Page 20 of Stealing Daddy's Heart

“Shall we?” I manage, gesturing toward the street.

She nods, a small smile playing on her lips as she locks her door.

We walk side by side, the night air electric between us. I open the passenger door for her, catching a whiff of her perfume as she slides in.

As I settle into the driver's seat, I can feel Skylar's eyes on me. The car feels smaller somehow, more intimate. I clear my throat, focusing on the road ahead as I start the engine.

“So, where exactly is this warehouse?” I ask, pulling away from the curb.

Skylar leans closer, inputting the address into the GPS. Her arm brushes against mine, sending a jolt through my body.

“It's about twenty minutes away,” she says, her voice close to my ear. “Excited?”

I grip the steering wheel tighter, navigating through the city streets. “That's one word for it,” I reply, stealing a glance at her.

As we drive toward the unknown, I can't help but wonder what I've gotten myself into. But with Skylar beside me, her presence intoxicating, I find I don't really care.

We arrive at the converted warehouse. The bass reverberates through my bones before we even enter. When we do, the music hits us like a wall.

The warehouse throbs with energy, packed bodies moving to the rhythm. It's disorienting, making it hard to keep track of everything. I'm on edge, eyes scanning the crowd.

Skylar, on the other hand, seems to come alive. Her eyes sparkle, her body swaying to the beat. She grabs my hand, pulling me deeper into the crowd, her touch grounding me.

Faces light up as we pass, hands reaching out to touch Skylar's arm or shoulder. I'm struck by how many people recognize her, calling out greetings and compliments.

She's a force in her own right, respected and admired. I feel a swell of pride, quickly followed by a pang of guilt.

How could I have underestimated her?

Neon green hair catches my eye. A lanky guy covered in piercings waves at Skylar. “Sky! Didn't expect to see you here tonight.”

I bristle as Skylar greets him. Jasper. His hand lingers on her arm, and something in me snaps. Without thinking, I'm at her side, arm around her shoulders.

“I'm Garrett,” I growl, staring him down.

Skylar's hand rests on my arm, her touch instantly calming. She leans in close, her lips brushing my ear. “Jasper's a friend. He helps organize these events.”

I nod, forcing my muscles to unclench. “Right. Sorry.”

Jasper’s eyes narrow, his gaze flicking between us. “Oh, Sky! Did you hear? Raven’s doing a private show later. Invitation only, in the VIP section.”

“No way! Raven’s here? She's one of the artists I'm considering promoting,” Skylar explains, her eyes sparkling. “We've been messaging, but we've never met in person.”

Before I can voice my concerns, Skylar's nodding eagerly. “We're in. Right, Garrett?”

I open my mouth to protest, but the look on her face stops me. This isn't a night out for her. It's networking, it's her future.

“Of course,” I hear myself say. “Wouldn't miss it.” Skylar's face lights up. For a second, I forget why I was worried.

Jasper shares the code we’ll need to get through the guarded door to the VIP section. “Gotta run! Catch you later!”

As Jasper disappears into the crowd, Skylar and I spend the next couple of hours exploring the warehouse.

As we weave through the crowd, bodies press against us from all sides.People part for her, some calling out greetings, others staring in awe.

We wander through art installations and watch impromptu performances. As the night wears on, Skylar checks her phone and turns to me with excitement in her eyes.

“It's almost time for Raven's show,” she says, her voice barely audible over the pulsing music. “We should head to the VIP section.”

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