Page 17 of The Billionaire Dating Dad

“Okay. But don’t go too far, Daddy.” She hopped off the stool.

“Alright.” He pushed the stool back under the sink, trying not to overreact to her calling him Daddy.

“Pancakes. My absolute favorite.”

Dimitri stared at his sister from over the rim of his cup. Dressed in a red pantsuit that cost a small fortune, the outfit brightened her tan from last weekend’s family gathering. Katya looked stunning. “Since when do you eat pancakes?”

“Since you started pretending to make them.” She took his cup filled with coffee, gulping the warm dark concoction. “And who said anything about eating them.” His sister braced her hip against the island.

Dimitri smirked. “Maddie thinks hiring the chef counts. She even said I did a great job finding Jack.”

“She’s got you around her little finger, doesn’t she?”

He would argue that his daughter had wrapped herself around his entire hand and heart. “Don’t tell me it isn’t the same for you.”

“Oh, no. Her big brown eyes do not work on me.”

Dimitri shook his head. Giving up hope that she’d return his cup with any decent amount of coffee, Dimitri poured another. “Thanks for taking Maddie to school today.”

Katya flicked her wrist, waving away his gratitude. “Where is my niece anyway?”

“In her room dressing for school.” When Maddie first came home, the family had been shocked at how independent she was. At times it was easy to forget his daughter was five years old. Having a staff helped but what he needed was a nanny. Someone who cared for her needs after school. He’d gladly rearranged his days but on days when his meetings ran long, a maid, cook, and the driver were not enough.

Katya set her cup on the counter. “Any luck locating May?”

Dimitri roughly swept his hand through his hair. “She didn’t wait a week before putting a for sale sign on her lawn, Katya.” May had meticulously planned every part of her departure. How could he help her when the people he’d hired couldn’t even find her?

“She’d been delaying treatment to spend time with Maddie. She’s very sick, Dimitri, and doesn’t want Maddie to remember her that way in case —” Katya broke off, clearing her throat.

“I should have stayed. Contacted the best doctors… done something other than hop on the plane with our daughter.”

Katya gripped his arm. “Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing.”

“How can you say that?”

“May has no control over her illness. Can you not imagine how that must feel? Losing every… her health, her daughter.”

“So what, Katya? Are you suggesting I stop looking for her?”

“I’m saying we can hope May is trying to get well on her terms,” Katya said. “You need to focus on creating a home for Maddie.”

He closed his eyes. Perhaps his sister was right about giving May the space she needed. There were a few times in his youth when he was powerless. Though each had profoundly transformed his life, at the time he hadn’t enjoyed any of those moments.

“How’s the search for a new nanny?”

Dimitri cringed. The only woman his mind kept returning to was already employed with the Townsons. Violet. He could offer her more money… even play dirty. Dimitri shook his head. Dammit to hell if she hadn’t lit his body on fire. He’d kissed her, and tasted the nectar from her mouth. No contract in the world would keep his hand from her if she entered his life again. No, it was best for Violet and his sanity that he stayed out of her life. His obsession with Violet surpassed physical. He needed something permanent and he was unsure if she was ready for what that entailed.

“That bad huh?”

His sister had no idea. “Maddie didn’t like the first nanny.”

“Did she say why?”

“No.” He sighed. How was it that he could negotiate new partnerships, and hire heads of entire departments but he couldn’t find the perfect person to care for his daughter?

“Leave finding a nanny to me,” Katya said.

CHAPTER SEVEN

---