Titus hooked his thumbs together and flapped his fingers like wings before he added ice and shook his concoction with incredible style.
“I know you don’t transform into bats either,” she told him, laughing.
“Surely he didn’t share the sparkle thing?”
Carina nodded and accepted the drink he’d poured into a fancy glass. She leaned forward to sniff the concoction. “Ooh! That smells delicious.” She took a tiny sip and stared at the waiting bartender. “This is the best cocktail I’ve ever tried. What do you call it?”
“The Carina,” Titus announced.
Completely charmed, Carina lifted her glass to salute him before taking a second drink. “Damn, that’s good.” A giggle escaped from her throat as she moved to the music that seemed to wrap around her. She couldn’t taste the liquor in the drink at all, but she could feel it.
Slow down, Little girl.
Marcus’s voice made her laugh harder. While he was busy, she planned to have some fun.
Chapter
Ten
Marcus stood on the edge of the dance floor and enjoyed his Little girl’s fun. At his insistence, Titus had cut down the alcohol in the third drink he’d made for her and eliminated it completely in the fourth and fifth. Carina had never noticed.
To Titus’s amusement, she’d delighted in her Carina drink so much that she convinced practically the entire bar to try her signature beverage. Now, all her new friends stomped around on the dance floor, inventing moves never seen before and having the time of their lives. Everyone knew his Little girl’s name.
Carina spun around and weaved slightly. Marcus whisked his way through the crowd in a flash to wrap his arm around her waist. “Daddy!”
“Hi, sweetheart.”
“I’m having a blast. Titus invented a drink just for me! I’m letting everyone go crazy over it though.”
“That is very nice of you, Carina.”
“That’s the name! He named it ‘The Carina’.”
The surrounding crowd began to chant, “Carina, Carina, Carina.”
Carina spread her arms wide, giving her dance partners a huge inclusive hug. “Love you guys!”
When she lost her balance again Marcus whispered in her ear, “Time for a break, Little girl.” He guided her toward the edge of the dance floor.
“Aw! Do I have to?”
“Yes, how about if I take you up there?” Marcus pointed to a landing that overlooked the entire public area. “You can wave to your friends from above.”
“Oh, wow!” She leaned back so far, she had to clutch Marcus for stability. “That’s a long way up there. Good thing I like steps.”
He didn’t comment on her statement but guided Carina past the guard at the entrance to the private access point. He opened the door with the passcode and ushered his Little girl into the hallway that ran around most of the building. The nightclub had no windows to the outside, so an interior corridor fit easily into the plan.
“Did you have fun dancing?” he asked.
“Were you watching me?” She grinned at him and demonstrated some of her fancy moves.
Marcus enjoyed tipsy Carina. She was adorable. He would, however, have a talk with Titus. He was a genius behind the bar—much too successful in creating addictive concoctions. Already everyone wanted him to mix their drinks.
He loved the smile that spread over her face. Marcus vowed to enjoy every moment with her. For too long, he’d dreamed of finding her. Carina was worth the wait.
Cupping her jaw, he leaned down to press his mouth to hers lightly. Carina responded by wrapping her arms around his neck and climbing him like a tree. Marcus pressed her against the wall and kissed her soundly as he walked to the elevator. A ding made her stiffen into a statue in his arms. He lifted his head.
“Are you okay, Carina?”
