I’M NOT SURE I’ve completely processed Paige Kensington is Greg Thompson from The Raptures daughter. I mean, now that I think about all the stuff she’s told me, it makes sense.
Did I fucking rave about their music? Tell Greg Thompson that he’s the reason I’m a guitarist? Hell yeah, but even if the knowledge of Paige’s father might still be processing, the fear in her eyes when she introduced me isn’t. All her demons make sense now.
Even though I’m a college dropout, it didn’t take me long to remember all her odd behavior and weird statements since I told her we were coming to the museum. She thought I’d use her and I had to squash that belief before she grabs on to any reason to ruin what’s forming between us.
“Did you take your mom’s name or something?” I whisper to her as her dad and bandmates sign autographs from the few fans left inside the museum. They closed twenty minutes ago, but the staff is making exceptions.
“My birth certificate is Thompson, but to keep the anonymity I go by Kensington.” She shrugs and I get it.
“Man, I feel like I don’t even know you.” I smirk and her eyes cast down to her feet.
“Hey, that was a joke.” I dip down to meet her eyes.
“I know. I’m sorry. This is my demon.” Her voice is so soft I only heard sorry and demon, but it was enough to connect the dots.
“I figured.” Her face flies up to meet my eyes.
“Paige. I’m not blind and your eyes speak for you when your mouth isn’t.”
“Oh.” Her shoulders falter.
“I’m with you for you, not your dad, or your connections.”
“What a great first date.”
I chuckle, yanking her into my arms.
As I swing her body side to side, that fruity shampoo highjacks my senses. “It’s always a great date as long as you’re with me.”
“When did you become so sweet?” She draws back and narrows her eyes.
“The day you took the room.” I stare down at her, my thumb brushing along her red lip.
“Yeah, okay.” She elongates the okay and I wish she believed me.
I might not have known what she was about to erupt out of me when I offered that key, but she took more than that key from me and I don’t want any of it back.
Bending down, I lower my voice. “I’ll prove it tonight.”
A devilish glimmer lightens her eyes. “I can’t wait.”
“So, kids. Let’s get the hell out of here.” Paige’s dad hits me on the shoulder and I remove my arms from his daughter.
He hasn’t exactly been warm and fuzzy.
“Dad, we’re going to drive back to Western.”
“The hell you are.” Len comes over and wraps his arm around Paige’s shoulders.
“We start tour tomorrow; we’re going to dinner. I won’t see you for a few months.” Paige glances back to me and I nod. Seriously, she’s asking me if it’s okay to hang out with The Raptures, is she insane?
I may not be with Paige for her dad, but shit, her dad is fucking Greg Thompson! I’ll keep that excited me under wraps until she believes in me.
“Ash,” he calls one of the bodyguards over. “I need you to call the hotel and book another room.” He eyes me. “Maybe two.”
“You’ll be wasting your money on the other room, Dad.” Paige chimes in and I love her sassiness.
“Is that true Rob, will I be?” He leans in close and all I breathe in is cigarettes and musky cologne.
“No, sir, I can drive back to Western and pick Paige up in the morning.” Man, this guy is intimidating.
He slaps my back again. “I’m kidding, kid. You need to loosen up.” Then he leans in. “We will have a chat before the night’s over though.”
“Give me the time and I’m there.” He wraps his arm around my neck and manipulates me in a headlock. What are we, twelve?
“You got a good one here, Paige. I think I’m going to like him.”
We file into the elevator and Paige’s eyes find me. “Don’t feel special; my dad likes all my boyfriends. He’s more of a big brother than a dad.” Her face is dead serious, until I notice a crack of her lips.
She flees the others and saunters over to my side. “Just kidding. Dad’s never met anyone.”
“I probably never would have met you either. Paige doesn’t allow me out much.” He laughs with Len and Hank. “Who would think having a rock star for a father would embarrass your daughter?” They all shrug and from what I know they all have kids. Families in fact. Greg is the only one not married.
Before I can process it all, we are rushed into a black limo out the back door, and shuffled through a kitchen as workers’ eyes follow us with their jaws open. Paige’s spying eyes keep waiting for a reaction. She’s testing me to find out how I react to the once in a lifetime experiences. I’m trying to tone down my excitement, but damn, it’s hard. I mean I’m going out to eat with The Raptures, like an actual private meal. This is not even close to having a backstage pass; I have three great musicians that I could be drilling with questions, but I don’t. If I start going crazy and let the bottled-up enthusiasm out, Paige is going to freak and maybe back pedal from me.
Once we’re seated in a curtained-off room, I have no idea what restaurant we’re in until the menu gets handed to me. I open it up to find no prices for items I don’t recognize. Definitely a five-star restaurant.
Paige leans in and whispers, “I’m going to the bathroom.”
“Did you want me to go with you?”
She shakes her head. “I think I can handle it, but thank you.”
Paige exits the curtained-off room and when I swivel back around three pairs of eyes are glued on me. When a waiter begins to come in, Greg only lifts his hand and shakes his head. Is this how fearful it is when you get caught ratting out the mob? When they grab you from the street, tie you to a chair and hammer questions to you.
Shit, my face is too pretty to get beat up.
“So, Rob, you’re a guitarist?” We haven’t discussed that so I’m a little surprised he knows.
“I am.”
“And you like girls?” He raises his eyebrows at me.
“I’m not gay, if that’s what you mean.” I dodge the question. I know where this is going and I should just lay my cards out. Tell her dad I’m a fuck up, but I’m selfishly taking his daughter until she comes to her senses.
“Funny man,” Hank adds and the three laugh before flipping to serious.
“I like you, kid. Hell, you’d make a great addition to our traveling crew. But for my daughter, I’m not so sure.” He shoots a sound through the side of his lips.
“Mr. Thompson.” They burst out in laughter.
“Call me Greg.” His arms cross on the table. Rings adorn almost each finger, tattoos peek out from under his jacket and another one snakes up his neck.
“Greg.” I release a breath. “I’m not going to lie, I’m a jackass. If I was you and Paige was my daughter, I wouldn’t be happy seeing her with a guy like me. I’ve destroyed my life since I was seventeen.”
“That’s your case?” Len laughs and I look to him, but Greg seems to like where I’m going. Maybe because we’re so similar except he’s on a much grandeur scale than myself.
“Your daughter, she’s spectacular. She’s too beautiful of a person to be with an asshole like me.” At this point Greg leans back, patiently waiting for me to come to my point. I glance back to make sure Paige isn’t returning.
“I can’t stay away from her because the idea of breaking her heart, her spirit, and her energy is like being strapped down on a bed of nails. I can’t and won’t do it. She’s more than I should ever be able to have, but that’s why I’ll prove my worth to her every damn day.”
I lean back, bringing my beer to my lips, satisfied with my speech.
“You really going to enroll back in school?” Greg cocks his eyebrow to me and I’m already nodding before I can verbalize.