“You’ve never been afraid of her? You ran away after all.”

His laughter stopped. She’d wounded him. But she couldn’t help it.

“I left because she’d hurt me. Not because she was mean. I was wrong to run away—hide—leave. Whatever the hell I did.”

“I’m sorry,” she said softly. She was on edge. This was what she’d do to her mother, not her lover. “Let’s just say I’m afraid she won’t think I’m worthy.”

“I think you are and that will sell it. What else?”

“Will your cousin Christian be there?”

“Y—es,” his word was drawn out.

“And his sister Clara and her husband?”

“More than likely. At least she will be. He’s still working a lot. Why do you ask?”

“Fitz admired Christian. I want to tell him that.”

Tyler took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Chris has gone through a lot the past few years. That will mean a lot to him.”

Courtney smiled. “And Clara and Warner are famous.”

He chuckled at that. “They are my family. In this house they clean the dishes, pass the bread, and give me a hard time. In this house they aren’t famous.”

“I’ll try not to be star struck.”

“It’ll be easy enough.”

She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. “What about you? What do you expect? I’ve known you all of a week.”

“I expect them to love you.”

“I mean, if I go in here do you expect more from me?”

His body moved and she knew she’d made him uncomfortable. “I don’t understand.”

“This relationship is new. I’ve said things I should have saved in my own head, out loud to you. I’ve gone to bed with you.”

“We’re adults. That’s allowed.”

“I don’t know what I can give you, emotionally. I don’t want to set you up and fail you.”

“I’ll be the judge of whether I feel failed. God, who put it in your head that you weren’t worthy of love and attention? Certainly not Fitz.”

No, certainly not him, she thought. “I deserve to be reserved.”

“Fine. Be reserved on the basis that you’re meeting new people. Be a bit nervous that the man who loves you is about to introduce you to his mother. But don’t go in thinking they will judge you because you can’t see their faces. That sells you short.”

“Go back.” Her breath was stuck in her chest. “The man that what?”

Tyler took both her hands in his. “The man that loves you. I know you don’t want to hear it, but it’s there. I wouldn’t have taken you to bed any other way. I’m not like that. I wasn’t raised like that.”

“And I don’t usually use my blindness as a crutch.”

“I didn’t think you did.”

“I’m really nervous.”

Tyler leaned in and pressed a kiss to her lips. “Do you love me?”

“Yes,” she said and there was no hesitation in it.

“Then you will love them and they will love you. You don’t have to see them to know. This family loves with all their heart and unconditionally.”

Was it too much, she wondered, to want that as badly as she wanted Tyler in her life?

Tyler walked around the car and opened her door. She stepped out and let her cane open. She didn’t use it in her home and hadn’t used it when she was with him at dinner. He could see this was a moment when she needed that security. Her cane provided that to her. Perhaps it would ease things a bit too. If he knew his family, someone already had their nose pressed to the window waiting for them. They’d see the cane. They’d know she was blind. They’d be prepared if his grandmother hadn’t mentioned it.

How much of that had she planned when she’d pulled the cane out of her purse, he wondered.

It wasn’t any more of a surprise when the front door opened and Clara grinned down at him. “Two weeks in a row!” She shouted. “And thank God you brought a woman.”

Courtney pinched his elbow and he fought back the urge to yelp, but he saw the smile on her face and that told him already she was prepared to meet his family.

“How come you’re the only one who stands at the door?” he asked as they made it up the walk.

“Warner is on his way. He finished his solo album.” Her voice carried with it the pride that her eyes carried.

“Solo?” Courtney stopped. “Why is he going solo? You’re a fantastic duo.”

Tyler moved so that her grip was no longer on his arm and he laced his arm behind her. “Clara, this is my girlfriend Courtney. She’s a big fan of yours.”

Courtney slapped him on the chest. “Big fan, yes. Girlfriend, we’ll see,” she said laughing as Clara walked down the steps toward them.

“She fits right in,” Clara said easily. “I’m the oaf’s cousin.”

Courtney reached out her hand and Clara shook it.

“We thought he was bringing someone with him. I’ll admit I was the look out.”

“I thought you were waiting for me.” The voice came from the street and Clara’s eyes lit up.

“Come here!” Clara shouted as Warner walked up to them. “This is Tyler’s girlfriend, Courtney.”

He watched as Warner processed Courtney’s hand extended, but her eyes diverted toward his shoulder. He shook her hand graciously.

“Very nice to meet you.”

Courtney smiled wide. “I’m a bit star struck,” she admitted. “I don’t mean to be. I told Tyler I was afraid I would be.”

He gave her a gentle squeeze.

“I’m star struck too,” Warner said. “My wife is amazing. She has the voice of an angel and the body of a goddess.”

Courtney laughed and Warner took her hand and draped it over his arm. “C’mon, let’s go inside.”

Courtney shifted from Tyler to Warner. “Let me take your elbow and how many steps are there?” she asked as she collapsed the cane and let it fold up in her hand.

“There are three,” Warner answered.

“Wonderful.” She turned her head toward Tyler. “Come along, Tyler. Warner Wright is going to escort me in.” Her voice was full of humor and lightness. She was star struck and he thought perhaps Warner was too. Not only over his wife, but Courtney seemed to have wormed her way right into the man’s heart just as she had Tyler’s.