Seth stares at her, and then he smiles. “Got it. Tulips.”
Seth slings the black bag over his shoulder and hoofs it up Sunset. It’s already late afternoon, and he’s frustrated as all hell. It took him forever to find a goddamn suit last-minute. Not to mention getting around LA takes forever and a day, and all he wants to do is get back to Lacey.
She’s an eternal pain in his ass, but one he can’t get enough of. Their arguments used to drive him crazy, and now they just drive him crazy for her. Nothing turns him on more than their banter.
Seth lets out a frustrated breath at the thought of that almost-kiss. Lacey pressed close to him, the warmth of her palms against his chest, her lips sweeping against his.
Her reaction to his admission that maybe he wanted more wasn’t what he expected. Hell, this whole thing wasn’t what he expected. Lacey should be off-limits. But being here, with her, has all his feelings from the last few months coming to a head. Has Seth feeling like himself again. Not like Lacey needs a guy like him. Someone fucking up all the time, making bad mistakes when she’s beautiful, professional and smart as hell.
And Christ, not to mention, his whole ballsy bravado when he asked if she was seeing someone. Because hell knows what he would’ve done if she’d said yes. The very thought has him sick to his stomach.
The buzz of his phone breaks through his thoughts. Pulling it from his back pocket, he glances down at the screen. Luke.
“Hey, man.”
“Hey, how’s it goin’?”
“Oh, it’s goin’. Lacey’s got me pickin’ up a tux.”
Luke laughs. “For what?”
“Some fancy party she’s plannin’.”
“Sounds like you’re at her beck and call.”
A smile quirks his lips. “Guess I am.”
Luke sighs heavily. “So, listen, I wanted to tell you before you see it in the Star, we got ourselves a new fiddle player.”
Seth’s stomach dips.
He knows what he said to Luke about stepping away from the band. Knows he doesn’t want to be in Nashville at the moment. Knows Luke doesn’t have any choice. But the Brothers Kincaid replacing him, if only temporarily, stings.
“It’s for a month,” Luke says, sounding like he’s chewing dirt, none too happy about his brother’s replacement. “That’s what we got for a contract. The guy’s manager wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Who is it?”
“Beau Dallas.”
Seth frowns. He’s heard of the guy. Some hillbilly rocker with a hard-on for trouble who used to pal around with Griff.
“Great,” he mutters at the thought of another Griff Greyson clone. “Good luck.”
Luke doesn’t sound amused. “My band ain’t here,” he says, his tone taking on a serious edge. “Because you’re not. I miss you, man.”
A rock grows in his throat. “I miss you too.”
The evening sun is gorgeous, warming the chill in the air as Lacey cracks the blinds and lets in the light. As she crosses to the stove, she smiles. Evaluates her kitchen, now cleared of flowers. She has that calm before a party. That crash before the high tomorrow. Everything’s done. Every email answered. Prentiss reassured. Colin calm.
Because of her.
Because of Seth.
She’d never have been able to get through this without him. He’s made the last few days fun, easy. That’s what she loves about Seth. He keeps her calm. He makes her laugh. Which is why the thought of him leaving has her feeling not so together.
The only reason she’s getting through the nights is because he’s been there beside her.
And she wants to keep it that way.