When the love of my life is the bad boy instead of the prince…It was a simple arrangement. People desperate for a come-up for different reasons.

It wasn’t supposed to snowball into real feelings or a fairytale proposal. And definitely not a surprise pregnancy.

To most, my fiancé, Kareem Solomon, is the self-proclaimed, privileged prince of NOLA with a radiant smile and a heart of gold. His family’s deep pockets have managed to hide his missteps.

A year ago, I was hired to help save him from his demons, reel him in from his depression, and rebuild the man his best friend and family once knew and loved. In exchange, I would get the payout of my dreams and everything I needed to open my restaurant.

The catch? It’s his best friend who makes my pulse skitter. Psalm Baptiste is everything I’ve ever wanted: handsome, poised, and an arrogant demeanor that leaves me dazzled.

Born and bred in the bayou, he wields the power and money to dismantle or rescue my heart. I didn’t know what our agreement would mean for us.

That I would be spellbound by the number of zeros on the check and the essence of him. That signing my name on the dotted line would leave three hearts hanging in a gray area.

That I would become the villain of my own love story. It’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out and everything implodes.

But until then…. .