Page 103 of Sing You Home (Nashville Star 1)

Seth scans the crowd of people. There are more friends and family than he knows what to do with. At least Sal and Luke had the right idea to sneak away for a breather. He spotted the two of them climbing down the fenced path to the river hours earlier.

“Have you seen my sister?”

Seth glances over. It’s Lacey, holding a beer and wearing a frown.

“Relax.” Seth clinks the lip of his beer to hers. She grimaces and wipes away his cheers with the hem of her dress. “She’s fine. Luke took her fishin’.”

Instead of an angry scowl, Lacey nods thoughtfully. “She was getting overwhelmed. All these people. It was too much.” Her pretty face is crestfallen. With her slumped shoulders, she looks like a melting cupcake in her big puff of a party dress.

“Nah. You put together a good party, Lace.” He peeks at her from the corner of his eye, hoping to see a smile. While he likes to piss her off, he doesn’t like seeing her sad. That depresses even him. “Fancier than our usual. But still good.”

Lacey shifts her weight, eyeing him with suspicion.

He laughs. A deep, rumbling sound that has Lacey’s stance relaxing. “What?”

“You’re being nice.”

“Yeah, well. Liquor does that. Besides, I’d say Sal’s birthday party is a damn fine time to be nice.”

Her face softens. “Definitely.”

“Nice save there too.” Seth takes a swig of beer. “With Alabama.”

Anger flashes in Lacey’s eyes. “Ugh. That dumb bitch. What was she even doing here anyway?”

“Beats me.”

Seth thanks Christ that Luke failed to notice him ushering out Alabama. She said nothing as she left, gave no explanation for her entrance, just apologized and got in her car.

Lacey sniffs. “There’s too many people here.”

That gets Seth’s attention.

He scans the crowd. Lacey has a good point. The majority of guests are family, but the rest are from the industry. Mort’s clients and powerful music business people. Probably invited to schmooze Luke.

It figures. Luke’s always been the important one—both Seth and Jace knew it. Luke powered the band, wrote most of the lyrics, so it makes sense Mort would want to show him off, to tell the world the Brothers Kincaid are back. Even if it wasn’t his own goddamn party to show off at.

Although Seth doubts Luke’s even noticed the hangers-on. All afternoon he’s only had eyes for Sal.

“They’ll clear out of here soon,” he tells Lacey.

A loud, clipped laugh has them both turning heads. Mort, dressed full-on in a suit, is talking to Jace and Emmy Lou. Seth hears him utter the words practice and album and recording deal. He scowls.

Fucking Mort. He can’t leave business alone for one goddamn day.

When Seth turns to look at Lacey, he finds her wearing the same scowl. “I don’t like that guy,” she says, her voice reeking with distaste.

Seth smirks. “Does anyone?”

“Why’s he here anyway? I thought it was family only.”

“He is family,” Seth murmurs automatically.

A gasp comes from Lacey. Then she’s digging nails into his bicep. So hard that Seth bites out a curse. When he turns to ask her what the hell, she’s staring at him with big, wide eyes.

“Seth,” she says.

He freezes, the beer bottle inches from his lips as realization dawns.

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