Page 71 of Need You Now

Seth’s stopped at the door of the Blue Cowboy by a surly hostess wearing black eyeliner and a necklace made of blinking Christmas lights. “You’re on the list,” she says, snapping a bubble and holding out a stop-right-there palm.

Seth cackles. “The what? The naughty list?”

She doesn’t laugh. Instead, she glances over her shoulder. “Greasy Graham,” she calls out.

Beside him, Lacey gives him a look, an eyebrow raise. “Greasy?”

He squeezes her tight. “Just go with it.”

“Seth,” Lacey says under her breath. She grips his bicep, and he clinches it to keep her close. “It smells like a stable in here.”

A minute later, Graham’s sauntering over, gnarled thumbs hooked through his belt loops. “You came back, kid.” His attention flicks to Lacey. Approval shines in his milky old eyes. “And who’s this pretty lady?”

“This is Lacey,” Seth says, extending a hand. “Lacey, this is Graham. He’s a mean old son of a bitch.”

Lacey gives a mock gasp at his rudeness. She clasps Graham’s hand, a warm smile spreading on her face. “Nice to meet you. Please don’t kick me out of here because of Seth’s despicable manners.”

Graham sputters with laughter. “Don’t listen to him. And not to worry, sweetheart. Any friend of Seth’s a friend of mine.” Still gripping Lacey’s hand, Graham pulls her across the floor with him. Seth follows at a slow lope, enjoying Lacey in his element. She flashes him a goofy, wide-eyed what’s happening? smile over her shoulder but lets the old man show her to a booth.

“Best seat in the house,” Graham says when they’ve gotten settled. He turns to Seth. “You came back with a girl, kid. Now how ’bout a song?”

“Oh, man,” Seth says, nerves tightening his chest at the mention of getting onstage. “I ain’t got nothin’ to play. No instrument either.”

But Lacey’s eyes have lit up. “You should, Seth.”

“See?” Graham wheedles. “Pretty lady knows what she’s talkin’ ’bout.”

Seth lifts his hands, helpless. “I ain’t got the song, Graham.”

“You will.” Graham gives a barely sly glance to Lacey, and Seth rolls his eyes. Smooth, man. Clearing his throat, Graham claps Seth on the shoulder. “We’ll cover Hank, then. I’ll play with ya. We’ll get you warmed up first.” He wanders off, searching the rowdy bar. “Stella! Whiskey!”

Lacey laughs, her sea-green gaze moving to Seth. “He’s a riot.”

“Thanks a lot,” he drawls.

“Why not?” she says with a coy shrug. “I think you need a little practice.”

“Oh, now you’re an expert on country music?” He lifts a brow. “Who’s Hank, then? Last name and decade.”

She wrinkles her nose, thinking about it. “Hank Rogers?”

“Pathetic.” She bursts into a laugh. Seth shakes his head. “You do know I’m gonna learn you on country music if it takes the rest of my life.”

Rest of my life.

Lacey flushes pink.

The words float between them. Honest and raw.

The truth,Seth thinks. That’s for damn sure.

The bartender breaks the quiet silence, dropping a bottle of Blanton’s, a Mason jar full of water, and two glasses. “There you go, princess. Tap water and whiskey.” Seth eyes the bottle. It’s expensive. It’s also Graham’s way of saying he approves.

“I’m so ready for this,” Lacey says, eagerly reaching for the whiskey. She wiggles her eyebrows, her bright smile launching fireworks in Seth’s stomach. “I’m off antibiotics, this is a celebration.”

Seth laughs, watching as Lacey measures out the drinks, her long blond hair tousled from the wind on the beach, her green eyes sparkling and lively as they rove around the rowdy bar.

Talk about a goddamn great day. Even with the heaviness of earlier on the beach.

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