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Magnus felt something tug on his pants, followed by a sweet voice saying, “My daddy thinks you’re very pretty.”
Magnus glanced down at the little girl holding his pants leg. She must have been four or five, her hair done up in an elaborate braid and her dress the same color as the bridesmaids’ dresses.
Magnus passed his glass of champagne off to one of the waiters milling about and squats down to be eye level. “Well, you should tell your daddy I said thank you.”
She moved a bit closer, rubbing her little fingers over his smooth coat of nail polish and his rings. “Do you want to be daddy’s husband?”
“Is he looking for a husband?”
“Auntie Izzy says daddy would be happier if he got some. I think she meant like how she has auntie Clary but a boy for daddy.”
Magnus did his best not to laugh. This sweet girl was trying to get her father happiness even if she didn’t quite understand. “Is that right? And where exactly is your father?”
“Maxine!”
Magnus and Maxine spun around towards the deep, commanding voice. Maxine took off as a man cleared a crowd of people. “Daddy!”
Holy shit. Daddy indeed.
Maxine’s father’s stern expression dropped into a gorgeous smile when he saw her. He held his arms out for her to jump into and spun her around.
The resemblance to Isabelle was obvious. This family had unfairly good genes. Jace was adopted and blonde, Max was only twelve. That left her older brother, Alec, who’s just moved back from London.
Isabelle thought so highly of him. Magnus had heard quite a lot about him over the few years they’ve been friends. He was an accomplished surgeon, a wonderful father and brother.
Magnus was going to have words with Isabelle after her honeymoon for never showing him a picture.
“Hey, sorry about Maxine. I think my mom gave her a little bit too much sugar. I hope she wasn’t too much trouble, I’m—” Alec finally looked away from his daughter’s smiling face and over at Magnus. Magnus was gratified to see the way Alec’s eyes widening, not at all subtlety checking him out. “I’m Alexander—Alec! Alec Lightwood.”
“Magnus Bane and your Maxine was no trouble at all. She was just telling me how pretty her daddy thinks I am. Apparently, your sister thinks you need to… unclench .”
Alec’s cheeks flushed an adorable pink color. “Ah, yes. Izzy keeps putting this idea into her head that I need a boyfriend to be happy.”
“Maxine proposed to me on your behalf, but perhaps we can go on a date before I commit to being your husband.”
Alec's smile made Magnus’ heart that he had thought shriveled up and wrote off love years ago feel brand new. When Magnus RSVP’d to Isabelle and Clary’s wedding, he never thought he’d find love himself, and wasn’t it something that a few minutes with Alexander Lightwood had him thinking of love.
Alec pushed Maxine's hair away from her ear and stage whispered, “What do you think, Maxine? Should Magnus and I go on a date?”
Maxine nodded happily. “Daddy says yes!”