Free Melody Anne's Billionaire Universe: Her Billionaire's Bargain (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Yvette Hines Page A

her dirty secrets inside.
    “Who’s phist ?” Never one to be ignored for long, her bold personality daughter, wedged her way between her and Zachary.
    The powerful businessman appeared just as shocked as Kourtney felt. He took a step back and stared down at her daughter.
    She inhaled. First to recover, Kourtney tried to keep control of the situation as she answered her daughter. “This is a business friend of mommy’s. Can you go back to the table?”
    Before her daughter could move Zachary hunkered down before Zendaya. He looked from her daughter then up to her with question in his gaze.
    She was sure that he was wondering why with all the things and personal family matters they had discussed last Thursday night, why she never mentioned her child.
    “Hi. I’m Mr. Zachary. I’m a friend of your mother.” His voice was low and gentle. “What’s your name?”
    Her daughter glance up at her as if trying to get permission to answer the strange man.
    Caught in the set of mirrored gazes, guilt built like bile in the back of her throat. She gave a slow nod of approval as Kourtney bit into the flesh of her cheek.
    “I’m Zendaya Marley Deen and I’m seven,” her daughter announced proudly.
    “Well, Zendaya. That is a very pretty name for a lovely little girl. It’s nice to meet you.”
    Zendaya beamed. “Thank you. I like your eyes.” She reached poked his cheek below one of his eyes. “They look like my phriend Sammie’s kitten. Her phur is gray.”
    “So are yours.” Zachary’s brow creased and he was looking at Zendaya hard as if he were attempting to figure out a puzzle.
    Kourtney needed this moment to end. Quick. She stroked her daughter’s wild curls back from her face. “Say good-bye, button. And go back inside.”
    “Okay.” Zendaya lifted her little hand and waved. “Bye, Mr. Zachary.” Obedient, she turned to go back inside.
    “Wait.” He caught Zendaya’s hand and drew her back.
    She wasn’t sure what had made him stop her daughter from leaving.
    When Zendaya faced him again. “Yes, sir.”
    He didn’t answer her. Instead, still holding the little hand, he lifted his other one and brushed back her hair from the left side of her face.
    Leaning over Kourtney looked to see what had seized his attention. Did Zendaya have cheese on her face?
    Gently he caressed the birthmark on the side of her daughter’s face.
    “My mother has this same mark.”
    Oh, God…

Chapter Five
     
    “Mommy said I’m her heart. That’s why it’s shaped like one.”
    Zachary nodded. His throat felt tight, constricted and he wasn’t all too sure why. It was as if he was on the cusp of a big moment, but it didn’t make sense. “My dad tells my mother the same thing about hers. She got her mark from my grandmother.”
    The little girl smiled, a toothless grin that warmed his heart. He didn’t spend much time around kids, he figured that was the reason this little one was bowling him over.
    “My mommy doesn’t have one.” Zendaya giggled.
    Caressing the soft little cheek, he barely contained the tremors in his hand. “Can you give your mommy and me a few minutes alone?”
    She nodded, her wild light brown with blonde highlighted curls bounced around her face.
    “To your room and put on a movie for a minute, sweetheart,” Kourtney instructed.
    “Yes, ma’am.” Waving again, Zendaya was off like a bullet.
    He stayed low for a long moment. The situation didn’t make sense at all to him. Looking at the sweet little imp gave him a vision of what a daughter of his could possibly look like. Her hair color was a slightly darker shade than his, making her a sandy blonde, but the eyes and her mark were indicative of his mother’s family traits that were passed down.
    It didn’t make sense.
    “Zachary.” Kourtney’s voice waivered.
    Bringing his gaze up her lithe body: bare legs showed off under short shorts, high, full, firm breasts free beneath a dark tank top. “I’ve always prided myself on being a