Page 3 of The Billionaire Dating Dad (The Holidates #18)

He wouldn’t remember her tomorrow, she told herself as she stepped into the rain.

The area was safe. The bus stop was a two-minute walk, and she wasn’t afraid of a little water.

Peering at the retreating figures through the rain, she hurried down the stairs.

The late June showers were heavier than they appeared.

The rain quickly turned her updo into heavy curls and the wind added a chilly bite to her soaked dress.

Standing behind the glass wall, Violet shivered. While she didn’t mind being wet, hanging out in wet clothing was not her thing. She googled the bus schedule on her phone before texting her roommate.

Guess who got the job?

Juelle: That’s what’s up.

Are you feeling any better?

Juelle: My head aches like my first graders took a hammer to it. Enough about me. How was Mr. Fine?

Violet hesitated. Just the reminder of Dimitri made her shiver again. But she would not give Juelle that info. At least, not until she forgot his touch and the sinful way he smelled.

Turns out the date was his sister’s idea.

Juelle: Blind dates are the worst.

Violet imagined her friend’s shudder. Juelle had gone on many blind dates set up by well-meaning friends. Most of which turned out horribly.

He wasn’t overly obnoxious… he was just…

Even when he wasn’t standing beside her, she had felt the weight of his presence.

His eyes had followed her as she moved about the room.

His touch, infused with purpose, had an air of confidence—perhaps that’s what drew her.

Not to Dimitri, but to the qualities her past dates lacked.

The lie slipped into her mind and she closed her eyes, wishing it were true.

He hadn’t wanted tonight; she reminded herself.

Yet, he’d watched over her. And Dimitri’s reputation had put Mrs. Townson at ease. Violet couldn’t deny that his presence had secured her job.

Juelle: It’s always the good-looking ones.

She smiled at Juelle coming to her defense even while the flu kicked her ass. Violet was about to end the text when a sleek black car stopped in front of her. She clutched the phone, ready to send her friend a 911 text when the front passenger window rolled down.

It was Mr. Fine, and he didn’t look happy.

“Get in.”

Violet hesitated. She was wet and a little chilly, but…

“Get in or I’m coming out to get you.” He didn’t wait for a response before rolling up the window.

The man had nerve. She didn’t doubt he’d do exactly what he promised. There was no use in them both being wet—although it would serve him right for being heavy-handed.

Dimitri is driving me home… but if I don’t make it, you know what to do.

Juelle: Wait a month before renting your room. Got it.

Her lips twitched.

Juelle: Oh! Can you pick up my order of soup and noodles?

I—

Violet froze. Her eyes widened when the driver’s door opened and he exited the car in the pouring rain. It was too late to retreat. Her back pressed against the glass as he moved closer, invading her space.

“I asked you to wait for me to bring the car to you.” His voice held treads of frustration as if he was on the razor’s edge of losing control.

The man was a puzzle. In the beginning, he acted as though he didn’t want her company, yet he insisted on taking her home.

He was close enough for her to smell his cologne mingled with rain and see the droplets caught in his long lashes. See his eyes harden with a mixture of fury and bewilderment.

Violet tipped her chin in defiance. She didn’t owe him anything.

A lie, but one she wouldn’t lose sleep over.

“You did your part. There’s no reason to stretch this out longer than necessary.

” She prayed he couldn’t hear her unsteady heartbeat.

“We can just wait here for my bus. It’s only fifteen minutes out. ”

“I doubt it.”

She flipped her phone to show him the bus schedule. “See.” She’d taken the bus instead of borrowing Juelle’s car because she knew there would be alcohol and although she didn't intend to drink, if she were compelled to do so, she didn't want to risk driving herself home.

He didn’t take his eyes off her. “This entire stretch of road is closed after 8 p.m. Your bus won’t arrive for another forty minutes.” His gaze lowered to her breasts. “And you’re wet.”

Violet resisted the urge to fold her arms over her chest. She had no desire to make it evident how much of an effect he had on her. “How did you know about the roads being closed?”

“Nothing gets between my sister and her obsession with art. Not traffic, rain, or—”

At least he didn’t sugarcoat his thoughts. “Or her insisting you go on a date you don’t want,” she finished.

A tick worked along his sculpted jaw.

“I’m doing you a favor. Your sister never has to know you—”

“ You lost our bet,” he said with a calm that betrayed his darkening eyes.

It was almost nine at night. Whatever he had in mind for them to do couldn’t possibly be safe for her pounding pulse.

“Dimitri—”

“I was supposed to attend a friend’s engagement party.”

“Oh!” Guilt cooled her heated skin. She’d ruined his plans… again. Violet raked her eyes over his drenched hair and suit. “I didn’t know.”

“Now you do.” He shifted closer. “Since that’s no longer an option, I’ll have to collect on our bet another way.”

Violet shivered when he lowered his head. His mouth didn’t hover and wait. Dimitri took. Kissing her with the confidence of a man who knew what he wanted, flooding her veins with pure lust.

And a craving she hadn’t known was missing.

His tall frame cocooned her in warmth despite the chill in the air.

Violet opened to him, sipping and savoring the fire he ignited.

But it was almost too much. Too wild. Too electric for the greedy hunger Dimitri stirred.

It had been too long since a man kissed her with passion.

Kissed as though she stood at the edge of a cliff and his taste was the only thing keeping her from stumbling into the lava bubbling beneath them.

Violet moaned when he deepened their kiss, his tongue thoroughly exploring her mouth. His lips were soft—a stark contrast to the rest of him—coaxing. And just when she thought he would demand more, his mouth left hers.

She flushed. Her lips tingled with need.

My gosh, what had he done to her?

“Are we even?” she asked, hoping he mistook the quiver in her voice for being cold.

They held each other's gaze. It was impossible to take her eyes from his slightly parted mouth. Was the gloss on his lips from their earth-shattering kiss or the beads of water running down his face? She didn’t know but the urge to lick the droplets away made her mouth water.

Violet bit her tongue and was glad when his phone buzzed.

Answer it. She desperately wanted a reprieve from his penetrating stare. Instead, his next words quickened her pulse.

“One kiss for missing a dear friend’s engagement and lying for you…” He stroked his thumb along her lower lip in a lover’s caress. Not a lover’s touch, she corrected. But the brazen stroke of a man in control. “We’re not even close to being even,” he promised before taking his call.