Acceptance, The (14 page)

“It seems like it.”

“And I want to be with you. Do you want to be with me?”

“Of course.” How could he possibly think any differently? She was more worried he’d want to ease her back into society and move on after her grief had subsided.

“Then can we say we’re dating? Tomorrow, when I introduce you to my parents, can I say you’re my girlfriend?”

Now she giggled. “Sounds elementary doesn’t it?”

“I don’t know any other way. I told you. I’m not good at this.”

Courtney let her hand run up his arm until she reached his neck and she cupped her fingers there. “I think you’re very good at this.” She licked her lips and moved even closer. “Tyler, will you stay with me tonight?”

His breath had grown hot against her cheek. “Are you sure?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever been more sure about anything.”

“I want to.”

She brushed his lips with hers. “Then I guess you can tell your parents I’m your girlfriend. It looks like we’re going to make that very official.”

“Suddenly I’m thinking we should take all this food home.”

Courtney eased back. It was settled. She was fully in love with this man.

Hilary had arrived with their food about the time they’d considered having her just pack it up. But when Tyler heard Courtney’s stomach rumble and she’d admitted she hadn’t eaten all day, he decided that the evening ahead would come soon enough. After all, they’d just settled it—very elementary as she’d put it—she was his girlfriend and that meant to him she wasn’t going anywhere.

Had all of this been some kind of bigger power at play? He wondered as he took a rib and pulled the first bite off with his teeth. Had he needed to leave the comforts of home and travel the world so that he’d come back at the very right time? Would he have made these career choices if he’d have stayed? Would he have found a woman already in Nashville or was he destined to find this one?

What wasn’t to love about her, he thought as he watched her devour her first rib. She’d accepted a horrible fate and yet it didn’t seem as though she saw it that way at all. And through her he’d learned to accept. It had been nearly immediately that he’d chosen to go right to his sister and ask for her forgiveness. He owed that to Courtney. Her way of seeing the world made him see it too. He was the damned luckiest man on the planet.

She turned to him. “I should have thought better about this when I put on this white shirt. One of those things about being blind. I never know if my clothes are ruined.”

Tyler lifted his napkin to the corner of her mouth. “I’ll tell you what. You write me stories and I’ll tell you if your laundry is stained.”

“Stories?”

“If you can write newsworthy pieces like you did about
Diamond Gift,
I have no doubt you could be a bestselling author. And I’m sure between my grandmother, father, and numerous aunts, someone knows someone in the book industry. Even Clara might. Song writing isn’t too far off—I wouldn’t think.”

“You’d make my dreams come true and tell me when my laundry is stained?”

“I’d do that.”

“I love you, Tyler.” She shook her head and he wanted to respond, but she turned her head down. “Sorry. That was supposed to stay in my head.” She turned back toward him. “Do me a favor and don’t say it back. No matter what. Right now, don’t say it.”

“Even if I’m thinking it?”

“Especially.”

“Okay then, I won’t say it. And yes, I’d love to see your dreams come true. Something tells me it would only make the glow in your cheeks more brilliant.”

Chapter Seventeen

Courtney held her computer in her lap as Tyler drove toward her house. The air between them was thick. Dinner had been wonderful. Conversation was easy. But she’d invited him to stay and they were headed home.

Stay
certainly didn’t mean,
come in for coffee.
Stay to her had meant share my bed. Hold me in my bed. Make love in my bed.

Not one ounce of regret pulsed through her, but she couldn’t speak for him.

“I’m going to stop at the store here on the corner and run in real quick. Can I get you anything?” he asked and she felt the car pull out of traffic.

“No. I’m fine.”

“I’ll hurry.” He parked the car and quickly jumped out.

She should have asked him for something to help take care of her nerves, which threatened to make her sick. Was there a way to make this night perfect? That was what she wanted. But they were going in together. She couldn’t have set it all up. Made sure the sheets were clean. Hell, she didn’t even know if the pillowcases matched.

Then again, did it matter?

There was no spontaneity either. This was better. She had to remind herself that she’d only known Tyler a week. Okay, so she’d fallen head over heels in love with him in a week and now she was taking him to bed. But, preparedness was good. He was still a stranger and she needed to keep that in mind. She needed her senses to be sharp. Fitz had taught her that.

He was true to his word and back in the car only a few minutes later.

“What is that smell? Is that a bouquet of flowers?” Her voice lifted as she heard the rustling of cellophane.

“Can’t very well take a girl home and not give her flowers. And here.” He handed her the flowers and another box. “I got you candy too. Seriously, I’m trying to pack in as much as I can in one week.”

She couldn’t help it. She burst into laughter. “Are you always this wonderful at putting people at ease?”

“No. Don’t go thinking this is my calling.”

She felt the car move backward. “Oh, I don’t know. You were very calm on the plane. You helped me through the funeral. Came to my rescue when I needed you to go through my brother’s things. And now you bought me flowers and candy to ease me through my invitation of taking you home.”

“Good, you think I’m some hero. I’m just a nervous guy trying not to act that way.”

The laughter came harder now and her heart was squeezing a little tighter when she thought about him. Perhaps this night was going to be perfect after all.

Tyler pulled up in front of Courtney’s house and turned off the engine.

“I know you’ve invited me, and believe me I want to take you up on this invitation. But, I’d never hold it against you if you changed your mind.”

Courtney took a moment to assess her thoughts. The cellophane wrap around the flowers and the candy brushed against the bag her laptop was stowed in. She could back out if she wanted to. He was giving her a moment and she knew in her heart that he’d come back if she said to.

She turned her face toward him. “Tyler, come inside. I want to be with you. And I don’t just mean emotionally anymore. I want to be with you physically.”

Her voice shook, but she heard his door open and close. A moment later, so did hers.

His hands came right to her face and his mouth quickly moved against hers. Tyler’s tongue sought hers out and a moan escaped him—and then her.

Tyler took the roses from her hand and then the box of candy. She knew he’d placed them on the dashboard.

“We’ll come back for those.” He unbuckled her seatbelt and his arm came up under her legs and the other around her shoulders.

“What are you doing?”

“Carrying you up those steps. I’m a hero and all, remember.”

“My laptop,” she said, gripping it.

“Hold on to it tight.” Tyler’s mouth was on hers again and her mind swirled vividly in color.

He lifted her out of the car and shoved the door closed with his hip.

Courtney wrapped one arm around his neck and held tight to her laptop with the other, all the while making work of her lips against the pulse in his neck.

“Door,” he muttered. “Door. Where are your keys?”

That brought on a laugh. “My purse. I think it’s in the car.”

“Damn. So much for sexy entrance, huh?” He set her on her wobbly legs. “I’ll be right back.”

She heard him run down the steps, pull open the door to the car, and run back up.

“Here’s your purse.” He set it in her hands and she quickly went about looking for them in their assigned space.

Courtney felt for the lock, slid in the key, and turned. When the door pushed open, her legs were scooped out from under her again.

Tyler closed the door with his body as they entered the house with his mouth moving against hers.

“My laptop,” she mumbled against his lips and he set her on the floor.

She handed it to him and felt him take it, but he never moved from her, which meant he’d only set it on the steps or on the couch. What did it matter? His hands were back on her, arms wrapped around her, lips pressed against hers.

She swallowed the taste of him, the warmth, and the feel. This wasn’t something she’d done lots of times before, but she’d been with a few men and all of them had been in the same boat she’d was in—they felt their way through it.

Tyler had a unique advantage at this point—or perhaps she did. He could see everything and she couldn’t. The thought was there. She’d never know if he had a certain scar or mole that made him less attractive. In her mind he was a god.

He, however, would see all her imperfections—even the ones she knew nothing about. This would be a truthful moment—she sucked in a breath of courage. There would be no loss, she told herself, if he walked away. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Tyler pulled back. “Are you okay? You’re tensing up.”

“I can’t see you.”

He let out a chuckle. “I know that.”

“I mean, what if I take my clothes off and you don’t like what you see?”

Tyler’s hands came to her shoulders and rested there for a moment before moving down her arms. He captured her hands in his.

“I hope you don’t think I’m petty like that.”

She shook her head. “If you were you wouldn’t be here.” She knew that to be truth enough.

“Courtney, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known, inside and out. I don’t have to keep touching you or take you to bed to know how I feel about you.” She heard him let out what could be construed as a moan. “Of course I’m also a man, and I want to.”

She stepped in closer to him. “I’ve never been with a man who could see.”

“I could tie something over my eyes.”

That had her laughing now and she eased against him. “Maybe someday and only if I’m driving your car.”

Tyler pulled back now. “You want to drive?”

“I never have.”

“Hmm. Interesting thought.” He moved back against her. “We can plan that later. Are we together on me carrying you up those stairs?”

Courtney took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’ve never wanted anything more,” she said.

Quickly, his mouth was back on hers and he scooped her up again.

“Good. After all, I am a man and I’m dying here.”

~*~

Tyler lay next to Courtney, his arm tucked up under her, her hair sprawled out over his chest and the pillow.

His chest heaved from the breath he tried to capture in his lungs.

Sweat glimmered on Courtney’s skin. Her heart raced against his chest and her breath warmed his skin. Not only had he seen every inch of her more-than-perfect body, he’d touched it, and tasted it. She’d quivered under his touch. Moaned under his tasting. And stifled the scream he’d brought out in her by biting down on his shoulder as he’d spilled over from what she’d done to him.

He’d been glad he’d had the foresight to stop at the corner store and buy a box of condoms. It had been awhile since he’d been with a woman. There wasn’t a supply of them tucked in his wallet or car.

He thought about the moment he’d stopped and reached for the box he’d shoved in his jean pocket. For a moment, he’d thought Courtney was going to cry because he’d even given thought of protecting her—them.

She moaned against his skin. “I’ve never felt like that before.”

Tyler brushed her hair from her forehead. “You’re going to explode my ego.”

“It deserves it.” She pressed a kiss to his chest. “I never thought someone would take such care of me. I mean you carried me up the stairs. You didn’t just have sex with me.”

Tyler ran a hand down her back. “You’re more than that to me.”

“I just keep waiting for the moment when that’s all I am.”

“It’s not going to happen.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“I believe that from you.” She lifted her head and turned toward him. “I’ve always accepted what happened to me. It sucks. Don’t get me wrong. It might have been better if I hadn’t always known what being sighted was like. But it happened. I am who I am because of it.”

She trailed her fingers down his breastbone and back up. “And I believe the world is full of good people. You know, the kind that don’t judge a person’s ability on whether they can see or not. But I’ve learned that people in general are not patient enough for people like me.”

Tyler rolled her so that she was on her back and he was looking down at her. “I’m a very patient person.” He laid his lips on the crevice of her neck and trailed more over her shoulder. “You’ll meet my family tomorrow and you’ll understand where I get my patience.”

Courtney smiled as he moved his mouth back to hers. “Your family won’t judge me?”

“No. Not a one of them. Talk about a group that accepts anyone—everyone. My mother, aunt, and uncle were adopted. My sister was given up for adoption and then reunited with our family—so I consider her adopted back,” he said and she giggled under him. “My Aunt Simone was as far from
normal
as I suppose you could get for my uncle. And Warner Wright…” He propped himself up on his arm and thought. “I think he was lucky he landed in this family where everyone is accepted. He needed that.”

“And what about Tyler Benson? The son who felt pushed out when his sister came back? Is he accepted in this family?”

He ran his fingers through her hair and focused on the softness of each strand against his skin.

“Tyler Benson was the only one who thought he didn’t fit in. He’d never been
unaccepted,”
he said as if he were realizing it for the first time too.