Page 55 of Forbidden Intent

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With her hand in mine, we walk into the building.

“You ready for this?”I ask.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she says, her voice steady but her sweaty palms telling me she’s not as confident as she appears.I know she’s worried about her dad’s reaction.Apparently, he’s always warned her away from rock stars.Can’t say I blame him—we’re usually a bad bet when it comes to relationships.

As we approach the door to the studio, I let go of her hand.She didn’t want to blindside him by seeing us be affectionate before actually telling him.We enter and Robbie immediately smiles at us and gives a discreet thumbs-up.

Damn, I love that guy.He’s always got my back, and I know at least when it comes to Tamsin and me, he’s supportive and ready to defend us.I know he was worried at first, but he’s seen us together and knows that everything is different with her.

Decker stops his conversation with Trent and Tristan when we enter and turns to us.“Oh good, you’re both here.Now we can get started.Miles, Tris had an idea to change up your solo on “Think About Me,” but we wanted to get your input first.”

“Uh, sure thing.”

“Actually, Dad, we have something to share.”

Decker’s brow arches sharply and his eagle-eyed gaze narrows on us.“We?”he asks.

Tamsin clears her throat, pushes her shoulders back, and then begins.“Miles and I are dating.We didn’t want to tell anyone until we knew for sure what this was between us,” she says, her gaze moving to meet mine.She smiles softly, and I immediately reach out to grab her hand, needing to offer her more support in this moment.

“And what exactly isthis?”Decker asks, his tone bordering on gruff and protective.

“It’s serious,” I say, not willing to put this all on Tamsin’s shoulders.I know she wanted to take the lead, but it’s not just her dad we’re announcing this to.“Very serious.”

I finally look at the guys to see their reactions.Trent is watching Decker as if waiting for his reaction to gauge how he needs to handle this, but when his gaze briefly slides to mine, he offers me a small smile and a nod letting me know he’s okay with it.Tristan does the same, but remains quiet as usual.

Kasen, on the other hand, doesn’t look like he even knows what’s going on.His eyes are glassy and unfocused in the short span of time when we make eye contact.Then he goes back to texting on his phone as if there’s nothing going on here.As if I didn’t just announce that I was in my first serious relationship in eight years.

Disappointment washes over me.There was once a time where he would’ve been the first to know this kind of news, but it’s been years since I confided in him like that.He hasn’t been the same since his overdose, and it’s in this moment when I know our concerns are all for naught.He might as well be gone already for how disconnected he is from the rest of us.We’ve already lost him, and maybe it’s as much our fault for taking such a hands-off approach as it is his.

“Dad?”Tamsin’s voice wobbles slightly.His opinion means the world to her, and I’m nervous for what’ll happen if he’s not on board.I don’t want to lose her.Ican’tlose her.

Decker stands up and walks to the door.He opens it and then turns to me.“A word in the hall.”It’s not a request.

Tamsin and I both take a step toward the door.“Just Miles,” he says.

Tamsin looks up at me, her eyes wide, her mouth slightly parted, and her hand squeezing mine like she’s afraid to let me go.I place a tender kiss on her forehead and then silently walk out into the hall with Decker close on my heels.

“That’s far enough,” he says when we’ve gone halfway down the hall.“What are your intentions with my daughter?”

I don’t bother bullshitting him.“I just want to make her happy.”

He squints his eyes, analyzing me.“Do you love her?”

“All due respect, but we haven’t said that to each other, and I won’t have the first time I say those words be to anyone but Tamsin.”

He nods his head twice, accepting my response.“I don’t love this, Miles.You’re a good guy, but I’ve worked hard to keep my daughter away from musicians.”

“I know.She told me.”

He shakes his head and then lets out a sigh and watches me carefully before speaking again.“Do you know how connected I am in this industry?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good.Then you know if you ever hurt my daughter, I’ll ruin you.You’ll never play another gig in this town again, are we clear?”

I expected nothing less.“Yeah.We’re clear.”

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