Italian Billionaire's Black Love (BWWM Interracial Romance) by Mya Black, Nicki J. Page A

body. She slept fitfully in the slightly inclined bed, hair fanned out on the pillow like a princess. She was so beautiful he wanted to cry. Instead, he pulled up the hard plastic chair, held her hand in both of his, and fell asleep. His head rested beside her hip. It was damned uncomfortable, but it allowed him to be closer to her than he’d been in weeks.
    Just before the sun came up, a nurse smiled at him and him offered a blanket rather than the exit. He was incredibly grateful and told her as much before drifting off to sleep again.
    He was happy Carla was on his side – well, on the side of her best friend falling in love or else he’d have left hours ago. His heart had stopped beating as the words poured from her mouth. Bed rest, health of the baby, someone to take care of her. He knew what she was doing without her outright saying it. She was giving him a shot. By being in the house and taking care of her, eventually, they would have to talk.
    He just had to convince her. No, he didn’t need to convince her. This was his baby, too, and she would listen to him, dammit, and let him take care of her. In the hours before he slipped into her room, Alessandro had her fridge and pantry stocked for the next week. Fresh linens were put on the bed, and his brother Valentino would have to take over the business for the foreseeable future.
    At sunrise, a nurse came in and checked on her, took her vitals, and scribbled furiously. Eve never stirred. She must be exhausted , he thought with a pang in his heart. Two hours later, a young brunette bounced in, eyes wide at the sight of him. “Visiting hours are over or they haven’t begun yet.”
    He placed a finger to his lips to quiet her. “I’m Alessandro, the father of the baby. Can we talk for a minute?” He was already leading her out of the room. “I’m going to be taking care of her for the next few months, at least. Can you tell me what I need to know?”
    Dr. Baker was skeptical, but his sincerity struck a chord with her. Obviously, her friend had sought him out after the conversation last night. “Some, but only in generalities because of privacy laws,” she explained.
    He listened as she outlined the type of care a woman with hyperemesis gravidarum. Basically, he would act as a babysitter and warden. Eve will love that . She probably wouldn’t, but it was just the opening Alessandro needed to explain everything to her and to tell her he loved her. He made a note to get more fresh fruits to juice for her and sent a text to Valentino to bring some clothes to Eve’s house. “Perfect, Dr. Baker. Thank you so much for all you’ve done for Eve and the baby.”
    “My pleasure. Now, I get to tell the patient the happy news.”
    He groaned. “Better you than me.”

Chapter Eleven
    Bamboozled. That is the only word to describe why Eve was currently sitting on her living room sofa several feet away from the last man she wanted to see. “Why are you here again?” This was the same question she had asked him every fifteen minutes for the past three hours. They’d arrived at her home in the Hollywood Hills two and a half hours ago.
    Alessandro smiled and patted her knee. “I’m here to take care of you. And, our baby.” It was the same answer, or some variation, he’d given every single time.
    Arms crossed over her chest, Eve glared. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of us.” I’d better get used to it, anyway , she reminded herself bitterly.
    “Obviously you can’t or I wouldn’t be here.”
    The look she shot him would have quelled a lesser man. “No, you’re here because you conspired with my so-called best friend against me.”
    He stood and walked to the kitchen. “Excuse us for giving a damn about you.” She wasn’t going to give him one fucking inch. He deserved her anger, but this – it was way more than anger.
    “Why don’t you save your ‘giving a damn’ for your wife . Not me.” Everyone knows the other woman gets nothing but