“I get it. If you need to be at the ranch more while you work, that’s fine. We can make it happen.”

“I just got that apartment above the garage just right. The soundproofing has been installed. I’ve got my boards there. Most of my guitars and other equipment. I’m good. There’s something about that view out the windows, over the neighborhood, the trees and roofs here and there. Maddie suggested window boxes and I think I agreed to go flower shopping with her sometime soon.”

“She’s really good at making people bend to her will. Like her dad.”

“Thank God for it. Here I am, across the table from the most beautiful woman in the world, rocking a dress that makes my mouth water. You look at me, see past all the bullshit and you love me. I’m pouring all that into this new material.”

“I’m glad, too. I’d love to hear it when you’re ready to share.”

He caught movement from the corner of his vision and turned. Two women at the bar across the way had recognized him and were taking what they thought were surreptitious cell phone pictures of him.

Kelly turned, caught sight of it and sighed. “I guess it was too good to be true. Bound to happen sooner or later. Hopefully we won’t see nipples or have to deal with propositions.”

“Let’s just see if it gets worse or if they’ve done all they plan to.” He took her hand. “Don’t let it ruin our romantic date.”

Fame had brought many advantages to his life. A lot of power. Certainly a lot of money. Those things in turn brought opportunity.

But there was another side to it. People camped out on the lawn. Heightened security concerns. He’d had Kelly’s house completely rewired and updated for security. If he was going to draw attention to his family, he wanted to be sure they were safe.

And there was the in-between. Being recognized all the time. Some days it made him paranoid. Mostly he’d learned to ignore it. People were usually just excited to see him.

It made having a quiet, intimate dinner with his woman a lot harder, though.

“You asked me about the brunch with my parents and we got interrupted and even when we were alone there was nakedness. I told them the truth. All of it. Including that I’d be living in Gresham.”

Kelly sat back a little, but to his great relief, that wariness she’d had for weeks didn’t return. “What was their reaction?” She sipped her champagne and waited for him to continue.

“I didn’t do my job with you before. On every level. They understand now. They know...my mom knows she was wrong about you.”

She pushed the sweet potato puffs at him. He looked at them and she snickered. “Think of them like tater tots. I promise. They’re really good.”

“Would you have said that to Ross?” It was important to know.

Kelly made a face and then shrugged. “Ross would eat a tater tot of any kind. As would any sane person who wasn’t allergic to them. It should be unnecessary to encourage someone to eat a tater tot. I have to tell you, there were years when my diet consisted of three leftover bites of cold mac and cheese, a few tater tots and a grape or two.”

Her sense of humor had become more self-deprecating, but not in a loathing sense. Kelly was more comfortable with herself and it only made her more alluring.

“I like them as much as the next person. But I do notice you’re not eating very many.”

She snorted, rolling her eyes. “Do you really think I’d try to fool you into eating them like you’re one of our children?”

He had to be the luckiest man in the world to be loved by this woman. “I am so fucking happy right now. I love you and I’m glad to be with you under the stars. I’m happy you tease me.”

Kelly had a slight reserve with most people. She was cordial but she didn’t let very many close to her. Into the place in her life where she exposed that softer side. Where she trusted you enough to tease.

He kissed her palm. He’d thrown it away once but she’d given it to him again. He meant to do a better job with this opportunity. “Thank you for letting me back in.”

Her smile in response made it a little uncomfortable in his pants. Unguarded.

He tried one of the sweet potato things and they were really good, especially with the spicy stuff to dip them in. “Okay, those really are fantastic. This didn’t seem like the fried-potatoes-and-stuff-to-dip-them-in sort of place. I could make a meal from them alone.”

He took pictures and then Kelly took a few of him eating them so he could send them to Mary.

“I sent one of them to the girls, too,” Kelly said as she handed the phone back.

When it buzzed moments later, he slid it unlocked to see a picture of their daughters making faces. Vaughan held it for her to see. “Guess that explains the selfie.”

“They love it when you send them pictures. When you’re on tour it’s like they’re with you a little bit. It’s a very cool thing you do. I never thanked you for that.”

Their next courses came out.

“The pictures they send back help me get through. Especially at the point on tour when I am done. I’m rubbed raw and exposed and I just want to be home and know I’m safe. I see their faces and I can do another show and kick ass because they’re home waiting for me. And they’re safe.”

Kelly swallowed hard, continuing to eat slowly. “What did your parents say?” she blurted.

He didn’t need her to clarify. He knew she meant how did they react after he’d told them the whole truth. “They’re pissed off at me. Worse, they’re disappointed. My dad told me I should be ashamed. He said I hadn’t been a good man. But then he said I was now. That meant something. My mom? Well, she was so pissed. At me for, as she put it, making her act like a bitchy mother-in-law. Kelly, I know things have been hard for you and that this whole thing with me and my family only made it worse. But after my parents yelled at me and my mom made sure I knew she planned to make me pay for having to apologize for being so awful, they invited us all to dinner at their house on the night of the gallery launch. They were wrong. They know it and I’m hoping you give them another chance.”