Dare to Rock (25 page)

Chapter Thirteen

H
alfway through the night, Avery counted the event a success. The room was decorated in blue and gold, the colors chosen by the kids in a poll done by the nursing staff during their rounds. The Mylar balloons and streamers, along with matching plates and silverware, tablecloths, cups, and almost everything else had been provided by a local company that Sienna had arm-twisted into a full donation, not just a discounted rate. She was a true Dare when it came to getting what she wanted, Avery thought.

And everything was documented for posterity. Thanks to the interview she’d done to draw attention to her cause, a local photographer had reached out and offered to take pictures of the event and provide copies to the families free of charge.

Music sounded from an iPod speaker system, the songs also chosen by the attendees. Avery made sure to spend time with each of the children, complimenting them on their formal wear, talking to them, and finding out how they were enjoying the night. But by far, her favorite part of the evening so far was introducing Grey to the kids and watching their eyes open wide with wonder and excitement.

He, like Lola, who had surprised her by arriving along with her promised gifts, spent time with them all. Avery couldn’t remember a time when her heart was fuller.

Almost every member of her family had made a brief appearance, offering their love, hugs, and support. Her mother was the first to arrive along with her fiancé, Michael Brooks, and the last to leave. None of her siblings lingered, understanding that the night was about the children. But knowing they cared enough to stop by warmed every part of Avery’s heart.

“Avery, a word?”

She turned at the sound of her father’s voice, the one family member she hadn’t yet seen. “Dad. I—” She stopped herself before saying,
I wondered if you’d show up
. “I’m glad you’re here,” she said instead.

“I know I haven’t been much of a father, and I’m sorry you had to spell it out for me that way. But—”

Avery didn’t want anything marring this night, least of all another conversation about something that was in the past. “It’s over. I’d like it if we could just move forward from here.”

He exhaled sharply and nodded, clearly relieved to have been given a reprieve. “This is fabulous,” he said. “You’ve done a terrific thing for these kids.”

He met her gaze, and in his eyes, she saw he meant it.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

“Where’s your man?” he asked.

Avery looked toward the far side of the room, toward where she’d seen Grey last, with Lilly, the youngest patient here, who couldn’t leave her wheelchair.

“I’m not sure. Why?” she asked, suddenly wary.

Her father shifted from foot to foot. “I thought maybe I could start over. Get to know him.”

Avery raised her eyebrows in surprise. “I’d like that.”

Before she could say more, a commotion sounded from outside the room, and Avery realized she needed to take care of it before something disrupted the kids’ fun.

“I have to go see what’s going on.” She headed for the exit, her father close behind.

She pushed through the double doors and saw Rick and Ella’s bodyguard, Jack Tantor, detaining a redheaded woman. The two men had been assigned to keep guard outside the main room. Marco, Grey’s bodyguard, was posted outside the hospital front entrance.

As she approached, she realized Grey stood in the circle of men, and she met his horrified gaze.

“He’s mine!” the woman shrieked, her red hair a frizzy mess, her breasts practically popping out of her barely there top.

Avery stepped closer, her gaze drawn to faded black writing on the woman’s chest. “Is that—Oh my God! Your name is on her breast!” she said to Grey, appalled.

His cheeks flamed a healthy shade of red.

“I told you he’s mine. I warned you to break up with him or else!” The redhead dove for Avery.

Avery flinched, but she was safe.

Rick held the woman tight.

“Cops are on their way,” Jack said. “Marco will meet them at the door and fill them in.”

Avery stared, the woman’s words buzzing in her head until suddenly they coalesced and made sense. “You warned me?” she repeated. “You broke into my building? Wrote on my door? Forced me to move out of my home?” Avery asked, her voice rising as she faced the person responsible for the upheaval in her life.

“Grey’s mine!” she spat back.

“The hell he is,” Avery replied.

“Avery, get inside,” Grey ordered, stepping toward her.

“Not happening.” She glared at the crazy woman and squared her shoulders. She was finished cowering, fainting, and anything else that involved not coping with her life.

The elevator doors opened, and uniformed officers strode out, handcuffs ready.

Crazy Lady took one look at the cuffs and screamed. “No! I’m not going down for this alone. He promised me Grey would be mine. He said all I had to do was scare the little blonde chick and everything would be fine!” She cried and broke down in sobs and tears.

Grey stepped in front of Avery, but she peeked around him, not wanting to miss a thing.

“He who?” Grey yanked the woman’s arms away from her now-makeup-stained face. “Who made those promises?” he asked, his voice harsh and biting.

To her surprise, her father stood beside her, pulling her away from the insanity. Protecting her.

“The British guy,” the woman wailed.

“Simon Colson?” Grey asked as the cops pushed him aside.

“Yes, that’s him. He helped me with the blog comments and told me where she lived.” She pointed a shaking hand at Avery. “He promised if I did what he said, Grey would be mine. He bugged your phone, told the press where to find you. And now it’s all going to be okay. Tonight is about us, baby,” she said to him, clearly delusional.

Simon had merely fed her fantasies for his own purposes, and it made Avery sick to her stomach.

“Can’t you see we’re meant to be?” She sniffed and pointed to the faded writing on her chest. “Remember that day? You couldn’t stop staring! They’re yours!”

“Eew,” Avery muttered, turning away. She was really ready to get back to the kids and let the cops deal with the crazy.

She turned away, her heart pounding hard in her chest. She had no doubt the woman would be arrested, and with luck, they’d be able to find Simon and take him in as well. More important things were going on behind those doors, Avery thought.

And as she headed back inside to the party, she realized she’d stayed strong. She hadn’t come close to fainting. She wasn’t threatened by Grey’s crazy fan nor did she feel the urge to run away. More progress, she thought. Now if she could just stop thinking about Grey’s signature on that woman’s boobs, she’d be even better.

*     *     *

After the police hauled Emerald away in handcuffs and promised to pick up Simon for questioning, Grey had every intention of finding Avery. Her expression after listening to Emerald’s ranting and, worse, seeing his signature on her chest, stayed with him. Remorse and regret building stronger all the time.

He couldn’t change his past, but he’d definitely changed his future, and he needed to make sure Avery still believed that. He couldn’t have all they’d built … were still building, wiped away on a night when he’d planned …

“Grey?” Lola’s voice cut off his thoughts.

“Yeah?”

She walked over to where he stood in the hallway and hooked her arm in his. “You okay?”

“Not really.”

“Rick filled me in on what went down. I’m so sorry. If I could get my hands on Simon …”

“He’s finished in the industry, and I hope they’ll find charges that’ll keep him tied up for a good long while.” But Grey didn’t want to think about the man anymore. “Is Rep here?”

Lola nodded. “He went inside. I wanted to talk to you. Are we still a go?”

He patted his tuxedo pants pocket, glanced at Lola, and nodded. “We are.” His chances for a yes to the biggest question of his life, however, had just plummeted exponentially. But he still had to try.

*     *     *

Sweat poured off Grey’s body, and his heart beat a too-rapid rhythm as Ella whistled and the room of expectant faces peered up at her in curiosity. From where Grey watched from the corner of the room, even Avery’s nose wrinkled in confusion. All part of the surprise, he thought, his pulse racing too fast.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Ella said with a grin at the kids, “we have a surprise for you tonight. Two very special people are here to sing for you. Let’s give a big round of applause to Lola Corbin and Grey Kingston of the band Tangled Royal!” Ella clapped, and the crowd burst into applause and happy screams.

Rep, who’d been waiting in the corner, handed Grey his guitar, and for the next half hour, he and Lola performed for the kids. Those who could dance did. Those who couldn’t sat and listened or sang along, smiles on their too-pale faces. No performance had ever meant or affected Grey more, because no audience had ever appreciated the moment quite as much. Because they knew, as most didn’t, that time wasn’t promised, and enjoying life when they could truly mattered.

When he and Lola had planned this, it’d felt small and inconsequential. There was so little he could do to add to what Avery had accomplished tonight, but giving sick kids a great memory to keep with them and share with their friends allowed him to play a small part. Now, he understood the reasons she volunteered and what she got out of the time she spent here. He wanted to continue to do his small part to make kids like these smile.

He and Lola wrapped their mini set, and he ran a hand through his damp hair. The high that always came with performing still pulsed through his veins, only tonight there was so much more emotion attached to it. Avery had always been in his vision and thoughts during the performance. His beautiful angel, looking fucking perfect and representing everything he wanted wrapped in a white gown and warm smile. But while he had no doubt she’d loved his contribution, whether she still loved him enough to stay with him, remained to be seen. He’d marred her perfect charitable event with his fame. The same fame she had run from before.

He drew a breath for courage and looked her way. She stood beside a young, pale girl in a wheelchair, an IV attached to her arm. Her focus was on the child, who couldn’t dance, participate, or do more than sit and take things in, and as Grey looked at them, he lost his heart to her all over again.

His mouth dry, he walked over and knelt down so he was at Lilly’s eye level. “How are you, gorgeous? Having fun?” he asked the ten-year-old he’d met earlier.

Her wig had tilted a little on her head, but she nodded, her eyes bright. Behind her, her parents held hands, smiling down at their daughter.

Grey cleared his throat, unable to speak just yet.

The girl looked up at him. “You were really awesome,” she told him in an embarrassed whisper.

He ducked his head. “Thanks. That’s because I had someone special in the audience watching me.” He winked at the girl and she grinned. “This was the best night,” she told him.

“I think so too. I hope it’s going to get even better. Is it okay if I steal Avery here for a minute? I need to ask her something very important.”

Lilly nodded. “I promised my parents they could take me back to my room so I could rest. Thank you for the best night,” she said again.

“Any time,” he told her. Heart in his throat, Grey rose to his feet and met Avery’s gaze.

Her luminous violet eyes were filled with moisture. He wasn’t sure if she was happy, sad, or a combination of both.

“Come with me?” He extended his hand, knowing his entire future hinged on her answer.

He grasped her hand, relieved when she didn’t pull away, and led her to a quiet corner of the room. He’d planned a big spectacle, but Emerald’s appearance had killed that idea. And he hadn’t had time to corner her before his performance.

He held both her hands in his and met her gaze. Words normally came easy, but his brain felt scattered and his heart fragile. Only this woman could do this to him, Grey thought.

He met her gaze and forged ahead. “I’m so damned sorry the craziness in my life has to touch you at all, but especially tonight.” He shook his head and groaned.

Her lips lifted a little. “I think we already established the crazy comes with your rock star status,” she said, her words not giving him a lick of insight into her feelings. “You signed her boobs?” she asked him.

He winced. Of all the questions or comments he thought she’d have about tonight, that hadn’t been it. Hell, he’d been trying to put those kinds of things out of his mind for years.

“I’m not proud of it, but it came with the territory. Avery—”

“Do you realize how long it’s been since she showered if she still had your name on her chest?” she asked, her voice rising.

Once again, his mind hadn’t gone there either, and he cringed. “I’d rather not think about it,” he muttered.

“Me neither. I could have lived the rest of my life without knowing or seeing that.” She wrinkled her nose in adorable disgust.

“Avery,” he tried again. “I could live the rest of my life without all of it. I just can’t live it without you.”