Page 122 of Need You Now

“I’m sorry,” he whispers, kissing the top of her head. “I’m so damn sorry, Lace.”

“No, I’m sorry,” she murmurs into his shirt. “I’m acting crazy. I’m rambling. I don’t know what I’m saying.”

“No.” He shifts her gently out of his arms so he can look at her. “You ain’t crazy. I know exactly what you’re sayin’.”

“You do?”

“I do. I’m crazy about you, Lacey.” He leans in, sweeping his lips softly over hers. “I wanna go back to Nashville, and you’re comin’ with me, and honestly, that has me over the goddamn moon.”

His words melt her. Sniffling, she scans his handsome face, reaching up to touch the butterfly bandage on his eyebrow. “Does it hurt?”

“Nah. I’m tough.” He runs a finger across her cheek and hits her with a grin. “You wanna talk about what hurt? How about those right hooks you were throwin’ out there on that lawn?”

Lacey smiles. “You deserved it.”

He chuckles. Then, his face softens into an expression she’s never seen before. “Lace, I—”

Before he can get the words out, Lacey throws her arms around his neck and kisses him back, kisses him deep, and that’s how they’re caught when Sal walks in the back door.

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