by Brandy Blake
ANOTHER DAY
IN PARADISE
A STEAMY BWWM ROMANCE By..
BRANDY BLAKE
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Summary
When Imani went to Mykonos Greece to start a new job as a nanny she was both nervous and excited.
Imani was blown away by a place that was more beautiful than she could have ever imagined.
But when she met the man that was set to be her boss her pulse began racing and she felt like she was in paradise. The chemistry between the two was undeniable and it was only a matter of time before things went further.
But Imani was not prepared for what was to happen next.
A marriage proposal.
But not in the way she could have ever expected it....
Read on and find out what happens in this steamy romance novel. This book is the perfect exotic escape and has an ending that will left you both happy and sad at the same time! How? You will see :)
Copyright Notice
Another Day In Paradise © 2018, Brandy Blake
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher.
Contents
Chapter1
Chapter2
Chapter3
Chapter4
Chapter5
Chapter6
Chapter7
chapter 8
chapter 9
chapter 10
chapter 11
chapter 12
chapter 13
chapter 14
Chapter1
Imani yawned, still catching up to the time change from the one she was used to in her hometown of Seattle. Behind her was the city of Athens, in front of her she saw her new home, Mykonos, Greece. She squinted her moon-sized eyes, the bright white clay that made up the structures on the island already illuminating what lay ahead.
She had just flown in to Greece for a new job position that her father had arranged. Imani was quick to agree, putting much trust in her father, and had flown there on a whim, not knowing who she was going to be working for or what she might get herself into. She looked around at the passengers on the boat, wondering who lived there or who was traveling for a visit. The island of Mykonos was mostly known as a vacation destination, but the man she would be working for had decided to make this quiet and serene island his home. Imani already felt comfortable, the people around her as diverse as she.
She walked to the front of the boat, already realizing she was in a different country. The things in nature were the same. The water was still a dark blue, as they hadn’t quite reached the shallow waters that filled the beaches of Mykonos. There were trees, hills, and flowers, all things that the states had. It just felt different to Imani, and she wasn’t exactly sure what felt so strange. The sun was one thing that was different. Back home, everyone she knew was asleep and dreaming. In bed was where she wanted to be, but soon enough, she’d arrive at the place she had rented for the night, able to get rest before embarking on her journey.
It’s not like Imani hadn’t travelled before. She was known as someone who enjoyed experiencing new cultures and adventures. She was bright and wild, burning a trail across the world. She had traveled plenty of times before but never to Mykonos. She was already falling in love with the blue skies and gorgeous bright white of the architecture, a glow she could already see radiating off the island even though they were still probably an hour away.
She had been to Athens once before but was excited to see a different part of the country. Traveling was expensive, and it wasn’t every day that Imani had enough money to fly across the world and experience new adventures. Getting the chance to work and make money while in a different place was already a dream come true. She didn’t want to get too excited about it, knowing that not all jobs work out right away the first time. If anything, she still got to see something she never would have otherwise. When she travelled to a different country, she usually only had time to visit a few cities close together. Though she had flown into Athens, she hadn’t gotten the chance to see Mykonos when she was there the first time.
She hoped she would have time to go shopping a bit. She received the invitation last-minute and didn’t know many of the details of the family. She knew she would be helping to teach and care for a young boy, but would she be needed all day? The island was filled with so many interesting restaurants and places to shop, but would she be stuck inside all day caring for the child? Imani didn’t want to get too greedy and worried about the job just yet. She had plenty of time to settle in and tried to focus on the positives for the time being, her nerves certainly getting the best of her.
She decided to take an extra day to herself, just to get a chance to experience the city not as a nanny. She could have flown right in and started working immediately, but she figured she’d take an extra day, Saturday, to get to know the city a little better. What if it was absolutely horrible and she couldn’t stand it? She knew that wouldn’t be true, but giving herself a little more time to look around would certainly make her feel better about agreeing to call this island her home.
She was going to be living with the family she nannied for, not sure if she’d get much free time to herself at all. She didn’t know what the house would look like either. She knew that the man she was going to be working for was insanely wealthy, but she didn’t know how rich he was or what the real estate of the island of Mykonos was like. It was a decently priced rental, though she was vacationing in a local tourist spot that encouraged visitors. She didn’t know if this meant that he would have a big house or just a fancy apartment. Knowing so little both thrilled and terrified the normally adventurous Imani.
Once the boat docked and Imani stepped onto the island, a wave overcame her body that reminded her she was home. It was a strange feeling that she couldn’t describe, a type of adolescent melancholy, but it brought immense comfort in times she certainly needed them. She saw a few cabs at the dock, not sure if she should take one just yet. She decided to start walking, using her phone as a map to make her way to a little restaurant she had heard about called Funky Kitchen. It wasn’t much of a walk, having come from the direction of Athens, and she found the restaurant easily. The nice thing about Mykonos was that it expected plenty of tourism, so Imani was relieved that the menu was in English.
She travelled light, hoping she wouldn’t need too many outfits and could fill a bag with clothes for the way back. She just placed her suitcase down between her feet, enjoying the quiet time alone. She sat outside as a waiter brought her a menu and water, and Imani soaked up the view. Everywhere she looked, there were bright colors against the clay and stone walls and floor
. The structures around her excelled beyond just traditional Greek design, really making Mykonos feel like its own world. Imani realized that it wouldn’t be a challenge to get used to this lifestyle.
Another anxiety chipping away at Imani’s nerves was that she wasn’t quite sure how long she’d be working for the family. She had agreed to work for the man indefinitely, a risky agreement she didn’t feel totally comfortable about. Because it was such a high-paying job, $250,000 a year, she had to sign a strict contract. Her father had helped her through it, but that didn’t make her any less terrified about making such a detailed commitment.
It was her father’s childhood friend; he was just a bit younger than her father at 45 years old. Imani’s father had her when he was 22, making him 50 and Imani 28. They knew each other from school, as Imani’s father, Marcus, studied in Athens. He wasn’t as successful as the entrepreneur she was going to be working for, but they still maintained contact. Her father was very strict on her growing up. Marcus believed that because Imani was black, she would have to work twice as hard as everyone else. Imani took that thought to heart and never failed to prove that she was willing to risk something if it meant the payoff was going to be greater. She was excited to get this new experience.
It felt a little strange, such a high-paying job for just one child. When there was a price that high for a seemingly easy job, Imani knew that there was likely a catch that would make it the challenge that earned it the high payout. She also knew that though the island was secluded, she would still likely feel trapped, not knowing anyone around. Her only friend was going to be the child, Darius, and Imani was prepared for that. She still worried that, because it was such a high payout for a job that would normally be a breeze, Darius might be a risky child.
Apparently, the child had been kicked out of school, and he would need to be home schooled at that point. There weren’t many schools on the island to begin with, and he had been banned from them all. Imani only knew a little from what she could get out of her father, and he stated that it was just challenging having a wealthy child like that in such a small school. Imani decided that seeing for herself would be the best option. She had dealt with challenging kids before, so she wasn’t afraid to get her hands a little dirty. There wasn’t a child that couldn’t be taught. She was willing to give her all if it meant helping a kid out.
Imani wondered if living in the same house as the child would add difficulty or ease. She would also have to step in as the nanny, making sure that he was getting fed and enough exercise. He was 7, so he was getting old enough to not have to constantly be watched, but Imani would still have to often be around him, and she wondered if it would drive her crazy. She looked around at the apartments that were situated above and around the restaurant. They were certainly gorgeous, but the places there looked small, and Imani worried that she might feel even more trapped than she already was on the secluded island.
She would have help from other staff members at the Greek mansion, but she was still nervous about working so closely with a child. She had only discussed the position through email, but her boss stated that she’d be working alongside his assistant and personal chef. Imani was relieved she wouldn’t have to cook. She didn’t like doing the domestic work that much. She’d rather read books or play games, so hanging out with a kid all day was the perfect job for her. Anyone would be grateful for this experience, but Imani was certainly having her fair share of anxiety about what her future was going to hold.
Imani hadn’t seen what her new boss looked like now, but she did remember him when she was a child when he had visited her father a few times. He had stayed at their house the first time, keeping to himself mostly. The second time, they just went out to dinner, but that was over a decade ago. He would certainly look different now, as he had been through quite a bit. Imani worried about how they would interact, as her father warned her that he wasn’t the same cheery businessman that he was before he lost his wife.
He was a single dad now, after his wife had died of cancer. They hadn’t been married too long, but losing her was certainly hard on him. It was mostly taking on the role of a single father that really turned his world upside down. Before he settled down with his wife, he was known for dating around. She eventually convinced him to get married, something he seemed reluctant to do. His friends were getting married, but that wasn’t enough to convince him that it was a good idea. He eventually caved, but after that, his wife started begging him to have children.
He didn’t want to have kids. He lived a selfish lifestyle and had no interest in that changing. He was a workaholic, constantly opening different businesses and trying new projects that helped lead his net worth into double digit figures. A child certainly weighted him down, but losing his wife made all the responsibilities fall on him. She was eager to have kids, as she was 34 when she died, her son only being 4. She had various plastic surgeries throughout her life as a Greek actress, and things eventually backfired, her getting cancer and passing away.
Darius was rumored to be unruly from what her father had mentioned and the few bits about the family she could find online. He was a spoiled child, and Imani heard plenty of rumors from her father about how the kid got whatever he wanted. Imani was excited for this challenge, as many of the problem children she was used to working with lived in areas of poverty rather than kids who came from affluent families. Imani didn’t worry about that; she was up for the challenge. She knew she’d at least get to experience a little bit of that child’s lifestyle as well, at least while she stayed there.
As Imani sat at the table, picking at her Mediterranean salad and sipping water, she thought about all of this information that her father had unpacked before she decided to take the long flight over. She trusted him, as he always did what was best for her. After she lost her mother, he had done whatever it took to ensure her happiness. She was grateful for this, but sometimes, she felt a bit suffocated by his compensations. Growing up without a mother had helped her to be more independent, but that was also something her father wasn’t completely happy about. He worried too much when she travelled, but he still knew her coming to Greece would be the right thing to do. Her father knew that it was a good opportunity for her to make plenty of money.
It was best for her to get out of the country for a longer period of time. Imani was always traveling, but every time, it was a vacation. She was starting to hate the states, as she only associated them with work. She hoped that actually living and working somewhere, not just vacationing, would help her to get a fresh perspective on the place that she had called home for 28 years. She didn’t have many friends or family that she would miss too much. She loved her father, but getting away from him was always a bit refreshing. She was his only daughter, only child at all, so he got a little lonely, but he would have his chance to date around again. He was a handsome black man who could get many different women, so now that his daughter was far out of the picture, he wouldn’t feel guilty about bringing girlfriends home.
Imani was also excited to get to an area that would have new men. She wasn’t sure what dating would be like on the island or while she was living with a family, but she was still happy to get away from American men for a little bit. If she didn’t date at all while she was in Mykonos, that would be fine, though she certainly thought that an intimate island like that would be the perfect place to fall in love. She was more single than she had been in years, and she was ready to see what else was out there. Her last boyfriend wanted her to settle down and have her own kids, but she wanted to keep exploring the world. She loved kids, but being a homemaker wasn’t on her agenda. She wanted to keep learning and growing, not just taking care of something.
She didn’t have a mother growing up, making her more independent than most people. She hoped that when she had a child, she’d be on her own, in a house that she could call her own with money she could call her own, knowing that she could do anything she would have to do to be a great mother. She didn’
t just want to pop out someone’s kids because they asked her to. Imani wasn’t about that life. She still had time. There wasn’t a rush to anything, and Imani was interested in keeping things relaxed and casual. She had time and wanted to let destiny unfold by itself, no pressure added.
As Imani scraped the rest of the bowl that once held her bountiful green salad, she thought about how she had to admit that it was also a bit challenging for her to have true and deep connections with some people. Because of her constant traveling and independence, she didn’t dig roots in too deep, wanting to float around like a cloud, always shifting and changing. That was an easier way of life for her than the trees that sprouted up here and there.
Working with kids inspired her. Along with her position, as well as just the fact that she was an independent black woman, not everyone thought that was good. Some were threatened by her confidence and would expect her to just settle down. What most didn’t know was that she was just getting started. Imani was planning to burn her way across the world, gaining new experiences and meeting new people along the way.
She had a degree in early childhood education and had worked in Hawaii a bit. That was the last place that she had lived for a while, but she knew some other teachers there, and flying back home hadn’t been as challenging since she didn’t have to fly internationally. It was a great experience for her, but she eventually got sick of that, still desiring something more. Adventure after adventure left her empty, learning and growing but still missing one exact thing that helped her to feel completely full. There was still something missing. Part of her thought that perhaps she needed another friend or two, but the other part of her knew that it was easier to just keep doing things on her own.
