Chapter 1

"Fucking hell."

I pull into the parking lot, and it's absolutely mobbed, so full of cars that I have to circle three times before giving up and parking half on the curb so I won't end up even later than I already am. Fuck it. A parking ticket is a small price to pay to make sure I don't miss my daughter's mid-semester performance.

I barely get to see her since she moved for college two years ago, but I try to make sure I get here for important events when I can. Hopefully, if my transfer to the new office gets approved, I'll be able to be here much sooner. I was only eighteen when I became a dad, but I was determined to make the most of things. Laura's mom and I were never more than a fling, but we got along well enough to make sure Laura got to see us both growing up.

It's still insane to me that the little girl who used to fall over spinning around in my living room is twenty now and attending a prestigious dance college at that. Though how she doesn't still fall over doing those rapid turns she does is a mystery to me.

I rush to make the last of the queue outside the theater, offering the door steward a grateful smile as they close the door behind me. Me and the other late-comers file into the theater, and I'm glad I pre-booked a good seat because this place is just as packed as the parking lot outside.

I take my seat as the entrance music begins to play, and a stern-looking woman takes the stage, introducing herself as the Principal of the dance program and giving a long speech about the performance.

I zone out, flicking through the program leaflet until the woman stops talking and the actual performances begin.

Laura made me promise not to embarrass her, but I can't help but stand and cheer as she bows at the end of her solo, ensuring she hears me over the applause. My daughter glances up to where I'm cheering, breaking character to smile and shake her head a little, before she sweeps off the stage to the wings.

I'm prepared to zone out again until the showcase is over and the afterparty begins when I can give Laura the flowers I brought to congratulate her and take her out to dinner.

But when the next dancer takes the stage, I find that I can't look away.

The dancer folds herself into a starting pose, arms spread outward like wings and toes pointed, chin raised so the stage lights illuminate her face. Blonde hair is slicked away from her face in a classic bun, and her pale skin glitters with some sort of makeup, adding to the way she glows. She's soft and elegant, utterly entrancing as she begins her dance.

The pale pink dress she wears flutters around her hips and waist as she spins on her toes, making her look like some sort of ethereal creature, far too perfect to be human. A fairy perhaps, elegant and magical and enthralling.

The rest of the world fades away as I lean forward in my chair, my blood heating with every dip and twirl the dancer makes. The dance isn't supposed to be sensual, the music and her outfit are both classical, but God, the way she moves is sinful. Or blissful. Either way, when the music stops and the dancer bows, smiling as the crowd roars with applause, I can hear my own blood rushing in my ears.

I strain to watch her as she walks off stage, my body jolting with the need to go after her, to find her and find out who she is. The showcase continues, but I'm not watching. My mind is consumed with that little fairy, that insistent tug from deep in my chest nagging me until the performances finally end and we're instructed to file out to meet up with the dancers in the reception room.

In a daze, I grab Laura's flowers and follow the crowd out. I grind my teeth and shake my head like I can physically clear my mind of all the absolutely inappropriate thoughts swirling around in it.

The reception room is a well-lit ballroom with waiters walking around offering drinks and canapes. I ignore them, instinctively scanning the growing crowd in hopes of another glimpse at that dancer.

"Hey, Dad!" a familiar voice calls out, grabbing my attention.

I turn towards my daughter with a grin, opening my arms as she barrels into me for a hug.

"You were amazing, Laura," I tell her as I hand her the flowers. "I'm so proud."

"Aw, thanks, Dad," she says, grinning.

The dancers have all changed out of their performance clothes, but Laura's hair is still tied up in the fancy updo that somehow hasn't moved even though she danced with it in. My daughter spots someone over my shoulder and darts to the side, waving her hand in a come-here motion. "Juliet! Over here!"

I turn just in time to lose all the air from my lungs as I see just who is jogging over to us, grinning at my daughter.

Juliet.

My dancer.

Like Laura, she's changed out of her pink floaty outfit and into a short blue dress made of a soft, clingy material that shows off the curve of her hips and dip of her waist. Plain black flats have replaced her pointe shoes, and her cheekbones and eyes still sparkle with the shimmery stuff that caught the lights. Even flushed from her performance and grinning as she and Laura hug, Juliet looks just as otherworldly beautiful as she did on stage.

I blink when she and Laura pull away from each other and turn to me, brain whirring.

"Dad, this is my best friend, Juliet," Laura introduces happily. "Juliet, this is Jared, my dad."

Juliet looks up at me, and my heart damn near stops as our eyes meet. Hazel green eyes lock onto mine, and her full lips part in a small oh, her breath hitching. Her long lashes flutter as she blinks up at me, the blush on her cheeks darkening.

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.