Page 2 of The Billionaire Dating Dad

She inhaled slowly, wishing Dimitri’s sour mood would stop her heart from pounding in her chest. “That we’re a couple,” she said, quickly. “The woman doesn’t hire single nannies and I need this job.”

“You want me to lie?”

“A tiny white lie.” She flushed. “I just need Mrs. Townson to think we’re dating.”

He stared at her for a long time. Violet wasn’t sure if he would tell her to go to hell. “What’s in it for me?”

“After the interview, I’ll leave and you’ll never have to see me again.” She exhaled. What better offer than a swift end to their fake date?

“That’s not enough.”

She reared back. What the… he didn’t want her company any more than she did him, so why was he objecting? He closed the distance between them and heat whooshed through Violet’s body as if he’d physically reached out, intimately caressing her exposed skin.

“I’m a gentleman and that means I take you home.”

She expected him to snatch at the chance to ditch her. “There’s no need.” Surely he had better things to do than play chaperone? “I found my way here, I can find my way back.”

“I’ll take you home.”

She stared into his piercing eyes, biting back a gasp as the silly butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She could object, but there was no point in arguing. Once the interview was over, she was sure he’d change his mind. “You’re serious?”

When he didn’t answer, Violet shook her head. If she survived one evening in his company, Violet could survive a thirty-minute car ride in a confined space. Survive his nearness and mouth-watering cologne — No. No. No.

She would just have to learn how to hold her breath.

Theirdatewas for a new job, not pleasure. She had no business taking her eyes from the prize.

Without another word, he held her elbow, steering them toward the gallery.

“Does this mean you’ll pretend to be my boyfriend?”

“Yes.”

Violet exhaled in relief. Though he still didn’t seem pleased, she appreciated his help. “You didn’t tell me what you wanted in return.”

Before he could answer, the doors opened, bathing them in soft lighting and low chatter. Champagne and perfume peppered the air, making Violet glad she had worn no fragrance to compete with the extravagant scents. Both of her previous employers had complained of a stuffy nose and itchy eyes when she had worn any perfume, so she stopped wearing any.

The light reflecting off the shimmering gold decorations filled the room with sophisticated elegance, and the quiet conversations were inaudible against the backdrop of the delicate piano piece. Both children and adults filled the room. She hadn’t known what to make of Mrs. Townson’s invitation to the gallery, but she hadn’t expected children to be present. Now her position to chaperone Mrs. Townson's eleven-year-old daughter to events made sense.

“Champagne?” a server asked.

“None for me, thanks,” she said, though she longed to accept the offer. Her nervousness prickled her skin and Violet resisted the urge to run her palms along her black dress to smooth the invisible wrinkles. She didn’t belong here. It was one thing to care for their children and another to submit to their public scrutiny.

“None for me either.” Dimitri’s thumb idly drew circles on her hand. “Relax,” he whispered in her ear.

His touch soothed her, calming her racing pulse.

“I don’t expect you not to drink or enjoy yourself, Dimitri.”

“What kind of boyfriend…or getaway driver would I be if I’m intoxicated?”

Violet held her breath for a moment before slowly exhaling in a vain attempt to steady her nerves. Even though this was not the night he had planned, his actions spoke to an awareness of her uneasiness as he attempted to ease her anxiety. While his behavior was a show, she found solace in his kind gesture.

Perhaps it wasn’t too late to leave.Too late to find a less demanding job with a less demanding family. Violet closed her eyes. She couldn’t afford to give up this opportunity.

“What do you think it will take to end this event?”

She frowned. Violet didn’t blame him for wanting a way out of their fake arrangement. “Since it’s a charity event, I suppose once they sell all the art, the event would conclude.”

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