Hillbilly Rockstar (27 page)

Still, she felt like a fish out of water, not only because her mother had run off with the married bar owner, but because the table in front of her was filled with all of Harper's friends.

Celia jumped up immediately and hugged her. “Liberty! I'm happy to see you! And wow. You look fantastic.”

She said, “Thanks,” then whispered, “It's all smoke and mirrors and Harper's doing.”

“Wrong. The Masterson girls are all gorgeous.”

That was stretching it.

Hooking her arm through Liberty's, Harper said, “You remember my sister. Now she lives in Denver, which is lucky for us.” She pointed to a
stout woman with carrot-colored hair. “Remember Bernice? I used to work for her at the Beauty Barn.” Then she rattled off the names of the rest of the women at the table.

A petite, white-haired woman wearing a tiara and fake gold eyelashes
pulled out a chair in the middle of the group. “Now, sweetie, lose the panicked look. We're completely harmless.”

Silence lingered.

Someone behind them yelled, “You'll go to hell for lyin'.”

All of the women turned and glared at the heckler until the poor man hustled out the door.

Yikes.

Liberty slid into the seat. “I'll apologize in advance. I'm horrible with names.”

“I'm Tilda.” She pointed to the woman two seats down. “See the one in the floral housedress chomping on a cigar? That's Miz Maybelle.” Tilda leaned in and whispered, “She's in her Poker Alice phase. The cigar is her good luck charm. It's won her a whole pile of money at the casino.”

A sixtysomething, smartly made-up, impeccably dressed redhead offered her hand. “I'm Vivien. My son was in the army for fifteen years, so I wanted to thank you personally for your service.”

“Uh. Thanks.”

Then they all started chattering at once.

A whistle rent the air and the lady across the table, wearing purple camo and a lime green beret, shook her finger at everyone. “Girls, you ambushed her. While I'm sure she got used to that in Afghanistan, she doesn't need that here.” She smiled and offered her gloved hand. “I'm Pearl, probably the closest thing to platoon leader this group has got.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Bet you're good with guns, huh?” Pearl said. “So what's your favorite kind of gun to shoot?”

“Besides an M16?”

The ladies laughed.

“Handgun? H and K P7. Shotgun? Twenty-gauge Ruger over-under. Rifle? AR-15. How about you?”

Each woman rattled off a different firearm and why they liked it; then they proceeded to argue about which one had the most stopping power. Why these ladies had to worry about “stopping power” worried Liberty, but she just went with it.

Pearl whistled again, and everyone held their ears. But the bartender could hear her plain as day. “Sherry! Another round. And don't be stingy on the tequila this time.”

Liberty tried to catch Harper's eye, but she was deep in conversation with another blonde she figured must be Harlow.

The drinks arrived, and no one took a sip until Harper stood. “Thank you to my good friends, and to the Mud Lilies, for such a warm welcome for my sister.”

“Hear, hear.”

The liquid burned like sweet fire as she swallowed. How could that be? Wasn't it a margarita? She lifted it up for a closer look. “What is this?”

“A stargazer, which is a type of lily. It's our signature drink. Like it?” Garnet asked.

“It's . . . unique.”

“And it packs a wallop, so we're only allowed to have one.”

“By law,” Miz Maybelle added.

Liberty glanced over at Pearl, who nodded.

Tilda primly stirred her drink with a straw. “The Muddy Gap council had a meeting and added it to the bylaws after an incident we had last year. For goodness' sake, who knew that it was illegal to ride antelope?”

These women had to be fucking with her.
Had
to be.

But the longer she listened to their exploits, the more she believed they were some kind of ninja badass grannies.

She instantly fell in love with all of them.

“I think it's my turn to buy a round,” Liberty said after a bit, feeling pleasantly muzzy from the booze. “Who's up for shots?”

Everyone's hand went up.

“Now, wait a sec. Someone has to be a designated driver besides Harper.”

“Oh, honey, we've already lined up a couple of drivers. They just ain't allowed to show up until later and we've had our girl time,” Vivien said.

“All right. I get to pick?” She smirked. “I'll go with a man who's near and dear to my heart . . . Johnnie Walker.”

Cheers erupted.

The toasts were made. Some of the ladies got up to dance. Or in the case of Garnet, she boogied right in her chair.

“So tell me, Liberty Bell,” Miz Maybelle said with a snicker, “you got yourself a fella? Maybe one of them hot special ops types? All muscle and no bull?”

Liberty shook her head. “There's been one guy . . . but it's temporary. I knew starting up with him that it wasn't going anyplace.”

“Sweetie, when you look back on your life, you regret the things you didn't do. So I'm glad you decided the short term was good enough.”

Harper leaned closer. “You've been holding out on me.”

“Not really—there's not much I can tell you.” By this point she missed Devin like crazy. She wondered how he was spending his downtime in Nashville. Hopefully, he was keeping a very low profile. She'd lain in bed last night after tucking the boys in, unable to sleep, her phone in her hand, tempted to call him. After she'd heard Harper giggling and Bran's deep-voiced response as they passed down the hallway, she'd felt a serious pang of loneliness.

The ladies all whooped and hollered, and Liberty glanced up to see what the commotion was about.

Several guys were walking toward them. Hot guys. Cowboys.

But the only one Liberty saw was Devin.

E
verything inside Devin settled down when he saw Liberty.

Still, it took every ounce of willpower he possessed not to run over, sweep her into his arms and kiss every inch of the face he loved so much.

And it killed him, fucking killed him not to get to be with her, in front of friends, like he wanted to.

So swallow your pride and stake your claim.

He couldn't. And that made him hate himself even more—that his pride was blocking the path to her.

Liberty looked away, as if she knew what he'd been thinking.

You're an ass. You don't deserve her.

But he sure as fuck couldn't stay away from her.

“Omigod, Devin!” Celia squealed and threw herself at him. “Kyle will be sorry he missed you, but someone's gotta stay home with the princess. What're you doin' here?”

“I had a few days off. I'm crashing with Fletch.” He clapped him on the back. “He's batching it this week with Tanna bein' in Tulsa.”

Fletch looked around the table. “You ladies getting into trouble?”

“Not yet. Now we can go wild since our rides are here,” Miz Maybelle said to Tilda, and they bumped fists.

Harper stood and hugged Devin. “I'm happy to see you. Sorry we missed the concert in Cheyenne. Everyone said it was awesome.”

“We were lucky to have such a great crowd.” He noticed the chair directly across from Liberty was open. “Mind if I sit here?”

She shrugged.

Liberty still hadn't looked at him. But she was eyeing the other men in the group freely.

“I should probably introduce everyone. This is my sister Liberty Masterson. She's visiting. Liberty, the guy on the end is Hugh. He's the foreman up at the Split Rock.”

Hugh inclined his hat to her.

Harper continued. “Next to him is Tobin; he's Renner's genetics expert and Hugh's right-hand man.”

Tobin, that sly bastard, took Liberty's hand, giving her the I'm-just-a-good-old-boy grin that had women sighing as they jotted down their phone numbers. “Beauty must run in the family. Very pleased to meet a real live heroine. Harper's talked a lot about you. Thanks for your service to this country.”

Tobin kept holding Liberty's hand, tempting Devin to knock it away and knock him on his ass.

Liberty said, “I never know what to say to that, so . . . you're welcome?”

“And you're just as sweet and charming as Harper too.” Tobin winked at her.

Devin wanted to punch him—see if the jerk could still wink with a swollen eye.

“You've met Fletch, our vet extraordinaire.”

“Nice to see you again.” Liberty didn't mention the connection of working for Tanna's brother. Neither did Fletch. Devin found it hard to believe that could stay a secret.

“And lastly, this is Devin McClain.” Harper said it with a flourish, as if he didn't need further introduction.

“A true pleasure to meet you, Liberty.”

“Same here.” She cocked her head; her eyes were filled with challenge. “You look smaller in person than you do on TV.”

Jesus. Really? She was gonna push him? Fine. Two could play at this game. “Ain't nothin' small about me, darlin'.”

“Including your ego,” she muttered and faced Garnet, blowing him off completely.

Oh, sweetheart. It don't work that way. Dismissing me turns me into a cocklebur you can't shake.

Harper whispered something in Liberty's ear and she shook her head.

“What're you guys drinkin'?” Celia asked.

“I'll have a Coors since Fletch is driving,” Devin said.

“Coke is fine for me,” Fletch said.

“Me too,” Tobin added.

“Make it three,” Hugh said.

“So, Devin, my grandson thinks you're ‘da bomb' for giving us tickets to the Cheyenne show,” Vivien said. “Thank you. I've gone up a notch in his eyes since I know you.”

“He seemed like a good kid. It was fun havin' you all there.” Devin felt Liberty staring at him. Then Garnet leaned closer, blocking his view.

“My granddaughter, Jade, wasn't impressed when I said you and me were buds,” Garnet complained. “Then again, she listens to them fat Italian dudes that sing opera.” She adjusted the
HOT MAMA
bandanna higher on her forehead, pushing back her fluff of cotton candy pink hair. Garnet sported a bizarre biker look tonight, including a leather halter top—a size too big, which exposed way more of her upper body than Devin ever wanted to see. But it was hard not to stare at the two dozen temporary tattoos she'd randomly plastered on her wrinkled skin. Did she even know what the term
backdoor bitch
meant?

“I think that's the first time you've mentioned your granddaughter,” Tobin said.

“That's because when she was growing up, my son restricted her visits with her backwoods granny. She's my only grandkid and I gotta go fight the crowds in New York City if I wanna see her. It sucks.” Garnet sighed dramatically. “I don't know where me'n his daddy went wrong raising that boy. He lit out for ‘civilization' the day after he graduated from high school.”

Devin wondered for the first time if people around here said the same thing about him. Because he too had taken off before the ink on his diploma had dried.

Then Miz Maybelle, Pearl and Tilda alternately complained and bragged about their grandkids. Which was one of the first times Devin had
seen the Mud Lilies acting their age. He preferred to see them shooting tequila and firearms and mouthing off.

“What's that smile for?” Fletch asked.

“Just happy to be home.”

Liberty cocked her head. “Don't you get mobbed when you come in here? Being the big-time celebrity?”

“Rarely.”

“Oh, don't play coy,” Bernice said. “Tongues will be wagging all over town that you're here. I expect this place to be hopping pretty damn quick and you'll be surrounded.”

“So I'm counting on all of you lovelies to protect me.”

Liberty glared at him.

Shit. He shouldn't have reminded her that he was here in Wyoming, unprotected. He was supposed to be under guard, even on break.

For the next fifteen minutes, Devin swigged his beer and watched her charming the ladies. And she claimed she was antisocial. She was warm, gregarious and sexy. Every time she laughed, it settled deep in his chest and warmed something inside him.

Fletch leaned closer and said, “Stop starin' at her. It'll just piss her off, and the woman is always armed.”

He muttered, “Don't I know it.”

“What?” Fletch asked suspiciously.

“I just said that you're probably right.”

Harper snagged Devin's attention. “You should stop by and see Bran tomorrow.”

Liberty froze midsentence.

“That's a great idea, Harper. Thanks for the invite.” He rested his elbows on the table and looked at Liberty. “Will you be there?”

“That's where I'm staying.”

He eyed her nearly empty glass. “Can I buy you a drink?”

“No, thanks.”

“Since you're not drinking, would you dance with me?”

Liberty's cool gaze met his. “I'm not your type.”

Ooh, a punch straight to the groin.

Fletch made a hissing
you got burned
sound.

But Devin wasn't giving up. “Fine. If you're afraid to dance with me, just say so.”

“Why would I be afraid to dance with you?”

“Maybe you're afraid I'll sweep you off your feet?”

“Dude,” Tobin complained, “give it a rest. She's not interested.”

“Gotta give the man points for tryin',” Hugh said.

Liberty held Devin's gaze and he knew he had her. He also realized she was trying hard not to laugh. “So is that a definite no?”

“Will you stop pestering me if I dance with you one time?”

“Worth a shot to find out, doncha think, G.I. Jane?”

Liberty sighed. “For every toe you step on, I'm breaking one of your fingers, guitar slinger.”

Devin was on her side of the table before she stood. He offered her his hand.

When she took it, that electric charge between them shot straight up his arm, and she squeezed his hand because she felt it too.

His heart raced as he towed her to the farthest corner of the dance floor. Grateful for the slow song, he wrapped his arms around her and just held on.

“Dammit, Devin, why are you here?”

“Because I couldn't stay away from you.” He nuzzled her temple.

“It's not safe for you to be on your own. We agreed—”

“That was before I missed you so fuckin' much I couldn't stand it, okay? I'm always safe when I'm with you. I thought you'd be happy I'm here.”

Liberty didn't say anything.

He realized they hadn't moved, so he clasped her hand in his to make it at least looked like they were dancing. “Say you missed me, Liberty. Say you missed me like crazy.”

He felt her smile against his cheek. “I missed you, crazy man.”

“Thank God.” He danced them into a corner. As soon as they were out of view, he pressed his body to hers, kissing her in a full-out onslaught.
Pouring all of his heat and need into her. A deep rumble of satisfaction escaped at the familiar taste of her and the familiar sensation of how quickly the passion rose between them.

Liberty ripped her mouth free. “We have to stop.” She nestled her cheek against his chest. “Take us back into the crowd before we can't stop.”

Devin brushed his lips across her crown before he directed them onto the dance floor.

She held herself stiffly, scanning the room to see if anyone was watching them.

“Are you upset that I didn't let anyone know we're in a relationship?”

“How would you explain it? Besides, this is temporary between us. This is your hometown and these are your longtime friends. I don't want you—or Harper—to have to deal with questions about me and what happened when we go our separate ways.”

Why did she always bring that up?

“So in the interest of keeping our cover, you do realize I'll have to dance with Tobin?”

“Only if you want to watch me break his fuckin' arms if he puts his hands on you.”

Liberty tipped her head back to gape at him. “What the hell has gotten into you? You never act like this.”

You've gotten into me. You're under my skin. You've taken over my brain. Why haven't you grasped the fact that you're mine?

“Devin?”

“You haven't been paying attention if you believe this is the first time I've bared my teeth at another male getting too close to you.”

“Seriously?”

“Dead-ass serious.” Maybe he shouldn't mention the chat he'd had with his road crew about them acting too friendly with his personal assistant. Or the fact he'd almost come to blows with every single one of the Wright Brothers after he'd caught them eyeballing her ass. And her chest. And her
face. He spun her so his back was to the room. “Any chance I can see you alone tomorrow when I come out to Bran's?”

“I don't know. Won't they get suspicious if we sneak off to lock ourselves in my bedroom and then the headboard starts banging against the wall?”

Devin growled. “Don't even fucking tease me with that possibility. It's been days since I've had you.”

Liberty rolled her eyes. “It's been four days.”

“That's four days too long.”

For a moment she must've forgotten where they were because she nestled her face in the crook of his neck. “I almost called you last night.”

“What time?”

“Midnight.”

“We must've been on the same wavelength because I had my phone in my hand ready to call you. Then I . . .”

Liberty lifted her head. “What?”

“Decided I needed to see you in person, so I called the airline instead.”

“You're killing me with this sweetness. You know that, right?”

“You're the only reason I'm here. You know that, right?”

“So you aren't gonna swing by your sister's place? Isn't it on the way?”

Of course she'd bring that up. “Hadn't planned on it.”

“Oh.”

There was that one-syllable word again. “Oh, what?”

“I just can't imagine being within a few miles of my sister and not at least stopping in to say hello.”

“Liberty, I don't have the same kind of relationship with my sister that you do with yours.”

“That's a shame. She's all you've got. That'd make me wanna hold on tighter, not let go completely.”

He briefly rested his forehead to hers. “But I want to see you tomorrow.”

She sighed. “You are relentless.”

“Yep. We'll still have five days off after this. I want to spend it with you.”

“Where?”

“My cabin in Montana. We could hang out. Get us both a flight out of Missoula for the Portland gig.”

“I don't know.”

“You weren't planning to spend all ten days with the Turners?”

She blinked those steely eyes at him. “No. But . . .”

“What?”

“We've spent almost every waking minute of the last three months together. Don't you think time apart will do us good? Put everything in perspective?”

“No.” Devin slid his fingers across her skin above the waistband of her jeans, needing to touch her. “I still want more of you. Of us.”

When Liberty continued to waffle, he pulled out his trump card. “I have fifty acres, no neighbors and a closetful of firearms.”

She groaned. “Bringing out the big guns, huh?”

“Darlin', I play to win. You know that.”

“All right. You win.” Then her eyes narrowed. “Have you told anyone you're spending time at your remote cabin?”

“I hadn't planned on going until just now, so that'd be a no. It's the safest place I could be. Especially if you're there with me.”