Page 68 of Charm (Billionaire Buck Boys #7)
CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT
Holden
Dinner is over. Martha and Bruce have gone for a walk, and the moment is here. I’m about to tell Olive I’m her dad.
I’m doing it with Bruce’s blessing. When I arrived an hour ago, he took me into Greer’s office, gave me the biggest bear hug of my life, and told me he knew I was up for the honor of being the father of his granddaughter.
He’s a good man who loves deeply.
I’m grateful to be part of this family.
“Mom said you need to talk to me, Holden.” Olive looks up at me. “It sounds important.”
I drop the dishtowel in my hands on the counter. I was on cleanup duty. I’m the one who assigned that task to me.
I needed time to gather my thoughts. It’s been a few hours since Greer and I opened the envelopes confirming I’m Olive’s birth father. We agreed we’d tell her as soon as possible, so I came over with three flower bouquets in hand, and a bottle of good scotch for Bruce.
I thought the time it took to eat dinner would be long enough for me to prepare a speech, but I’ve got nothing, so I’m going to have to wing this.
I glance down at the T-shirt I’m wearing.
Olive’s gaze follows mine. “Don’t worry about it. I get all wet when I help with the dishes, too. Mommy said it’s okay to make a mess when you’re little.”
“What about when you’re big?” I ask.
She grins from ear to ear. “It’s not so okay then, but I can wet my T-shirt too if it makes you feel better.”
I look at the dark green Sweet Indulgence shirt she’s wearing. “Maybe your mom can get me one of those shirts?”
“Ask nicely and she’ll do it.” She steps closer to lower her voice. “If you make your eyes look like this, that helps, too.”
She bats her long eyelashes.
I can’t help but laugh.
Greer walks into the kitchen from the hallway. “What’s so funny?”
“His shirt,” my daughter says, jerking her little thumb in my direction. “He’s messier than me, Mom.”
Greer’s gaze volleys between the two of us. I can tell she’s getting choked up, so I motion toward the main living area. “I think we should go sit down and talk.”
“Okay.” Olive reaches for my hand. “I’m sitting beside Holden.”
I mouth the words I love you to Greer before I follow Olive into the other room.
Once we’re all seated, with Olive between us, Greer takes the lead. “Do you know how you’ve sometimes asked me about your dad?”
“Oh, sure.” Olive shrugs. “I think about him sometimes.”
“What do you mean?” Greer asks.
“I think about if he’s tall.” Olive laughs. “If he has freckles. If he has a bald head. I sometimes wonder if he is good at basketball.”
“He is,” I say, without realizing I’m stepping in before I should.
Olive’s head snaps in my direction. “Really?”
“He’s really good,” I tell her, stealing a glance at Greer as I do.
She’s smiling. A soft nod of her head encourages me to keep going.
“He’s pretty tall.” I tap Olive’s knee. “He’s smart. His brother thinks he’s smarter, but he’s wrong.”
‘Wait!” Olive’s hand darts into the air. “My dad has a brother?”
“He does.”
Her gaze scans my face slowly. “Do you know my dad, Holden?”
This is it. This is the moment that my daughter finds out she has a father who loves her endlessly.
“I am your dad,” I whisper.
Both of her hands leap to her mouth before she lets out a scream. “No way! You’re pranking me.”
I laugh. “I’m not. I just found out I’m your dad. “
Tears stream down her face so naturally the same thing happens to me.
“I’m happy,” she whispers. “I have a dad and he’s cool.”
“I’m cool,” I say to Greer. “Our daughter thinks I’m cool.”
Olive jumps into my lap. “Can I call you dad?”
I swear I’m about to lose it. I don’t know how I’m not sobbing right now. “I want you to.”
“Okay, Dad,” she tests it with a broad smile. “You’re my dad.”
Greer glides a hand over Olive’s head. “Are you happy?”
“The happiest I’ve ever been.” She looks into my face. “Are you and Mom getting married? Some people with kids get married.”
I hand this question over to Greer by tossing her a look.
“We have lots of time to talk about things like that,” she explains.
Olive looks up and into my face. “Do you love Mom?”
I stare into my little girl’s eyes. “I love your mom very much.”
“I do, too.” She runs her hand over my jaw. “Are you happy that you’re my dad?”
“It’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“To me, too,” she whispers. “Do you like kittens?”
Greer laughs before tapping Olive’s shoulder. “He’s not going to say yes to adopting a kitten, Olive.”
She glances back at her mom. “He might.”
“No kittens for right now,” I tell her.
“If we vote on it, I think we can get one.” She rests her head on my shoulder. “You’d vote yes with me, Dad.”
I hold her against me, feeling the rhythm of her small heart as it beats. I close my eyes to soak in this moment in time because it will live within me for the rest of my life.
I’m a dad. I’m the father of the most wonderful little girl.
“Right, Dad?” Olive presses me to answer. “You’d vote for a kitten with me. They’re so cute.”
“My friend, Declan, and his wife, Abby, have a kitten named Cindy,” I say. “We can visit them whenever you want so you can play with her.”
She bolts back up to a straight position to look directly at my face. “Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
“I can’t wait to meet Cindy.” She smiles. “This is the best day ever.”
“It is.” I reach over to grab Greer’s hand. “It really is.”