Page 186 of Modern Romance September 2026 Books 1-4

‘Athena Jones.’ Dido’s mouth tightened and her eyes flashed, signalling she didn’t care what he liked. ‘My family has a tradition of naming girls after strong women.’

As if repudiating any relevance to him.

Panos mentally ticked off the names. Minerva the Roman equivalent of Athena, goddess of wisdom. Flavia, linked to a line of powerful Roman emperors. And Dido, Queen of Carthage. Naturally he liked Athena best. But when it came to Jones…

That would be rectified.

He smiled at the little girl. ‘Hello, Athena.’ He held out his hand.

‘She’s too young to go to a stranger.’

Was she? The child’s round eyes seemed to reinforce it. But Panos was patient, not letting his smile slip or his hand drop. ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m your baba. Your daddy.’

Dido made a choking sound which he ignored, watching his daughter’s head tilt with interest. ‘Dadda?’

His smile became a grin so broad his muscles stretched tight. ‘That’s right, Theeny. I’m your daddy.’

From the mists of his memory came a snatch of an old nursery song. Had he heard it in his cot, or just pretended he had in the long, lonely childhood years, comforting himself with the illusion one of his dead parents had once taken time to sing to him? It was a commonplace tune, but every time he heard it, his throat thickened.

He whispered it to his daughter now, starting slow and gruff, gradually finding the rhythm and his voice.

When he finished she still surveyed him silently then, eluding her mother’s grasp, the child walked towards him. ‘Dadda!’

Small fingers closed around his hand, gripping tight as she peered at him, bottom lip protruding as if in concentration.

Panos had never known anything that compared with the feel of his daughter’s grip on his hand. He was astonished at her strength, and moved by her clear interest.

A darting sideways glance confirmed that Dido was horrified. Her face was pale and her mouth twisted as if in pain. But somewhere, somehow his little girl had learned the concept of a daddy or at least knew the word. Clearly she was intrigued. Or perhaps it was just that she was surrounded by women and any man was fascinating.

Assuming there was no man living here. The idea dimmed his elation.

One thing at a time.

Her small hands patted his thighs as if testing he was real. Panos shifted to sit on the floor, the child between his outstretched legs.

‘Theeny…’

But Athena’s attention was on him. Was it possible she recognised her own eyes in his?

Panos brushed aside the notion as wishful thinking. Yet he couldn’t help being elated at her willingness to approach him. It seemed his daughter had a mind of her own. He applauded that.

Two little hands planted on his thigh. ‘Up, peeze.’ It took him a second to understand her command and when he didn’t immediately respond she frowned, her tone turning imperious. ‘Up!’

Gingerly he wrapped his hands around her middle, simultaneously amazed by her solid body and how little she weighed. He held her so she stood balanced on his thigh. Instantly she lunged towards him, curious and fearless.

Something that felt like pride stirred.

‘Dadda!’

Gravely, Panos inclined his head. ‘That’s right, kouklitsa mou.’ His little girl. ‘I’m your daddy.’

He had no idea how well she understood the word, if at all, but assured himself that would come with time. For now it was enough that she was happy and curious. One small hand batted his shoulder and another landed on his chin. She frowned, making him realise he probably needed a shave. Was his skin too abrasive for her?

She gave a gurgle of laughter that turned his heart inside out and batted his chin with both hands as if she’d discovered some hilarious treat.

How long they stayed like that, Panos didn’t know. It could have been a minute or an hour. Then suddenly Athena was wriggling out of his hold. ‘Go sanpee. Pay sanpee.’

He frowned and for the first time sought clarification from Dido. ‘She wants the toilet?’