.” I paused for a minute, “Speaking of Neveah, I need to make her a doctor appointment real quick. I’ll go make it now since I have no tables at the moment. Will you keep an eye out for me?” I asked my friend.
 

Rachel nodded that she would. I dashed into the manager’s office to use the phone. As it rang, I wondered how I would even explain these symptoms. What would I say? My daughter has swollen knees and
a fever
that’s been coming and going for the last few days? Those hardly seemed like reasons to
call, but
being my child, it was every reason.