Hillbilly Rockstar

by Lorelei James

  sister and her family moved to Laramie. She wanted to ask Bran about Devin. What he was like in his younger years. How much he’d changed after Michelle had died. If any of his friends knew how much Michelle’s death had affected him and still haunted him.

  “So where are you off to next?” Bran asked.

  “There are three weeks left of this assignment and we’re hopscotching all over the place.”

  “You really can’t tell me where you’re goin’, can you?”

  “No. Sorry.”

  “But you’re happy?”

  Seemed an odd thing for Bran to ask. “Working for the company in Denver? Yes. I love it.”

  “No guys in your life?”

  Liberty opened her mouth. Closed it.

  Which caused Bran to grin. “I knew it. Harper claims you’d tell her if you were in a relationship, but I said not if it’s something you can’t talk about.” He paused as they bumped over a pothole. “Is it some guy you work with?”

  “It’s a . . . client. Which is ridiculously stupid, but it’s just one of those things. I know it won’t last, but I can’t seem to stop myself from living in the moment with him. Talking about it doesn’t help, which is why I haven’t said anything to her.”

  Bran nodded. “She’ll want every detail so she can fix it for you.”

  “She can’t. If I thought she could, I’d gladly tell her.”

  The boys chattered, and Liberty was happy to let the subject die.

  After they pulled up to the barn, the boys bounded out of the truck and raced to the house.

  Bran paused in front of her. “I hate to take advantage of you bein’ here, but I wondered if you could watch the boys for a few hours tonight?”

  “Sure. Why?”

  “Because I’d like to take my wife out for a relaxed meal at a nice place where there ain’t crayons on the table.” He shot her a sheepish look. “That’s not a complaint. I love my kids. But I also love their mama, and it’s been a while since just me’n her have gone out.”

  “I’d love to take care of them.”

  “Thanks, Lib. I mean it.”

  “It’s what favorite aunts do.” She smirked at him. “And you don’t have to be home early because your teenage babysitter has to go to school in the morning. Stay out late dancing or . . . whatever.”

  He grinned. “Already a two-step ahead of you.”

  Harper was taking stock of the refrigerator when they entered the kitchen. “Hope you don’t mind leftovers tonight.”

  Bran wrapped his arms around Harper from behind. “Why don’t you let Liberty decide what’s for supper? We’re goin’ out.”

  She spun into his arms. “That’s a great idea. Where are we all going?”

  He shook his head. “This is just a you’n me thing, princess. It’s already been decided. So go on and get ready while the boys help me finish chores.”

  Harper hugged him and whispered something in his ear that made Bran smack her ass.

  God. These two were ridiculous. But Liberty couldn’t help smiling.

  Harper took her hand and tugged her toward the stairs. “Come on. Keep me company while I make myself look hot for my man.”

  Liberty settled in the sitting area across from the big walk-in closet as Harper started tossing outfits on the bed. “I’ve never worn some of these. That’s the downside of owning a clothing store; I’m always tucking away things for myself.” She held up a purple dress with what looked like a rhinestone collar. “Too much?”

  “Yes. You should wear that one.” Liberty pointed to the animal-print dress. “It’ll bring out the beast in him.”

  “The man is already a beast.” She held up a sleeveless brown dress with gold accents on the bust line. It looked like it’d hug Harper’s every curve.

  “That’s the one.”

  Harper smiled and started tossing out pieces of lingerie. Leopard-print crotchless panties slipped off the bed to the floor.

  “So since I’m having a romantic dinner with my hubby tonight, I want you to come with me tomorrow night for girls’ night out.”

  Liberty bit back a groan. “Thanks for the invite, but I don’t do well with that kinda stuff.”

  “Oh, pooh. You met most of the ladies at my wedding.”

  “The . . . older group of ladies who were doing shots?”

  “Yep. They’re fun, and they’d love to see you again. So would Celia. I don’t know if Lainie and Janie can go, but Harlow plans to show up if Tierney doesn’t have her babysitting.”

  Liberty watched Harper’s face. For some reason, this was important to her. “What the hell. I’ll go. But I’m not the designated driver.”

  Buckeye Joe’s hadn’t changed since the last time Liberty had been in. It was her kind of place—cheap beer, lots of laughter, friends and neighbors hanging out.

  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 g
ood 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.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Everything 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