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  “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

  Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, including without limitation xerography, photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

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  All characters in this work have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

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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