His Surprise Daughter : A BWWM Billionaire Romance

by Tiana Cole

  “What happened when you came to Florida?”

  “Are you sure you want to know?”

  He nodded and she told him everything.

  ~

  8 Years Ago

  Four months pregnant and no word from the man who’d knocked her up, Zara had decided to take the mountain to Mohammed, so to speak. She’d booked the cheapest flight she could to take her to Florida. Aside from the reason for her visit, Zara was excited to see Florida. She’d only seen three states from the lower forty-eight so this was something of an adventure for her.

  A very stressful adventure since she hadn’t seen him in nearly three months and she hadn’t heard his voice in almost two full months. He’d broken her heart without a thought but she needed to tell him about the baby. It probably wouldn’t change anything but he needed to know, and it was her duty to her child to make sure he did. Not that I’m expecting much at this point, she thought to herself.

  A cab had dropped her off at her hotel near the airport so she could freshen up before she went in search of Caine. An hour later, she stepped nervously from another cab in front of the biggest house she’d ever seen. Correction, the biggest mansion she’d ever seen in person. It was a Spanish style mansion with a wide, stone paved driveway bisected by a large wrought iron fence at the entrance. The home sprawled across the large piece of property set back from the road, where large floor to ceiling windows beamed in the sunlight and what was probably a turret could be seen.

  The place was magnificent, but it also brought home just how wealthy Caine’s family was compared to her own. She steeled herself and told the armed guard she was there to see Caine.

  “He’s not home, miss, but you can go on up.” Eyeballing her belly warily, he gave a tight smile and nodded through the gate.

  She hadn’t expected the guard to be friendly, but he was hostile too. Maybe that’s just the way of people in Florida, she thought as she approached the large cherry wood double doors. She grabbed the brass knocker and tapped it four times.

  A middle-aged Hispanic woman opened the door with a friendly smile as Zara explained why she was there. “I’ll get him for you, miss. Come on in.”

  “That won’t be necessary,” said a well-dressed woman she could only assume was Mrs. Faulkner. “I’m sure I can handle this without involving my son.” With a disdainful sneer, the woman blocked the door to prevent her entry.

  Okay, so we’re going with hostile. “Mrs. Faulkner, I’m here to speak with Caine. We’ve been seeing each other and—”

  “Oh, I know exactly who you are. A hussy who thinks opening her legs to my son means a huge payday. Well, you played your cards wrong, dear. Caine has no money to give you.”

  Zara gasped, shocked at the vitriol of the woman’s words. No one had ever spoken to her like that before. Despite the small population of black folks in Anchorage, it had never been an issue for Zara or her family. “I’m not here for money, I can assure you that. I just need to speak with him.”

  “Sure. I’m sure he won’t mind some hookup busting in while he’s with his new love.”

  New love? It couldn’t be, could it? She didn’t know, but she did know she wouldn’t give this woman the satisfaction. “Thank you, I would like to bust in on his hookup.” Her smile was sweet and innocent, with a hint of mischief.

  “Exactly what I’d expect from a girl of your caliber.”

  That was it. “Oh, and you’re so much better because your daddy got rich and passed it on to you? Or is it because you opened your legs for a rich man and got him to marry you?”

  The woman laughed, her thin face making her look like a comic book villain. “None of that matters to you. What matters is that I won’t let some gold digging trash from Alaska sink her claws into my son.”

  Zara rubbed her belly, tears ready to fall at any moment. “I don’t want to sink my claws into him, but don’t think I won’t exercise my right to get child support.”

  Her face went from Botox smooth to crinkled and angry in a flash. “Do that and I’ll make sure the legal battle bankrupts your whole family.”

  Zara smiled. “And I’ll be sure to tell any tabloid who’ll listen about the wealthy Faulkner family denying an heir. Especially when the DNA tests prove the truth.” Turning on her heel, Zara no longer had the energy to put up with the hateful woman who would be the grandmother to the child growing in her belly. She walked down the driveway deliberately, making sure not to trip over the allegedly luxurious stones. Head held high and back straight, she walked to the waiting cab and slid inside.

  “By the time I made it back to my hotel, I’d already changed my flight and I left the next morning.”

  Caine felt all the blood drain from his body. He was so angry he could kill his mother with his bare hands. “She denied me seven years with my daughter. She cost me you.” His voice broke on the last word and Zara reached out to place a hand on top of his.

  Her smile was soft and sad. Full of a lifetime’s worth of regrets.

  He was angry as hell right now. He wanted to devastate his mother the same way she’d devastated his life. The same way she’d humiliated Zara. He would make her pay. “You’re right, but I can’t help how I feel.”

  “I know that, Caine. Don’t you think I wanted to run out and tell the tabloids everything just to embarrass your entire family? Because I wanted to so bad, and not for the money. Revenge.” With a heavy sigh she ordered a margarita on the rocks from a passing waitress. “But that would ultimately hurt Cassia. And you. So I let it go and lived my life as best I could.”

  A nice sentiment, but Caine wasn’t that civilized. He wasn’t that strong. The desire to exact revenge was strong. Too strong. “I’m happy you were able to do that, but I was miserable without you Zara. The entire time.”

  She nodded and one of her long braids fell across her face. “I know, and I’m sorry I believed the worst about you. I was pregnant and heartbroken and full of hormones.” The waitress stopped at the table and Zara smiled up at her. “Two double shots of tequila please. And more chips and salsa.”

  Caine raised his brows at her in question. “It’s like that, huh?”

  She gave a casual shrug. “I think this is what we need right now. Drink to forget. For a while anyway.”

  Caine looked at her, a lopsided smile on his face. “How did I get so lucky to find you twice?” He was afraid he would never know.

  Chapter 10

  “Hang on a second.” Zara smiled up at Caine, looking every inch the Alaskan doctor in his dark jeans that hugged his thighs and the olive green sweater that, somehow, made his eyes even greener. “Cassia only has one side of her hair done so we’ll be a minute.”

  He reached out and wrapped a hand around her waist. “Actually, I was hoping we could have a minute?”

  They’d been in almost constant contact since that day in El Cantina, exchanging text messages all day long about any and everything. At night, long after Cassia was asleep and well past her own bedtime, they spent hours talking on the phone. Sharing stories about college and beyond. Even as she thought about it, Zara couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her face. The past week felt so much like eight years ago, she wanted to burst with excitement. But now…he wanted to talk. “Sure.” She shrugged and walked down the hall. “Talk.”

  The solemn look on his face made her heart almost leap from her chest. Something was wrong. “The most recent results have come in and Cassia’s numbers are worsening.”

  Her legs shook unsteadily, her hands gripping the edge of the sofa until her knuckles ached as she made her way to sit with tall the grace of a newborn foal. “What does that mean, exactly?”

  “It means that I need to start the rigorous testing required to determine if I’m even eligible to donate to her.” His gaze bored into hers and she knew what he was really saying.

  “It’s time.”

  He nodded in that way of his that was almost not nodding, his mouth pulled into a grimace he tried to pass off
as a smile. “It’s time.”

  “Stay for dinner?” It would be better for Cassia—and her—to do this at home. Although she was pretty sure her daughter would be happy to have a father, especially Caine, something in her stomach warned her it might not be so great getting the one thing she’d always wanted.

  Caine nibbled his bottom lip, green eyes fixed on her mouth. “What are we having?”

  “Moose stew and potatoes with some homemade bread.” She watched him pretend to think about it, biting back a smile.

  “What do you put in your potatoes?” He struggled to hold back his smile and she sighed.

  “The regular stuff. Butter, milk, chives and garlic. Anything else?” He was just trying to lighten the mood and she appreciated it.

  “Will there be dessert?”

  “That depends on whether or not you eat all your veggies.” Hands on her hips, she twirled and put a little extra sway in her hips as she walked away, guaranteeing his gaze followed her. She reentered Cassia’s room and busted out laughing. “Cassia, what did you do?”

  She turned and beamed a toothy smile up at her. “Mommy, how do I look?”

  Zara couldn’t stop laughing as her daughter’s hair stuck up all over her head. The half she’d braided was down and both sides glistened from what she guessed was too much moisturizer. The look was capped off with a red and white polka dot scarf. “You look beautiful, come let me help.” In just a few minutes she’d smoothed out the look and tied the scarf into a bow. “Gorgeous.”

  “Thanks, Mommy. I’m ready.”

  “Hey, sweetie, what do you think if we stay in tonight? Caine was telling me how he hasn’t had a home cooked meal in ages so I thought we could show him how it’s done.”

  Her expressive green eyes widened. “I get to make the bread!” She took off through the door and Zara heard her greet Caine enthusiastically.

  She needed a couple breaths before she went out again to see father and daughter bonding as they should have all those years ago. It felt good to see them together and witness the expressions they shared, but it also hurt like hell. “What should we make Caine do?”

  “He has muscles, he can help me with bread.”

  You little flirt, she thought with a proud smile. “You both do that while I do all the hard work.” She laughed as they put everything together, talking and laughing while they cooked. It was like they were a family. The family she’d always dreamed they would be.

  By the time dinner was over Zara was high on familial closeness, as well as a giant rock in the pit of her stomach. As much as this night had given her a glimpse into what his mother had deprived them of all those years ago, she felt worse knowing that somehow this news might hurt Cassia. With a bright—okay, too bright—smile on her face, she asked, “Who wants something sweet?”

  “I do!” Caine and Cassia answered together.

  Zara pulled the chocolate cheesecake from the fridge, grabbed plates and forks and returned quickly before her nerves deserted her completely. Her hand shook so badly she couldn’t even plate it up, so Caine took over the task. “Are you okay, Mommy?”

  She shrugged and sat. “No, honey, I’m not. I need to tell you something and I’m afraid how you’ll react.”

  Cassia placed her tiny hand on top of her mother’s. “I’ll always love you, Mommy.”

  She smiled, happy to hear that even as she wondered, Will she ever forgive me? “Thanks, Cassia, I love you too. But what I have to tell you is about your father.”

  The little girl froze, wide green eyes waiting expectantly. “Okay.”

  “Remember how I told you I couldn’t find him so he never knew about you? Well, it turns out you found him on your own. The boy I loved all those years ago, his name was Caine Faulkner.” Zara held her breath, eyeing Cassia closely as she processed the information.

  She looked up at Zara and then darted a wary glance toward Caine. “You’re my father?”

  He nodded. “I am.”

  “Why?” She whispered the question so low Zara barely heard it.

  “Why what?”

  “Why didn’t you know about me? Didn’t you want to know? Did you love my mom?”

  It hurt Zara to hear this but she knew it hurt Caine more. “Sweetie, I need to explain some things to you. I know you’re upset right now so tell me, do you want to know now or do you want to talk later?”

  Giant teardrops spilled down her caramel skin as she nodded her head. “Can I be excused?”

  “Sure you can.” Zara watched her little girl hop from the chair, eyes avoiding Caine’s probing gaze.

  “Don’t forget your cheesecake.”

  Cassia froze and turned around, slowly she walked to where Caine held the plate out. “Thank you.” She darted to her room.

  Zara blew out a breath. “Well, that didn’t go how I expected.”

  “Yeah, me either,” he answered sardonically. “Do you think she hates me?”

  “Yeah, probably. But she’s a bright girl and once she understands what happened, she’ll be hurt but she will understand that it wasn’t on you.”

  “It was still kind of on me, Zee. I should have used some of that money to find you, find your phone number. I should have written or come back for you.”

  “Maybe you should have, but maybe you weren’t ready. There’s wine in the fridge but I need to check on Cassia first.” Those sad green eyes would be the death of her. “Don’t worry.”

  He snorted. “Famous last words.”

  That put a smile on her face as she stood to clean the table. When she returned empty handed, Caine reached for her and pulled her into his lap. “What are you doing?”

  “If you haven’t figured it out in a minute, let me know.” He smiled smugly and then his mouth was on hers, seizing control of her desire and directing it this way and that. His kisses drugged her and made her a slave to him. He gave more and she took more, begged for more and took it when she still wasn’t satisfied. He growled when she sucked his tongue into her mouth and tugged his hair.

  He grew hard under her and Zara felt her body respond, ready itself for lovemaking. No. He felt so good, so right. He felt like home. “Wait.”

  “Sorry,” he said automatically.

  “Are you?”

  “Do you want me to be?”

  She growled and adjusted on his lap so her legs straddled his hips. Swirling her hips several times like a cat in search of the perfect spot, she finally settled so she was pressed right against his hard ridge. “What I want, Caine, is for you to tell the truth.”

  “The only thing I know right now, babe, is that I’m about ten seconds from stripping you down and fucking you like I’ve been dying to do since I saw you at the supermarket.” His hands gripped her hips and pressed her harder against him. “Stop moving.”

  “I can’t do this now.”

  His shoulders slumped and she smiled to herself. “Alright,” he groaned.

  “Cassia is just down the room and I need to make sure she’s alright.” Zara cupped his face firmly and looked him in the eyes to make sure he knew exactly what she was saying. “Okay?”

  His mouth curved up the corners. “Okay.”

  “Okay.”

  ~

  “She wants to talk to you.” Zara’s tear-stained face looked at him, her dark brown eyes filled with misery that she couldn’t take away her daughter’s pain.

  Caine, for his part, was shocked. It was hard to think that her reaction to finding out she had a father and he was at the dinner table wasn’t an instant rejection of him. But she was still a child despite her intelligence, and she had no real control over her emotions. He was scared shitless. “What do I say?”

  Zara’s steps were slow and steady as she circled the coffee table and sat beside him, resting a delicate hand on his thigh. “Be as honest as possible and try to remember she’s a kid.”

  “So name calling my mother is off the table?”

  A ghost of a smile curled her mouth upward and she nodde
d.

  “She’s going to have questions, just answer honestly. It’s important that you’re honest even if the answer isn’t nice, because she needs to know she can trust you.” Those almond-shaped eyes the color of dark chocolate looked deeply into his and Caine felt the significance of this moment down to his toes.

  “You can trust me to do this, Zee. I know I haven’t given you much reason over the years, but I need you to know that I intend to be a better man than I ever was. I may still fall short of what you both deserve, but I won’t let you down.” He meant every single syllable and Caine sat stock still, eyes glued to her beautiful face while he waited for a reaction.

  Expressive brown eyes flashed several emotions—affection, wariness, trust and if he wasn’t mistaken, hope—before settling on resignation. “I believe you, Caine, but we need to go slow. Cassia is what matters now.”

  He nodded and stood, pulling Zara up with him and wrapping his warms around her shoulders. Pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, he pulled back and smiled. “I love her already, and I’m determined to do what’s right.”

  That pulled a genuine smile from her mouth, a smile that reached her eyes. “That I already know. Go on, she’s waiting.”

  Letting out a long breath that got rid of all of his fear and anxiety, Caine shook his hands free of the tingling sensation and straightened his shoulders. “I’m going in.” The walk down the hall was the longest of his life, his heart racing as all the blood in his body moved so loud he couldn’t even hear his own breath. With a knock he waited.

  “Come in,” said the world’s cutest and sullenest voice.

  The door pushed open and he found Cassia curled up with a tablet in her hand, her tear-stained face eyeing him carefully. “Hey, Cassia, how are you?”

  She lifted a bony shoulder and let it fall. “Okay.”

  “Finding out I’m your dad isn’t as exciting as you thought it would be?” It would hurt if she said yes, but at least he would know why she was so upset.

  “I don’t know.” Setting the tablet aside, she looked up at him, green eyes so familiar it was haunting. “I’m happy to know you now, but where have you been?”