Page 4 of Forbidden Intent

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For three days, I haven’t been able to get Tamsin off my mind, even when I know I should stay far, far away from her.And not just because she stirs something in me I’ve never felt before, but because I’m worried she’s figured out what’s going on with Kasen.I watched her watch Robbie that first day she was here, her own brow furrowed as her gaze darted back and forth between him and Kasen.I could practically see the wheels turning in her head as she tried to put the pieces together.

How much has she figured out already?

I need to firm up my resolve to stay away from her—not only is she undeniably gorgeous, but also sharp.We can’t afford for her to find out about Kasen’s drug use and share it with her dad.It makes the band less reliable and we can’t lose this opportunity.Working with Decker Cross is the chance of a lifetime.

But that’s not the only reason I should keep my distance.I knew Decker had an eighteen-year-old daughter—I just had no idea she was such a knockout.

Knockout isn’t even the right word.She’s…fuck, she’s breathtaking.

But she’seighteen.She’s barely a woman.I feel like a pervert for the thoughts going through my mind—I’m nearly thirty.Okay, fine, twenty-eight, but still.I’m a decade older than she is and no doubt infinitely more experienced.I thought I could get her out of my head with no problem once I realized who she was and that she practically had a neon sign hanging above her head that said no-go zone.But it’s been days since I first saw her at that coffee shop and no such luck.

Even now, curiosity gets the better of me and I watch her while Trent talks to Decker about some adjustments they want to make.I trust them both to lead us, so even though I know I should be paying attention, I also don’t feel guilty for being distracted by the only woman in the booth.The rest of the guys are too focused to notice that I’m not.

“She’s hot.I’d do her,” Kasen whispers, his back turned to the booth as he winks at me.

Okay, maybe not all the guys—clearly Kasen has noticed my distraction.My back stiffens, and a possessive urge overcomes me before I realize this is one of my best friends and not a threat.Why does it bother me so much that he’s noticed her too?It’s not like he hasn’t said something similar about other women I’ve been interested in.

I’m not a shy guy.I don’t necessarily brag about my conquests, but I don’t keep them quiet either.I’m open about what I’m into, or what I’ve tried, and with whom.

But something about Kasen noticingTamsinrubs me the wrong way—like she’s just for me, which is crazy because she’s not and I’m supposed to be talking myself out of this…infatuation.

He turns back around, now facing the booth, and I take one more last glance at her through the window.Her light-brown hair looks smooth as silk and falls in gentle waves just past her shoulders.I can’t see the color of her eyes from this distance, but I can remember the whiskey-brown with specks of green from our brief encounter at the coffee shop.Part of her tattoo peeks out from the sleeve of her top, and I wish I could see it up close one more time to admire the intricate details of the design.

My gaze follows the curves of her shoulders, over her collarbone to the barest hint of cleavage that has my imagination running wild.She brings a bright pink pen to her mouth, and the movement immediately causes my eyes to lock on her shiny pink lips.A slew of naughty thoughts filters through my brain of all the things I could do to that mouth.

I barely hold back the groan that lodges in my throat, but there’s no denying the effect Tamsin has on my body, not with the way my pants are now painfully tight over my steel-hard dick.

Thank fuck for my drum kit or the guys would no doubt wonder why I popped a boner in the middle of a session.We all love the music, but not that much.

Forcing my gaze away from the woman who has undeniably stolen most of my focus, I attempt to follow the conversation between Trent and Decker.

After agreeing to a few tweaks, we go again, this time hitting every note with perfection.We’re all smiling when we finish, the high of knowing we just nailed a song thrumming through all of us.Decker tells us to call it a day, and we’ll reconvene in a few days since Trent and Tristan want to make a few adjustments on the next couple of songs before we spend money on studio time.

I fiddle with my drumsticks while the rest of the band packs up their stuff, my ears only catching part of their conversations as my gaze darts between them and Tamsin, who’s now talking to her dad in the next room.He says something that makes her smile brighter than I’ve ever seen, and for a second I completely forget how to breathe.

Fuck me—she’s radiant.

And yet…there’s a heaviness to her shoulders that I hadn’t quite noticed before.And while the smile reaches her eyes, there’s also something else there.Something sad and vulnerable.Something that calls to me in a different way because it’s familiar.

It’s the same thing that stares back at me in the mirror whenever I let my guard down enough to actually look.It hasn’t bothered me in a long time—I accept my demons and know where they come from—but it’s different seeing it on her.She’s too beautiful, too young, justtooeverythingto have that look in her eyes.

“You okay?”Robbie’s voice pulls my gaze away from Tamsin, and I catch him staring at me, concern furrowing his brows.

“Yeah, sorry.Zoned out.”

He glances through the window at Tamsin before looking back at me.“You sure that’s it?”There’s a shrewd tone to his voice, but I choose to ignore it knowing that Robbie won’t push me.

“I’m sure.”

He nods and lets it go, like I knew he would.

Just as I’m about to stand up, my phone vibrates in my pocket.I fish it out, but the second I see the name on my screen, a weight settles deep in my gut.

“Who is it?”Robbie asks, uncharacteristically.He’s not as nosey as the rest of us.Then again, he has no reason to be nosey.He’s got a beautiful wife who loves him, a best friend who would die for him, and a band family that’s made his job something he looks forward to every day.The man’s got it made.And at only twenty-five.I sometimes wonder if he knows how lucky he is.

He stares at me expectantly and I finally answer him.“My mom.”

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