“Sounds very American.”
“Actually, it’s Azacchus.”
“We named him that. His adopted parents kept the name, which is how the nicknamed developed.” Jean, the vigilant host, explained. “Let’s all have a seat.”
Naomi hadn’t decided what to make of Lena. There was nothing not to like. But the words warm and fuzzy didn’t come to mind. She tried not to make comparisons between this woman and Frannie.
“I’d like to speak to Zack alone.”
“Yes, of course.” Jean hopped up and left the room, followed by the other son.
Naomi hurried after them.
“Naomi will not be leaving.”
Naomi motioned to Zack behind Lena’s back that he should talk to her.
“No. I don’t have any secrets from you.”
She tiptoed back to his side. She was wary but pleased to be privy to a very private moment.
“Then she must be very special to you.”
“Yes. One day, she will be my wife.”
“Ahh…love.”
While Lena went on a tangent about falling in love, Naomi tried to stay focused. Did she just get a proposal? She looked at Zack.
“Before I reconnect the dots in my life, I need to know, will you marry me?”
Naomi grinned. “Yes, I will.” She turned to Lena, who had tears in her eyes. She didn’t want to wait for permission. Instead she hugged the woman tightly.
Her hug wasn’t immediately returned, but she felt the arms tentatively go around her. Then the woman sobbed into her neck. She held her there until she quieted.
Zack held a tissue between them. Naomi offered it to his birth mother.
“He means the world to me,” Naomi told the older woman as she returned to Zack. He took her hand.
“I often wondered about him. I knew he’d been adopted and I resigned myself into letting fate have control. I was twenty and unmarried when I was pregnant. Many women helped raise him until I had to leave to find work. It was only to be temporary. Unfortunately, year after year passed. I ended up working for a young doctor practicing here as part of his scholarship. We fell in love. He’s the father of my five other children—your half-brothers and half-sisters.”
“Did you tell them about me?” Zack asked softly, as if afraid of the answer.
“My husband knew and my eldest just learned the truth when the first letter came to me. I had to tell him because I almost passed out when I read the news.”
“Did you ever want to find me?”
“Of course. Nothing can erase you from my heart,” she said with a sob in her voice. “I knew once I turned you over to the orphanage that I couldn’t come back and pop into your life. I didn’t want to ruin anyone’s life. So I stayed away. I closed the door on the memories.”
Naomi removed herself from Zack’s hand. She was there for him. She provided strength when he needed it. But now it was time for him to go the rest of the way on his own.
“I’ll join Jean and Andre. Both of you need to talk and heal.” She hugged Lena and then hugged Zack. “I’ll always have your back,” she whispered in his ear. “We’re our own team now, a force to be reckoned with.”
“And I will never let you go. You are my world.”
They sealed their pact with a gentle kiss.
ISBN: 978-1-4089-2835-6
THE MILLIONAIRE’S ULTIMATE CATCH
Copyright © 2010 by Michelle Monkou
First Published in Great Britain in 2008
Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited
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Table of Contents
Cover Page
Excerpt
Everyone's Reading
Title Page
About the Author
Books by Michelle Monkou
Dedication
Dear Reader
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Copyright
The Millionaire’s Ultimate Catch Page 18