Can she really feel the sparks of electrical energy flying between us the way in which I can? It takes all of my energy to not attain for her.

My greatest good friend. My daughter’s phrases ring in my thoughts.

Fuck.

My little fairy, the girl who has sparked a deep, possessive want in me that I’ve by no means felt earlier than, the girl I’m inexplicably drawn to at first assembly…is my daughter’s greatest good friend.

“Good to satisfy you, Juliet,” I lastly handle to say, forcing my voice to be calm and regular regardless of absolutely the chaos happening in my thoughts whereas I stare at her.

She swallows, her throat bobbing, and nods. “You, too.” Her voice is slightly breathy. She seems to be away rapidly, focusing again on Laura, however I can’t deliver myself to look away from her.

Juliet and Laura chat about method and backstage gossip, however I don’t actually hear any of it. All I can deal with is the way in which Juliet’s mouth kinds the phrases, the way in which her eyes mild up when she laughs, and the way in which she manages to make the excited gestures together with her fingers look elegant.

Their dialog pauses the second another person joins us, and I handle to tear my gaze away from Juliet lengthy sufficient to see that it’s Ryan, Laura’s boyfriend. I’ve met him a couple of instances. He and Laura have been collectively for 2 years, and he’s a superb child. I smile at him, shaking his hand in greeting.

“Wasn’t she unimaginable?” Ryan asks as Laura hugs him.

“She was certainly.” I nod, pleased that he appears as happy with my daughter as I’m. I look at Juliet, discovering her watching her mates with a small smile. I discover that no one has come as much as her besides Laura, no household or boyfriend. I meet her eyes and add, “They each had been.”

Juliet blushes once more, ducking her head to cover it. I chuckle underneath my breath. For a woman who captured a complete stage and viewers simply half an hour in the past, she’s a lot shyer now. It’s…endearing.

Christ, all the things about her is endearing.

“Let me take you out to rejoice,” Ryan is saying to Laura, who nods enthusiastically earlier than glancing at me, a responsible look in her eye.

I shake my head, smiling at my daughter. “Go on,” I inform her, nodding in direction of Ryan. “Go rejoice. We are able to have dinner one other day.”

It’s apparent that she desires to go together with Ryan, and much be it from me to maintain my daughter from no matter makes her pleased. Apart from, I’ve amassed sufficient day without work work to benefit from the journey, so I imply it after I inform her we are able to reschedule our dinner.

Laura hugs me rapidly, then blows a kiss at Juliet as she and Ryan rush off in direction of the door. There’s a spring in her step and an enormous grin on her face that warms me. I’m glad to see her so pleased.

Then they’re gone, and it’s simply me and Juliet alone within the crowd. She’s shuffling on her ft, glancing round as a substitute of assembly my eyes. I would like her consideration on me. I would like her to take a look at me the way in which I can’t fucking assist however take a look at her.

“You bought plans together with your family members, too? Dad and mom or a boyfriend?” I ask, capturing her gaze once more. Satisfaction flows by me when she licks her lips, contemplating earlier than she solutions.

“Oh, um, no,” she says softly, shrugging. “My household’s on the opposite facet of the nation. I don’t get to see them a lot. And, uh, no. No boyfriend.”

Thank fuck. The possessive draw I really feel in direction of her grows stronger.

“I used to be simply planning on heading again to my condo and consuming Chinese language meals from the takeout containers in mattress.” Juliet laughs, slightly bashful.

I grin, although the mere point out of her in mattress units my blood on fireplace. The phrases are out of my mouth earlier than I may even think about them.

“You need to rejoice correctly,” I inform her, stepping nearer. She doesn’t step again, as a substitute craning her head again to carry my stare. “You had been lovely tonight. Wonderful. Apart from, seeing that my daughter has different plans, I’ve a reservation and no one to fill it. I might like it if you happen to’d be part of me for dinner.”

Distantly, I’m conscious that I shouldn’t be asking her out, even when it’s only a dinner to rejoice her efficiency. There’s a line right here, one I’m blatantly ignoring. However I can’t fucking assist myself.

I can’t stroll away from her.

2

JULIET

I’m fairly certain I have to be dreaming, however irrespective of what number of instances I blink or discreetly pinch myself, I don’t get up and the most popular man I’ve ever seen doesn’t disappear.

Nope, Jared continues to be standing in entrance of me, holding me captive with darkish blue eyes that match the navy blue tie he’s carrying. He have to be over six ft as a result of I’ve to tilt my head again to satisfy his eyes, and I’m not notably brief at 5 foot 5, both.

His jawline is sharp sufficient to chop, and even within the formal go well with he’s carrying, when he strikes, hints of muscle stretch on the white shirt and arms of his go well with jacket. I’d wager my greatest pointe sneakers that he’s bought a six-pack hidden underneath the businessman guise he’s bought happening.

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