Page 83 of Need You Now

He gives her a look like he’s planning on devouring her later.

A slight thrill of adrenaline goes through her. They haven’t been in cahoots like this since they both worked together to take down Mort. It’s hot.

Sal turns, just missing their contact. “Everyone already got a bedroom.” Her smile’s apologetic. “Lace, I saved you one upstairs. Seth, you’re downstairs.”

Lacey sneaks a peek at Seth. He’s frowning. Probably already plotting a way up to her room. Because she is too.

“We set up a studio on the bottom floor,” Luke drawls, his eyes on Seth. “We’ll get some practice in.”

“This way,” Sal says. Winston skitters past her, a happy woof rumbling out of him. “Everyone’s in the kitchen.”

Lacey can hear them. Voices chattering, boisterous laughter. They pass the living room, a deck, a dining area, and then they’re in the kitchen. A large expansive space, warm and smelling of cookies. At the round breakfast bar, perched on a stool—Alabama Forester, wearing a cream sweater dress and thigh-high boots.

Thankfully, Lacey’s saved from the awkward interaction by Emmy Lou. The chipper blond, clad in a frilly apron, perks up as all four of them step inside the kitchen. “Well, lookie who the cat dragged in!” She lifts her hands. “I’d hug y’all but I’m wrist-deep in cookie dough.”

“Hey, man!” Jace pounds across the floor to Seth. They shake hands, clap shoulders. “You’re just in time for happy hour.”

“You happy to see me, Jace?” Seth laughs, a ghost of a smile curling his lips.

“Hell yeah, I am.” Jace lifts his rusty brows. “We got shit to talk about.” His kind hazel eyes land on Lacey. Sympathy on his face, but he won’t bring up the mugging. Not wanting to risk a subject she doesn’t want to talk about. He squeezes her arm. “How are you, Lace?”

“I’m good,” she says, smiling. “Thanks.”

“Hi, Lacey.” The voice comes from Alabama. Her gray eyes hesitant. “Nice to see you again.”

She manages a nod. “Hello.”

Lacey fights to keep a neutral face. The last time she saw Alabama was when she kicked her out of Sal’s birthday party for crashing it. She still can’t believe her sister is friends with a woman who kissed Luke. Who set him up for Mort Stein.

Sal, smiling broadly, glances between them, then extends a hand at the blond guy crossing the floor. “Griff, this is my sister, Lacey.”

“Hey, nice to meet you,” Griff drawls, shaking her hand with gusto. His tawny eyes study her close. “California girl.”

“That’s right,” Lacey says, eyeing Griff warily. His lank chin-length blond hair, his tattooed biceps, his scruffy beard. She knows all about this rough cowboy, Alabama’s husband, but Sal seems to love him. “Los Angeles.”

“I’m still trying to get her to move to Nashville.” Sal hip-checks Lacey, her green eyes hopeful. “Maybe now I have a chance.”

At the words, Lacey stiffens, feeling Seth’s blue eyes on her, feeling his warm palm subtly graze the small of her back as he strides across the floor with Luke and Jace to examine the beer situation. As the conversation goes on around her, she smiles, content to watch Seth.

He’s that happy, relaxed, sunny Seth she knows and loves. Her heart takes a dip. She hopes Seth knows he’s so loved. Luke’s like a puppy dog now that his brother is back. Pride and love in his eyes as he catches up with Seth. The two of them can’t get along without each other. It’s ridiculously adorable.

Lacey’s attention drifts as Griff busts out a laugh, him, Sal and Alabama in an animated discussion. Luke swings by, pressing a kiss to Sal’s brow, then steals a cookie from Emmy Lou. The kitchen is loud as bustling. Laughter rings out, drinks poured, conversation chaotic.

Only Lacey’s quiet, an awkward out-of-sorts sensation settling around her. That old, anxious feeling of not belonging rears its ugly head. Here, in the presence of Sal and Luke’s friends, she’s out of her element and failing to swim.

She knows she’s seen as cold, closed off. A talent that helped her in her career, but not with making friends. It’s how she protected herself all those long years without Sal, with her stepmother and her father. But she doesn’t want to be like that anymore. Especially here.

She craves that group of close friends, wants to belong, wants to let her guard down, but it’s hard. She doesn’t know how to thaw that icy shell she’s cloaked herself in for so long.

Lacey leans back against the counter, wishing for Seth. For a warm hug from him, the comforting hold of his arms. She knows she was the one who laid down the rules, rules Seth wasn’t too happy with, knows all they have to do is tell Sal, but Lacey’s hesitant. Her sister just got off bed rest. She’s finally back to normal. What if she takes the news bad? If Lacey ruins Sal’s Christmas, she’ll never forgive herself.

For comfort, Lacey’s hand unconsciously moves to her locket. Not finding it there, remembering it’s gone, is like a punch to the gut, a harsh reminder of her reality.

Lacey bites her lip. Her eyes, hot with tears, slide to Seth.

Maybe it was a mistake. Coming here.

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