Page 9 of The Billionaire Dating Dad

Alexei chuckled. “My favorite sister.”

“Youronlysister.”

“My point is, I was young and understood more about our situation than Mamo wanted me to know. I remember my heart racing as I realized I could not assist her. Be what she needed.”

“A baby was too much responsibility for a child, Alexie,” Dimitri said. “Too small, breakable—” He scrubbed his hand down his face. Those are all good reasons for a child to be nervous.

“I wasn’t nervous because I thought I’d hurt you, Dimitri.” Alexie’s voice filled with nostalgia. “I was afraid of being a poor substitute for Mamo.”

Dimitri swallowed. Alexei didn’t speak of his vulnerabilities, let alone their past. “Alexie—”

“You may not have witnessed Maddison’s birth, but I imagine the feelings are much the same after learning you’re a father.”

“Did you want to puke?” Boil had risen to his throat more than once on the drive from the airport.

“Are you kidding? I lost my lunch the day you were born.” Alexei paused. “I thought I was done with diapers.”

Dimitri laughed. His siblings had a way of calming him. He glanced toward the house again. He didn’t know what awaited him inside, but if it promised half the joy he experienced from his siblings, he wanted it. And if it didn’t, Dimitri still wanted his daughter in his life. Family meant not turning his back on those he cared for. Love swelled his heart for the little person he’d yet to meet. How was that even possible?

“No matter what happens or what May wants, remember to put Maddison’s needs first. Do that and you’ll be fine,” his brother said.

“We’re here if you need us.” Candice’s support was unwavering.

“Send pictures. I want to see my niece!” The call disconnected after his sister’s demand.

Slipping his phone from his pocket, Dimitri exited the car. There were too many emotions raging inside him — anger, fear, wonder — to latch on to any single thread. They zipped around him, then fled as fast as the varying thoughts passed through his mind.

He walked up the gravel pathway to the house, barely able to smell the perfume coming from the rose bushes. Cool Springair whipped the fragrance, swirling it like a glass of aged wine, then floated it away on a gentle breeze before he sampled it. A humorless similarity to his life after hearing the news that he had a daughter.

He’d replayed the conversation about his daughter many times after his evening with Violet — Dimitri closed his eyes, briefly recalling the intriguing woman whose kiss had left him wanting, before pushing all thoughts from that night and the phone call that changed his life aside. No matter how much he ached to see her again, too much time had passed since their date. Time he’d devoted to learning about his daughter.

Each word from May, no matter how often he replayed it, informing him of Maddison had torn his heart. May’s voice had grown foggy, and distant until her words faded altogether. When he’d finally shaken his shock, he remembered the tight leash he kept on his anger.

Dimitri tapped on the door and waited. The pitter-patter of small feet just beyond the wall made him dizzy. He inhaled, squaring his shoulders in determination.

The door swung open, and all his confidence went out the window.

“Hello.”

Maddison.

The child cocked her head to the side.

They stared at each other and he imagined she sized him up as keenly as he admired her curly brown hair that matched her eyes. Her bright red dress shimmered off the sunlight, flashing a hundred silver sparkles on the front. Almost too fancy for a regular summer afternoon.

Did he get the date wrong? The time?The house — no, his driver would have had to make the same mistake.

The child frowned, thin brows furrowing over her intelligent eyes, instantly reminding him of Katya. Or perhaps he wasreaching for a connection. “Mom says I’m not supposed to air-condition the entire neighborhood.”

“You must be Maddison.”

Her brows shot up a fraction before her lips twitched. “Nope. Maddie is outside.”

It was his turn to frown. His fingers itched to take another glance at the photos on his phone. Except he’d permanently etched her image into his memory. He peered into the room behind her and not seeing anyone else, his gaze returned to hers, only to find them ablaze with mischief.

“Why do you want Maddie?”

He almost laughed at having to negotiate his way past a preschooler, although he found her refreshing change from the uncertainty he’d envisioned. “Is your mom home?”

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