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Startled, I whipped my head around. “What?”

He tugged me back until I was facing him, his voice dropping into a low murmur. “I don’t know why you’re so sure I wouldn’t be interested in you. I told you, I’ve been waiting for you to make a move. If you wanna take it slow and date, I’m cool with that. Just tell me what you want.”

I must be dreaming. It was the only explanation I could think of. I went home and passed out from embarrassment, and I was dreaming. What other reason would there be for my crush to be truly asking me out?

The door to the bar crashed open, and Duncan’s head poked out. “Hen? You leavin’? Maya wants to talk to us about some requests.”

“I’ll be right there,” Hendrix called, without once breaking eye contact with me. He lifted his eyebrows at me. “They’re calling my number, handsome. What’ll it be? Is the wedding going to count as our first official date?”

I couldn’t resist that playful grin, even if I wanted to. I’d probably regret it later, but for once I wanted to give in and indulge in something I craved. I dipped my chin once.

“It’s a date.”

Sophie was ecstatic to be part of the wedding. I think she would’ve been happy just to go. She loved any excuse to get dressed up, but actually taking part was like a dream come true. She twirled around my room in the dress Maya and Isla had bought her, watching herself in front of the mirrors on my closet door.

“Daddy, do I look pretty?”

“You always look pretty, baby girl.”

“Daddy,” she pouted, drawing the word out a few syllables.

I snickered. “Yes, baby. You look beautiful. Very grown up. How about me? Do I look okay?”

I was nervous, since Hendrix said this was our first date. I saw him a few days ago at the bar and he upped the flirtation by a lot, but he told me he wasn’t going to kiss me again until after our date. I was both excited and nervous for that part. Hopefully, I could get Sophie to sleep beforehand. I wasn’t comfortable introducing Hendrix as anything other than a friend just yet.

She flounced over to me, looking at me through the mirror as I fixed my tie for the fourth time. “I think you look cute.”

I could work with that. She was always honest, so at least I knew she wasn’t saying it to placate me. I offered her my arm, winking at her.

“May I escort the princess to the car?”

She made her voice more dramatic and austere when she replied, “Yes, sir, you may.”

We both snickered, heading downstairs together. Val was aware I was taking Sophie to a wedding this weekend. I didn't want to hide it from her, especially because we’d be at least an hour away. The only part I kept to myself was my date with Hendrix. Val wasn’t interested in how I knew Maya and Isla. I told her they were friends of mine and she didn't question it. She just scowled at me for wasting time when Sophie could be studying. Her knowing meant I could take as many pictures as I wanted without having to hide them, and Sophie didn’t have to lie to her mother for me. I stopped in the front yard, taking a bunch of pictures of Sophie in her pretty dress, before loading us both into the car and plugging the address into the GPS.

While we drove, I quizzed Sophie on her spelling words and played a car game I used to play as a kid. Val didn’t like Sophiehaving a lot of screen time, but Sophie didn't complain during the drive. I kept her entertained for the most part. Only once we got into the mountains and we got closer to our destination did she start getting antsy.

“Daddy! Look how close to the edge we are!”

I forced a smile, even though my knuckles were white on the steering wheel. “Yes, I can see that. That’s why it’s important to drive slowly and carefully, right?”

She bounced in her seat, her face almost pressed to the glass to see. I hated driving in the mountains. Hendrix offered to teleport us, but I knew he’d be busy setting up and getting the band ready, so I politely refused. I regretted that now.

We finally pulled into a small town, following the GPS to a bed-and-breakfast right up against the trees. I parked closer to the exit, blowing out an unsteady breath. This was nerve-wracking. I barely knew the band or the brides. It felt a little weird to be here when I wasn’t family or a close friend. But I didn't have time to stress over it. Sophie got out of the car and came around to my side, dragging me out of my seat and towards the back where the ceremony would be taking place.

“Wow! Daddy, look! It looks like a fairytale!”

Sophie was busy looking at the decorations and the guests. Meanwhile, my eyes were locked on where the band was set up in one corner between the ceremony location and the reception area. Hendrix stood in the middle, laughing at something someone was saying. My breath left me in a hurry and I could only stare at him. I thought Hendrix on stage was gorgeous. Hendrix in a tux? My imagination couldn’t even touch that.

CHAPTER SEVEN

HENDRIX

“Your favorite person is here.”

Turning away from Ruby, I followed Duncan’s gaze across the yard. Standing near the entrance, Arthur was a stunning sight to see. He was holding hands with a sweet little girl, who was too busy pointing and looking around to notice her daddy wasn’t paying any attention. He was too busy staring at me. I preened at the attention, ducking past Laz to head Arthur’s way.

As I got closer, I took him all in. I never realized before now how much hid in the dim lighting of the bar. I knew he was cute, with his thick glasses and tousled hair. But it was dim enough that I didn't know just how much his hair looked like copper, with hints of gold when he stood in the sunlight. He styled it neatly to the side, probably gelled to stay in place. He had freckles across his nose and on his cheeks, which tried to disappear when he blushed. I was staring, and probably embarrassing him, but I couldn’t help it. His wide green eyes watched me as I stopped in front of him, my gaze trailing over him. His suit was well fitted, showing off his thin frame, lightgray, with a paisley bowtie that matched the flowers pinned in his daughter’s hair. They looked like a matching set, which was cute, and they both matched the color scheme of the wedding.