Page 107 of Need You Now

Seth takes her in his arms.

“Are you drunk?” he asks, fighting the urge to kiss her.

A cute little half smile lifts her lips. “I don’t have to tell you a thing.”

“So that’s a yes.” He pulls her closer, craving the feel of her body in his arms. “A very strong yes.”

She looks up at him with big ocean-green eyes, scattering his thoughts. “You were so great onstage, Seth. Here and in LA. You’re amazing.”

Her words send a jolt of happiness zipping through every fiber of his being. He’s never had this with a woman. Support. Comfort. Friendship.

But before he can say anything, Lacey slants her slender body into him. “I told Sal I’d give her a shower before I head back to Los Angeles. What do you think?”

His body goes cold. Any talk about her returning to LA has him spinning out. Thinking about leaving her, ever losing her, has Seth’s heart in a knot.

Christ. How’d he get here? Loving this girl so damn much, his heart aches. Turning into a slavering fool at the very nearness of her.

He’s gotta fix this. Gotta do something.

But she’s waiting for him to answer her about the shower, so he grins and says, “It’s a great idea, Lace. You’re gonna give her one hell of a shower.”

Lacey wets her lips and slides a hand up around his shoulder. Her graceful touch like tinder, like temptation, lighting up every single cell in his body.

He stares down at her, wondering, impatient.

It would be easy to end it. Everyone already knows. Just kiss Lacey. Right here on the dance floor. Shut down any doubt, be honest about how he feels, really feels, tell the world and everyone watching that she’s his.

That he loves her.

But the music’s stopped.

And they’re still dancing. Lacey curled in his arms, against his chest.

They realize it at the same time.

Seth tenses as Lacey turns to stone in his arms. She glances over his shoulder to find Sal watching them. Her eyes wide, horrified, she rips out of his arms. Her lower lip pushes out, flustered in that cute way that drives him crazy. Worked up as only Lacey can do.

With a gasp, she whirls away from him, breaking their contact. “I have to use the bathroom,” she says, before she turns and rushes off, the click-clack of her heels swallowed up by the next song.

Her dramatic exit makes him smile. Seth heads to the bar to wait when a matter-of-fact voice says, “Held on a little too long.”

Seth turns to Beau, who’s swaggering up beside him. “You got a problem with that?”

“I don’t.” Beau shrugs. “Someone might.” His eyes move to Sal, at the other end of the bar talking to Alabama.

Motherfucker.

Fire boils Seth’s veins. Messing with Sal, messing with Lacey ain’t happening.

Seth meets Beau’s eyes. Stares him down. “That ain’t a smart idea.”

Beau’s grin is broad, satisfied. “She’s a gorgeous girl. You ain’t claimin’ that out loud, then I can’t help what I do, can I?”

It’s a threat. Beau’s looking to fight, to rile him up.

And it’s working.

Seth’s teeth clench and he takes a step toward Beau. But it’s not jealousy rising up. It’s not the realization that he doesn’t want anyone else, and he doesn’t want Lacey to be with anyone else. That the thought of Lacey kissing some other guy has him fucking sick to his stomach. It’s more than all those things combined. Something primal. Protective. Some guy creeping on Lacey after she’s been mugged isn’t what she needs right now. She needs to feel safe, and Beau ain’t safe.

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