“That was before I knew he was screwing around with my sister.”

“Really? You think I’m such a victim that I let guys screw around with me?”

“You know that’s not what I’m saying.”

“Maybe you should try saying it a different way, then.”

He ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated with the whole unexpected situation. “That guy has the whole world on a silver plate if he wants it.”

“It’s the same for Smith,” she pointed out. “And you don’t treat him like he’s the scum of the earth simply for daring to breathe in your presence.”

Clearly irritated with her logic, he scowled in the direction of the living room. “I grew up with Smith. I don’t know Ford. I don’t know how he treats women.”

She knew she shouldn’t be angry with her brother. Sure, he was totally overbearing in the same way Ian had been at the wedding, but his heart was in the right place. “Give him a chance tonight, Adam. For me. Because I care about him.”

He studied her carefully. “How much do you care, Mia?”

“A lot.” She hadn’t even needed to think about it, hadn’t hesitated. But instead of Adam looking happier, strangely, his frown deepened. “Adam?”

“When you were born I couldn’t believe how little you were. We had always played rough, but with you—”

“You made sure I didn’t get hurt, and I love you for that. But we’re not on the playground anymore, and I don’t think you can control whether or not I get hurt this time.” She pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Sorry I had to slug you. Probably makes you wish you hadn’t taught me such a solid jab, doesn’t it? Because I’m pretty sure that’s going to bruise.”

She was glad to hear him laughing as he followed her back inside.

* * *

“How long have you known Nicola, Ford?”

Mia knew she could count on her mother to break the ice as they all dug into their full plates.

“I caught one of her shows a couple of years ago and was really impressed. As she started to play her guitar I could immediately hear the first chords and lyrics of the song we would write together in my head.” He laughed at himself. “She ended up taking those chords and lyrics and making them a thousand times better, of course. I was honored to be at her wedding.”

“I remember Mary calling me after a family lunch they had in Palo Alto, where Marcus declared his love for Nicola in front of all of them,” Claudia said. “It sounded so sweet.”

Mia could feel Ford’s eyes on her, and because she could read his mind, she shot him a look that said, Don’t you dare, rock star. The answering grin he gave her did nothing whatsoever for her confidence that he wouldn’t pull a Marcus on her. Stuff like that sounded so romantic, but even though she and Adam had had their little chat out front, she wasn’t sure how well he’d deal with Ford making a grand declaration of his feelings in front of them all tonight.

“Your family is great. Even after Mia told me how close you all are, seeing it for myself at the wedding was amazing.” With an easy grin, he turned to her brothers and said, “Adam, Mia told me you work with historic houses. And Dylan, you design sailboats, don’t you?”

Just that quickly, Mia knew there would always be a seat for him at her mother’s table. And as he got Dylan and Adam to start talking despite their rocky start, she was struck by just how well Ford fit into her family...and how much he seemed to thrive on being with them.

Chapter Twenty-eight

“I’m really glad you brought Ford home to spend some time with us tonight,” Mia’s mother said to her as they walked into the kitchen to heat up the apple pie Claudia had made for dessert. “I like him very much, honey. He seems like a good man.”

Mia loved that her mother didn’t refer to Ford’s talent or his fame. She hadn’t said something like, “Considering how rich and successful he is, he’s a nice man.” Instead, Claudia was looking only at the man he was at his core, and at the way he treated her daughter. There were very few people for whom Ford’s career and bank account wouldn’t matter, but Mia’s mother was one of them.

“Thanks for being so nice to him tonight, Mom. Especially given what a tough crowd Dad and the boys were at first. Ford has never had much of a family, and I think it means a lot to him to be here with all of us tonight.”

“He’s the first man you’ve ever brought home. Even if that didn’t tell me how special he is to you, I would have known from watching the two of you together at the wedding.”

Mia stopped halfway to reaching for a stack of clean forks. “You could tell there was something between us last weekend?”

“You’ve always looked at the men you’ve dated playfully, flirtatiously. They can’t take their eyes off you, but you’ve never had a problem looking away. Ford is the only man I’ve ever seen you with where you couldn’t stop staring right back at him, too. But it’s not just his good looks that draws you to him, is it?”

“No. Although when a guy looks like he does, it’s hard to remember why I should even try to resist him.”

“What do you think will make you happier, honey? Finding a way to keep resisting how you feel about him?” Her mother’s eyes were warm with understanding. “Or giving in to what you feel whenever he’s near?”

It was both a blessing and a curse that her mother seemed to have emotional X-ray vision with her children. On the one hand, it meant she was always there for them, even before they accepted that they needed her support. On the other, it made hiding from the truth downright impossible.

Which, Mia suddenly realized, was why she hadn’t brought Ford home five years ago. Not just because she didn’t want to give up even a few precious hours in his arms, but because even though she’d been head over heels for him, she must have known that neither of them was ready yet to truly love each other. Her father and brothers would have been just as protective as they had been tonight...but her mother would have seen all the rest.

Still, Mia’s mother had never tried to push her one way or another, whether in love or career. Claudia simply supported all her children in whatever direction they chose to go. Even if that direction sometimes ended up being a mistake.

“When he came back into my life a week ago, I thought I knew exactly who he was. But he keeps surprising me in really good ways. I’m happy with him, Mom, so much happier than I can ever remember being. But—” She broke off, not knowing how to put what she was feeling into words. “Why is it that the happier I feel when I’m with him, the more and more scared I get about losing myself in that happiness?”