Page 4 of The Billionaire Dating Dad (The Holidates #18)

Dimitri

July

H e was a father.

The entire experience was surreal, and he hadn’t met little Maddison yet. Would she like him? Would he see glimpses of his younger self when he peered into her eyes? Parts of himself he barely remembered.

When he’d envisioned fatherhood, he pictured watching his wife’s stomach growing round with their child.

Touching her belly and experiencing the first flutter, or the baby hearing his voice long before he’d heard her first cry.

He’d pictured holding her tiny frame in his arms and worrying about her slight weight.

The smell of his baby. Each time those fleeting thoughts crossed his mind, images of Violet, his fake date from the gallery, accompanied them.

Dimitri slammed his eyes shut. He didn’t know any of the things that accompanied fatherhood, but he’d heard stories in his youth from his mother as she’d made her children feel precious and loved.

Now he hung onto those memories of his mother… his childhood. They sparked a longing that churned the deepest parts of his soul. But the happy home she’d created had masked his mother’s struggle to provide, though he and his siblings hadn’t known that until much later.

He stared out the tinted window to the tiny yellow house from the car’s back seat. This wasn’t a memory from his childhood, it was reality. He was a father.

Would he be good at parenthood? He was ambitious and successful. The family had banded together after his mother died and his older brother, Alexei, made sure they’d never struggle again.

Though he was familiar with the rigors of the corporate world, connecting with Maddison wasn’t a business transaction.

However today turned out, it would change his life.

His daughter’s life. Too much hung in the balance for Dimitri not to embrace his strengths.

He knew nothing of being a parent, but he didn’t become successful by not knowing how to negotiate and deploy strategies to his advantage.

It was pointless to dwell on things beyond his control, like his daughter’s love for him, or May’s hidden motives for now telling him that she’d given birth to his child.

That's not how he won in business. Rather than diverting his attention elsewhere, he concentrated on what he knew and the present situation.

The sunflower yellow home nestled between two newly renovated brick houses—one story bigger than his childhood home in New York.

In the distance, the repeated chimes of a child’s bicycle happily disturbed the otherwise quiet residential street.

His childhood neighborhood was never this peaceful.

And the summer wind never floated freely without carrying the scent of his mother’s fresh laundry from their back porch.

May’s little slice of heaven was different.

An array of rose bushes surrounded the patch of grass, their petals lightly brushing against each other in the breeze.

Yellow, red, and soft pink. He tried to recall his brief encounter with May all those years ago — had she adored roses?

— and failed. Their time together was too short, too frantic with celebration, excitement, and lust.

He was sure he’d worn protection on their night together, as Dimitri always did, but protection wasn’t a guarantee.

Returning his gaze to the house, he knew modest didn’t mean unhappy.

His childhood home was less than modest and space was optimized for efficiency.

His best memories were in his family’s New York home, watching his mother pass food from the hot stove to the dining room table by merely extending her arm.

Or during the winter, when she moved wet clothes from the front load washer to the dryer in the multi-use bathroom, all while relieving herself during her precious alone time.

He smiled. Until age nine, he’d thought his mother an acrobat the way she’d maneuvered the space and multitasked.

While he sat in the back seat of the car, he noticed that May’s roof needed repair.

He knew nothing about roofing, but from the bits of rolled shingles at the front right corner, the roof would spring a leak if it hadn’t already.

The moment he returned to the hotel, he’d call his agent.

Buying them a new house in Wheelcaster would move them closer.

He’d do it because family was important and something about the house brought back forgotten images. Memories lost to time.

His phone rang, and he answered on the second ring. “Alexei, don’t you have work to do?”

“You try working with your wife and sister, pacing your office.”

“My sympathies.” Dimitri chuckled at his older brother’s disgruntled tone. “You have me beat in the wife department.” He smiled. “But I’m familiar with having an anxious sister.”

“Then you know the pain I’m in,” Alexei groaned, but his tone was good-humored. Happy.

“Will you two stop?” His sister-in-law’s voice rang through the phone. “Katya and I want all the details. How tall is Maddison? What does she like?”

How did she react to having a father? Was the unspoken question Candice was too kind to ask. A question that caused him to remain in the car for over a half hour since he’d arrived.

His sister, though, had no qualms about speaking her mind. “He answered his phone,” Katya said. “That means…” Dimitri envisioned her head shaking in disapproval. “For a guy that closes billion-dollar deals on the regular, I can’t believe you haven’t left the car.”

“He has ‘new dad’ jitters,” Alexei said.

Jitters were an understatement. Agitated was a better word for his chaotic emotions. He’d miss so much already. Maddison’s first steps, her first words… Did she love stories or sports? How could he relate to Maddison when he’d only found out about her existence a month ago?

“When Mamo brought you home from the hospital, I was nervous,” Alexei said. “I already had one terrible sibling —”

“Just admit I’m your favorite,” Katya teased.

Alexei chuckled. “My favorite sister.”

“Your only sister.”

“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 Spring air 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 was reaching 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?”

“Uh-huh.” She looked past the hired car parked on the street. “Bailey’s dad has a car just like that.”

“He does?”

“Bailey says his car purrs. Do you have cats in your car?”

“I don’t think that’s what he meant —”

“How do you know?”

How could he explain men and their attachment to cars to a child without sounding like a perv? “Who’s Bailey?” he asked instead. Unexpected jealousy that someone knew her better than him tightened Dimitri’s jaw.

“Maddie, who’s at the door?” A female voice called.

He and Maddison locked gazes. Her stare was scrutinizing as she appraised him again.

Finding him acceptable, the little imp shrugged and waved him into the house.

She wasn’t shy, but she didn’t act as though she knew who he was, either.

Nor did she seem scared or overly interested in having a father.

Then again, he knew nothing about how a child would react when meeting a parent for the first time.

“I don’t know, Mom.” Placing both her palms on the knob, she shoved the door close the moment he entered.

Great, he instantly regretted entering the house on her invitation. “You could have asked my name, you know.”

“I’m a child.” She batted her lashes. “My brains are this size.” She measured a small distance between her two palms. Another sarcastic family member, just his luck. He didn’t doubt she was clever. Definitely a Popova trait.

Dimitri heard the woman’s footsteps before he saw her and braced himself for a rush of memories from the night they spent together—any anchor of recognition.

But shame twisted his chest when she entered the room.

He recalled the event almost six years ago, Katya’s success with heading their marketing company, but little more.

That night was a blur, a laughter-induced, champagne, fog.

“Oh.” She stood behind Maddison and he saw the slight quiver in her fingers.

Maddison squirmed under her mother’s grip. “Did I do a bad thing, Mom?”

“No baby, it’s okay to talk to this stranger.” May turned her daughter around. “Maddie, I’d like you to meet Mr. Popova—”

“Dimitri, please.”

May nodded. “Dimitri. He’ll be celebrating Christmas with us tonight.”

Christmas? It was the middle of summer. He frowned.

“Because it’s a special occasion?”

“Yes.” May smiled. “Like a gift.”

“I’m getting a present?” Maddie’s eyes widened.

Well, damn. He wasn’t told to bring a gift, but it was what a father would do, wasn’t it?

“Not that kind of present,” May quickly said.

Maddie glanced at him over her narrow shoulders. “He doesn’t look like fun, but I guess I can be grateful since we’re pretending it’s Christmas.”

“That’s my girl.”

When the child skipped off to do whatever children her age did, her mother stood, giving him an uninterrupted view of the woman he’d sired a child with.

May’s hair formed a loose, elegant knot above her head, drawing his gaze to her slender neck. She was beautiful, even if a little pale. Like Maddison, she wore a pretty red dress, but instead of it floating around her, the material clung to her slight curves. Too slight.

Dimitri waited for that spark that drew him to her that night—

“Thanks for coming.”

Of course, he came. He would travel across the world for his child. His child. No matter how many times he embraced the sentiment, the words always knocked the wind from his lungs. He nodded.

“I haven’t told her who you are yet.”

“Why not?” The question came out harsher and more accusatory than he’d intended. But he also admitted to being suspicious. “Sorry.” He raked his hand over his jaw. “Why ask me to come if you aren’t ready to tell her?” He couldn’t imagine anything worse than forcing this type of news on a child.

“I’ve told her some things, but I thought you’d want to be here when I told her who you are.”