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Can she feel the sparks of electricity flying between us the way I can? It takes all of my strength not to reach for her.
My best friend. My daughter’s words ring in my mind.
Fuck.
My little fairy, the woman who has sparked a deep, possessive need in me that I’ve never felt before, the woman I’m inexplicably drawn to at first meeting…is my daughter’s best friend.
“Nice to meet you, Juliet,” I finally manage to say, forcing my voice to be calm and normal despite the absolute chaos going on in my mind while I stare at her.
She swallows, her throat bobbing, and nods. “You, too.” Her voice is a little breathy. She looks away quickly, focusing back on Laura, but I can’t bring myself to look away from her.
Juliet and Laura chat about technique and backstage gossip, but I don’t really hear any of it. All I can focus on is the way Juliet’s mouth forms the words, the way her eyes light up when she laughs, and the way she manages to make the excited gestures with her hands look elegant.
Their conversation pauses the moment someone else joins us, and I manage to rip my gaze away from Juliet long enough to see that it’s Ryan, Laura’s boyfriend. I’ve met him a few times. He and Laura have been together for two years, and he’s a good kid. I smile at him, shaking his hand in greeting.
“Wasn’t she incredible?” Ryan asks as Laura hugs him.
“She was indeed.” I nod, happy that he seems as proud of my daughter as I am. I glance at Juliet, finding her watching her friends with a small smile. I notice that nobody has come up to her except Laura, no family or boyfriend. I meet her eyes and add, “They both were.”
Juliet blushes again, ducking her head to hide it. I chuckle under my breath. For a girl who captured an entire stage and audience just half an hour ago, she’s much shyer now. It’s…endearing.
Christ, everything about her is endearing.
“Let me take you out to celebrate,” Ryan is saying to Laura, who nods enthusiastically before glancing at me, a guilty look in her eye.
I shake my head, smiling at my daughter. “Go on,” I tell her, nodding towards Ryan. “Go celebrate. We can have dinner another day.”
It’s obvious that she wants to go with Ryan, and far be it from me to keep my daughter from whatever makes her happy. Besides, I’ve accumulated enough time off work to make the most of the trip, so I mean it when I tell her we can reschedule our dinner.
Laura hugs me quickly, then blows a kiss at Juliet as she and Ryan rush off towards the door. There’s a spring in her step and a huge grin on her face that warms me. I’m glad to see her so happy.
Then they’re gone, and it’s just me and Juliet alone in the crowd. She’s shuffling on her feet, glancing around instead of meeting my eyes. I want her attention on me. I want her to look at me the way I can’t fucking help but look at her.
“You got plans with your loved ones, too? Parents or a boyfriend?” I ask, capturing her gaze again. Satisfaction flows through me when she licks her lips, considering before she answers.
“Oh, um, no,” she says softly, shrugging. “My family’s on the other side of the country. I don’t get to see them much. And, uh, no. No boyfriend.”
Thank fuck. The possessive draw I feel towards her grows stronger.
“I was just planning on heading back to my apartment and eating Chinese food from the takeout containers in bed.” Juliet laughs, a little bashful.
I grin, though the mere mention of her in bed sets my blood on fire. The words are out of my mouth before I can even consider them.
“You deserve to celebrate properly,” I tell her, stepping closer. She doesn’t step back, instead craning her head back to hold my stare. “You were beautiful tonight. Amazing. Besides, seeing that my daughter has other plans, I have a reservation and nobody to fill it. I would love it if you’d join me for dinner.”
Distantly, I’m aware that I shouldn’t be asking her out, even if it’s just a dinner to celebrate her performance. There’s a line here, one I’m blatantly ignoring. But I can’t fucking help myself.
I can’t walk away from her.
2
JULIET
I’m pretty sure I must be dreaming, but no matter how many times I blink or discreetly pinch myself, I don’t wake up and the hottest man I’ve ever seen doesn’t disappear.
Nope, Jared is still standing in front of me, holding me captive with dark blue eyes that match the navy blue tie he’s wearing. He must be over six feet because I have to tilt my head back to meet his eyes, and I’m not particularly short at five foot five, either.
His jawline is sharp enough to cut, and even in the formal suit he’s wearing, when he moves, hints of muscle stretch at the white shirt and arms of his suit jacket. I’d bet my best pointe shoes that he’s got a six-pack hidden under the businessman guise he’s got going on.
