Page 33 of The Billionaire Dating Dad

No. She wouldn’t let herself get that close.

Standing at the rear of the auditorium was safe. It was best for her pride if she didn’t witness him holding May the way he’d held her throughout so many nights. One after the other the dance groups performed all the while Violet tried not to search the rows of seated guests.

Temptation won and she skimmed the crowd from the shadows. One glimpse to etch his features into memory was all she needed.

Violet found him — the back of his head anyway, as he sat in the front row with his family. She recognized his broad shoulders and the wavy strands of his thick raven hair anywhere. It wasn’t the view of his brown eyes or the angle of his jawline, but she didn’t need those. Violet had something far more valuable — his salty taste on her tongue, the memory of her body quivering under his touch as he thrust deep, taking her to orgasmic bliss. Violet bit the inside of her cheek as waves of heat blanketed her skin. Sensual heat sparked every cell in her body to life.

She was aroused.

Damn, Juelle and her red heels.

Violet groaned. And damn Dimitri for making her body attuned to his presence. She was free from her obligation andheno longer mattered.

If only she could convince her body of that little white lie as she panted from desire.

Violet blinked when the room erupted in cheers. Maddie’s group stood on stage bowing, their faces lit in smiles. She had no doubt the girls had done spectacularly in their rendition of ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.’ But she’d missed it.

Lights flooding the room were her cue to leave. Yet, she craved one, then another glance of Maddie. Violet swallowed. Her justification for remaining as the crowd thinned seemed like a good one until Dimitri lifted Maddie into his arms. Their eyes locked and Violet panicked.

Stand where you wouldn’t be seen. Watch the performance, then leave.That was the extent of her plan.Be invisible.Wasn’t that a skill she possessed as a nanny?

“Violet!”

She cringed, quickening her steps toward the main entrance. It broke her heart to keep walking, to pretend she didn’t hear Maddie call out to her. But as selfless as she’d tried to be two months ago, she couldn’t watch Dimitri be in love with someone else. Perhaps someday, but that day wasn’t today. Not when her heart was shattered into a million pieces. Worse, she didn’t want to see the love in May's eyes when she gazed up at Dimitri. Because loving him was intense and deep.

She’d fulfilled her promise. Now it was time to accept a new nanny position far away from Wheelcaster and the man who made her believe she too could have the love she read in fairytales.

“Violet, it’s me, Maddie.”

So close. A few more steps and she would have disappeared into the late afternoon’s setting sun. She squeezed her eyes tightly. While she ignored Maddie’s call before, she couldn’t pretend not to hear it now.

Taking a fortifying gulp of air, she plastered a nervous smile on her face before turning in time for Maddie’s hug.

Violet savored the embrace. Her eyes stung from holding back tears. She’d missed Maddie fiercely and had underestimated just how much until now.

“You came,” Maddie said.

“I promised you I would see your performance.”

“I told Daddy you’d come.” Maddie smiled “Didn’t I Daddy?”

“You did.”

Violet sucked in a shallow breath. She could try to ignore Dimitri but her body had other ideas. Fortifying her courage, she glanced up and met his piercing gaze. She gasped at the changes in his appearance since she’d last seen him. His hair was a little wilder than she remembered and a week-old stubble marred his jaw. A ruthless frost had chilled the warmth in his eyes and she was stunned and heartbroken.

Lingering after the performance got her here, staying would be a mistake. “It was nice to see you again, Maddie.”

“Leaving again?” Dimitri asked.

“I—” Her gaze flickered to the Popovas rapidly approaching. “I came for Maddie.”

His eyes slowly raked her outfit, stripping her bare and bringing her body to life everywhere his eyes touched.Why did she believe she could come, then quietly walk away unnoticed?

“Alexei,” Dimitri clenched and unclenched his jaw.

“Brother?” Alexei answered, amusement curving his mouth into a savage smirk that said she was in trouble.

Oh, hell.

---