Page 154 of Need You Now

Seth groans, realizing his mistake. “Hell, I didn’t tell you that to scare you.”

“Well, it did,” she shoots back, frazzled. She chews a nail. An ice-cold dose of the real world getting dropped on her head. She should have been a realist about her situation, not some idealist romantic.

She turns her eyes toward him. Sick to her stomach. “I’m nervous, Seth. I don’t have a job or an apartment. I still have bills to pay back in LA.”

“You were on vacation. Plus, did you forget the fact that you nearly drowned?” His face twists up. “Because I sure as hell didn’t.”

She flashes her phone. The Nashville Star tab. Seth’s lips tighten in anger. “Not to mention, everyone hates me.” She picks out the line she wants to firebomb, reads it aloud in her most sarcastic voice. “Country crooner Seth Kincaid taking up with a California Diva? In this case, we hardly think opposites attract, and we hope that the youngest (and only unmarried) member of the Brothers Kincaid keeps his hunky bachelor status.”

Seth closes his eyes, cursing softly under his breath.

“Listen to me, princess,” he says, his expression softening. “I don’t want to you worryin’. About anything.”

Easy for him to say. He’s the one with a job.

With a life.

Her chest tightens.

“I get it,” Seth says, taking her gently in his arms. “It’s scary. Nashville ain’t LA. We ain’t got no beach. But you’re gonna kill it here. And whatever you need, I’m gonna bust my ass to help you get it.” His concerned eyes stare back at her. “Okay? Alright?”

Though his words take the edge off, nerves still fray her edges. But she nods, wanting to believe him.

“Come with me to the studio tomorrow.” She tilts her head. He licks his lips. His voice goes husky. “I wrote you a song, Lace.”

Her eyes widen, her breath catching in her throat. “You did?”

“Yeah.” He traces a finger over her lips. “I wanna play it for you tomorrow.”

“Seth, I ...” She cups his cheek, her heart flickering like an ember. “I can’t wait to hear it.”

“Lace,” Seth breathes, leaning into her.

And then his hands are in her hair, their clothes are off, her worries forgotten.

Until tomorrow, at least.

---